Chapter Forty Five
Bridgette
Maggie called Skyla immediately and told her everything. She was on speaker and I was honestly so surprised there wasn’t a moment or hint of judgment anywhere in her words. In fact, she actually seemed smug, like she expected as much. She told Maggie that there is no way Asher will allow my father to punish myself or Maggie. That if he even tries to touch us, to call the police or them directly.
That gave me a little sense of comfort.
I can’t help but walk with my head on a swivel. I’m waiting for Maryia to pop out from any corner again and attack me. Though, I gotta admit, I beat her ass. I doubt she would try to fuck with me anytime soon.
Kinda proud of myself, I won’t lie.
I’m heading to my car to drive over to our new condo for the summer. I’m going to sign the lease and get everything set up so that we can move in immediately, even if it won’t be for another few weeks.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I grab it to see who it is. The anxiety that ratchets inside me slowly eases when I see that it’s just Maggie.
Maggie: How’s my girl doing? I miss you.
I smile at that.
Me: I’m hanging in there. How is my girl doing?
Maggie: Your girl? I like the sound of that.
Maggie: Also, you didn’t say it back.
I snort, my smile still firmly in place as I shake my head.
Me: What are you? In first grade?
Her response comes in immediately.
Maggie: Yeah, but I read at a third grade level.
A laugh escapes me, catching the attention of several judgy people walking by me. Like I give a fuck.
Me: I miss you.
Maggie: There’s my good girl. Was that so hard?
I flush at her calling me a good girl. Everything Maggie does is hot, but the way she dirty talks? The whole mommy kink thing? I’m surprised my panties don’t slip right off every time she opens her mouth. Well, technically, they do. Maggie and I are rarely in a room alone together where either of our panties stay on for longer than two minutes. We love each other, though. We’re insanely attracted to each other, and she wants to build a life with me and…I really want to build one with her.
For the first time in so fucking long, I’m happy. I can picture a future for myself. I wasn’t always able to say that. I’m honestly looking forward to my session with Ariel this week, because I think she’s going to be really proud of me. I’m kinda proud of me.
Looking up from my phone to make sure I don’t step into oncoming traffic, my eyes swing up before returning to my phone before I pause. My eyes slowly drift up again, and when they do, my heart plummets.
Fuck.
My father is standing there, leaning against his town car, suit crisp without a wrinkle in sight. His gaze is hardened, stiff, and it has my fight-or -light instincts kicking in immediately.
“Get in the car, Bridgette.”
My body is shaking uncontrollably as I shake my head. He lifts an eyebrow, like he doesn’t have time for this, before I bolt. I don’t pick a direction, just one that is away from him. I make it several feet before strong arms wrap around me, hauling me into a hard chest and lifting me off my feet.
I scream and kick, but it’s no use. My father leaves the back door open as his driver tosses me inside like a bag of flour before rounding the car. I try for the handle of the other door when I find that it’s child locked.
My father lets out a malicious laugh as he slips inside, shutting his door just before we take off.
“Do you honestly think I’d let you get away?”
Panic fills me as I sit on the floor, doing my best to keep as much distance between us as possible. My phone is still clutched in my hand, and without looking, I begin typing out a message to Maggie.
Unfortunately, he sees everything. He tries to grab the phone, and I fight him, yanking on it like a game of tug and war, before he leans forward, biting down on my wrist. A scream erupts from me as I let go of the phone before he sets it on the floor and stomps on it, crushing it to bits. My hopes of getting out of this car are smashed to pieces alongside it. A coldness settles in my veins as I look up at my father. He’s frowning at me, his pale, chapped lips pursed as he shakes his head.
“You and I have a problem.”