Daddy’s Little Sunshine

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

L ainey

Lainey woke alone, with the setting sun casting a warm glow over the bedroom. Smiling at the memory of Donovan’s hands and mouth on her, she rolled and stretched in the large, lumpy bed. God, the man was an incredible lover. If she had to start her life over, at least she had something to look forward to.

The thought brought with it a wave of grief. Starting over meant she’d never see her family again. Possibly never even speak to them again. Everyone she’d ever known and loved would just disappear from her life, and she from theirs.

Pushing the negative thoughts aside, she rolled off the bed and walked to the bathroom. A nice, hot shower was exactly what she needed to make her feel better.

The shower helped ease the twinges in her muscles from Donovan’s thorough lovemaking, but it didn’t do much for the ache in her heart. That pain was only eased when she gave in and curled up on the floor of the shower and wept for the life she was leaving behind.

By the time she was done, the water had started to run cold, so she rushed through washing her hair and body before turning the water off.

With her teeth brushed, her hair dried and put up in a high ponytail, she returned to the bedroom. She considered just getting back into her pajamas, but she wasn’t sure what the plan was for when Donovan returned. In case they had to leave quickly, she wanted to be ready. Deciding on a pair of jeans and a comfortable shirt, she dressed and started packing her bags.

Halfway through, a knock on the front door sent her heart racing. Lainey dropped the shirt she’d been folding and crept into the living room. She sure as shit wasn’t going to open the door and risk another round with the evil ginger root, but she could at least see who it was.

“Lainey? Open up, honey. I forgot my keys.”

Relief flooded her at the familiar voice. “Coming, Daddy!” she called, running to the door.

But when she yanked it open, it wasn’t Donovan on the other side. The man standing in front of her looked more like the men who’d attacked her in the alley.

“You’re not Daddy,” she blurted out.

The man smiled, but there was nothing warm or inviting in the gesture. “No, but I could be. Want me to be your daddy, weather girl?”

Lainey moved to slam the door in his face, but he slapped a hand against the wood and shoved it open again. The momentum sent her flying backward, and she cried out when she landed on her ass.

The thug stepped through the doorway, followed by a tall, thin man. When he spoke, it was with Donovan’s voice, and her blood ran cold. “Time to go, Lainey.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you!” Thunder shook the building as she scrambled away from the pair.

“Oh, she’s feisty,” the tall man said with a laugh. “I like her.”

He grabbed for her, and Lainey threw up her hands to protect herself. Lightning shot from her fingertips, but missed the tall man, leaving a scorched hole in the wall behind him.

“That was impressive.” Tall man’s real voice was high and nasally, nothing like Daddy’s. “You can show us your powers later, my dear. We really must get going.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, asshole.” The heat and electricity built inside of her again, and she focused on the tall man. But before she could unleash her lightning on him, she felt a small prick in the side of her neck. She looked over at the thug who’d knocked on her door and the strange gun in his hand. It was the last thing she saw before her vision blurred and the world went black.

Donovan ran the final few blocks to the apartment and took the stairs up two at a time. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones. His heart jumped into his throat when he saw the apartment door standing open.

“Lainey!” He called for her, panic clawing at him as he searched every room. There was a black, smoking hole in the wall of the living room, but no other signs of a struggle.

“Oh, God.” They had her. Those assholes had his Lainey, and he had no idea where they’d taken her. “Fuck!”

“Donny?”

Spinning around, he found Ms. Edith standing in the doorway, her face white as a sheet. “Did you see them? Did you see who took her?” he asked, the desperation he felt clear in his voice.

Her head jerked up and down. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

“What? How?”

“I told some people at the church. I never thought… never imagined they would…”

It took every bit of strength he had not to grab her frail shoulders and shake her. “Where? Where did they take her?”

“I think they took her to The Farm.”

“The farm?” None of this was making any sense. “What farm? Where?”

“It’s about an hour south. I-I’ve been there a few times, to talk to some teens in the rehabilitation program. I can drive you.”

“You have a car?”

Another jerky nod.

“I’ll drive. Tell me where exactly it is.”

“I don’t remember where it is, exactly. But I’ll know it when I see it.”

He didn’t have time to argue. “Fine. You can navigate. But you stay in the car once we get there.”