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Chapter Twelve

Dominic

We hike up the old creaking steps, and Mer meets us at the door, whipping it open. Her face is etched with a scowl.

“Where’s my shit,” she spits, cutting her gaze to Swayze, and I position myself between them.

“We got your bullshit, Mer. Calm the fuck down.” I hold my palm up to Swayze, and she places the baggy in my open hand. I push it into Mer’s chest. “She won’t be getting anything else for you ever again. You understand me?”

Her lip curls in disgust. “Yeah, okay. We’ll see about that. This is my house and if she’s planning on staying here then she will need to earn her keep.”

My stomach rolls with regret. Why had I never seen her hatred for Swayze before? Mer always acted as though she claimed her as her own, but I guess hard times will bring out one’s true nature.

“Just move, Mer. I’m tired, and I don’t want to fight with you tonight,” I admit, exasperated.

She steps out of the way with a huff. “I hope you filled up that tank like you promised.”

That’s not the only thing I filled .

I did, but that was more for my benefit. We just need to get through tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll have divorce papers ready for her, and a new place for Zair-Bear and me.

Once inside, Mer slinks back into her room and, of course, slams the door after her. Sway lingers behind me. She’s attached to me at the hip, unsure of where she should be after the moment we shared in the car.

I cradle the side of her face when I turn to her. “Go to bed, baby girl. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

Her eyes hold me at the center of her world, and I can almost see that she wants to object before she finally gives in to my request without objection. She leans into my touch before giving me a slight nod.

“Okay,” she whispers. Before leaving, she gets on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on my cheek. The action shocks me and hits me deep within. “Night, Daddy.”

She slips away down the hall, and part of me regrets being the better man here. Better man? Shit, my definition of that’s fucked up. I want to follow her and hold her while she curls up in my arms.

Our own place, that's what we'll have. A place she can finally call home. A place where she will feel safe .

I take up my spot on the couch and breathe deeply. Then I realize I still have my daughter’s cum on my dick. I should shower and try to wash away my evil doings, but a tub of acid can’t erase what I did. But the guilt? What’s making me feel guilty is that my guilt isn’t as strong as it should be. The crickets chirp and shower me with the songs of hope for a better tomorrow.