Chapter Ten
Penny
I ’m a bundle of nerves when I arrive at Jack’s house. It was only a few days ago I came here with Trey. If Zella says anything, it’ll be over before I started. I’m hoping since she’s a quiet kid, she won’t. I need this job. Not for the money. I need it for Trey.
Though, if he knew I was doing this, he’d probably kill me.
Samantha does her job well, and I do trust her as she’s helped my brother and Roan with Sebban, and now she’s helping with Charlotte’s mess. However, I don’t know that she moves fast enough for my liking.
Something’s off and I want to get to the bottom of it.
I knock on the door, swallowing down my nerves. A few minutes later, the man I recognize from my social media investigation answers the door. His gaze sweeps over me and he smiles as though he’s pleased.
“Come in,” he says. “Jack Henderson.”
I don’t want to shake his hand. I don’t want to touch him. But I need to seem normal for once in my life. I do my best to impersonate my cheerleader sister and manage to offer my hand. He holds it for far too long, grinning like a fucking creep.
I step inside, crinkling my nose at the smell. Whatever is cooking smells terrible. We make our way through the living room to the kitchen. Zella sits at the table, a frown on her face. Her eyes are downcast. It makes me want to snatch her up and steal her from him.
“Penelope,” Jack says, “this is my daughter, Zella. Zella, say hello to your new babysitter.”
I guess I got the job already.
Zella’s eyes lift, recognition flaring in them. Since I’m standing behind Jack, I take a chance and hold a finger to my lips, winking at her. She smiles, giving me a small wave that melts my heart.
“Please,” Jack says. “Stay for dinner. We’d love to have you.”
His niceness feels fake to me. So, I give him a fake smile back. “Great. Can I help?”
“No, sweetheart. Just sit down and get to know Zella.” He makes his way into the kitchen and pulls something out of the oven.
I walk over to the table and pull out a chair. Zella peeks at me as I sit.
“I like your hair,” I tell her. “It’s pretty.”
“Mommy’s hair—” she starts, but is cut off by Jack’s growl.
“You say thank you when someone compliments you.” He pins her with a fierce glare. “Now, Zella.”
“T-Thank you,” she whispers, her brown eyes tearing up.
I have to clench my teeth together so I don’t tell this dude to fuck off. He walks over to the table where I’m sitting and places a hand on my shoulder, making me cringe.
“We’re still working on her manners,” Jack explains, squeezing my shoulder. “Maybe you can help her with that.”
Me? Help with manners? Yeah, right.
“Sure,” I say coolly, suppressing the urge to smack his hand off me.
I need to be here. And appear normal. I’ve never needed to be normal so badly in my entire life. I need this for Zella. For Trey.
Jack pats my shoulder and then heads back over to the stove. I can’t stop looking at Zella. She’s so sad. Lonely. Afraid. It makes my hackles rise. Jack places a cooked carton of frozen lasagna on a hot plate in the middle of the table. It looks gross as hell, but I don’t say a word. Then, he brings Zella a juice box. After pulling out two wineglasses, he sets one in front of my spot and then his.
I’m seventeen.
Yet, he pours me a large glass of red wine.
I glance at him, frowning.
“I don’t condone drinking on the job,” he says, “but you’re our guest tonight.”
“I’m not allowed to drink,” I remind him.
He winks at me, making my skin crawl. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”
Gross.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
We make it through dinner with Jack chatting my ear off about his job at the tire factory. I choke down the lasagna, washing it down with the disgusting red wine. My stomach is queasy by the end of it. I learn that Zella starts preschool tomorrow, but in the evenings if he has to work late, he’ll need someone to pick her up and bring her home, keeping her until he’s done. I’m regretting my decision to do this with each lingering stare of his. But all it takes is one glance at Zella to remind me why I’m doing it.
“Why don’t you clean up in here and I’ll get her ready for bed?” Jack says, rising from his seat.
He wants me to do the dishes. Fucker.
I smile sweetly. “Sure.”
His wink makes my blood curdle. “Come on, Zella. Tell Miss Penelope good night. You’ll see her soon.”
“Bye,” she squeaks out before scampering from the kitchen.
He follows after her, reminding me of a stalking lion. I want to chase after them, but I do as I was told, knowing I need to stay in line. It’s irritating I have to clean up this mess, but I do it as quickly as I can so I can get the hell out of here. I’m just drying my hands off when I feel him.
Close.
Too close.
Inhaling me.
What the actual fuck?
I tense up, fisting my hands, when he curls his hands around my biceps, his body pinning mine from behind. “You remind me of her.”
“Who?” I choke out, trembling with disgust.
“My daughter.”
“Zella?’
“Lacey.”
I should run far, far away from this man, but he has answers I need. “Oh?”
“Very beautiful like you. Compliant. A good girl.”
This motherfucker.
“I, uh, where is she?” I tremble beneath his touch.
“Florida.”
“Why?”
“She had to stay.”
“But why?”
“Because. Enough about her. Let’s have a drink and get to know you better, Penelope.” He squeezes my biceps before letting me go.
My hands shake, so I cross my arms over my chest, suppressing a shiver. He sets to pouring another overly full glass of wine in my glass. I don’t like this or him.
He picks up the two glasses and walks into the living room, placing them on the coffee table. I slowly follow after him, my eyes darting to the front door. I should leave.
“Lacey is Zella’s mother. I’m not really Zella’s father,” he admits. “I’m sure you could tell.”
Fuck.
I need for him to keep talking.
“She doesn’t look like you,” I say, approaching him with caution.
He pats the sofa cushion beside him. “Sit, sweetheart.”
Every step is painful, but I manage to obey. Once I’m seated, he hands me my glass. I don’t want to drink any more of the nasty shit because I feel like I might puke, but I hold it like I plan to.
“Who’s her father?” I ask, trying hard to look innocent.
He pats my thigh, leaving his hand there. “Some things are better left unsaid.”
“I should go.”
“Finish your drink,” he urges. “It isn’t often I get the company of a beautiful girl. Indulge me for a bit.”
“Why did you move to Horn River? Why didn’t Lacey come with you?”
His eyes flash with annoyance and he gives my thigh a rough squeeze. “Horn River is our hometown. We needed a break.”
“From her mother?” I ask, unable to keep the bite out of my tone.
He releases my leg to tug out a package of cigarettes from his front pocket. After pulling out a cigarette, he offers me one. I shake my head in disgust. Shrugging, he lights up, sucking in a deep lungful of smoke.
“It’s better for Zella to forget about Lacey,” he says, blowing the smoke right in my face.
I start to cough, which gives me an excuse to set my glass down on the table. “Girls need their mothers.”
His jaw clenches, eyes narrowing on me. He takes another drag of his cigarette, studying me harder than before. Shit. I need to reel back so he doesn’t send me packing.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, nearly choking on the words. “I’m not trying to be nosy. I just know I’d be sad if I didn’t have my mom.”
My answer pleases him because he relaxes. “Not every mother is cut out for parenthood. Some mothers fill their children with bullshit nonsense. Lacey liked to tell Zella lies. Promise her things that couldn’t happen.”
I have to find Lacey and help her too. It sounds like this asshole was a real peach to be around. And if I’m not mistaking the vibes he’s throwing out, he kidnapped her daughter.
I’m in deep.
No turning back now.
“I should go.” I start to rise, but his hand clamps down on my thigh.
“Stay for a bit so we can go over the rules.”
I swallow down the bile that his touch causes to rise inside of me. “Okay.”
“No boyfriends are allowed over.” He pins me with a hard stare. “No television for Zella. No computer or phone games. I don’t want her playing outside. When you’re watching her, I want her inside this house. Reading books or practicing her letters. If she misbehaves, then you’re to notify me immediately. I will punish her accordingly.”
Fuck no.
“Punish?”
He leans back on the sofa, lifting his protruding belly to show me his belt. “An ass whipping does wonders to keep a child in line.” His disgusting gaze sweeps over me. “No matter how old the child is.”
I will strangle him with that belt.
“My dad never spanked me and I turned out fine,” I bite out, unable to stop myself.
He squeezes my thigh again, hard enough I’m sure it’ll bruise. “He probably should have. Lacey would never have spoken to me at your age the way you’re speaking to me. I would have bent her over my knee and whipped her ass.”
“You’re hurting me,” I grind out.
His hold relaxes, his thumb rubbing the spot. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength,” he says around his cigarette. “You forgive me?”
No.
Fucking never.
“I, uh, yeah. I gotta go. I told Dad I’d only be gone for a little while.” I quickly stand, putting distance between myself and this motherfucker. “I’ll see you around.”
He stubs out his cigarette in the ashtray and stands. “I’ll text you next time I need you to sit. If it’s late you can always sleep over.”
Hell to the motherfucking no.
“My dad won’t allow that,” I bite out. “But, sure, text me. Later.”
He stops me, his hand curling around my elbow. “I think this is going to be a good fit. I can tell you’re a good girl who obeys rules. Rules are very important in this house. Girls who follow them are rewarded. Those who don’t are punished.”
If only he knew how much I wanted to shove my Mace can in his face and empty it into his mouth.
“Perfect,” I blurt out. “Bye.”
He winks at me. “Bye, sweetheart.”
My skin continues to crawl long after I leave his house and am miles away from him.
What have I done?
What’s necessary.
Remember the plan, Penny. Remember the plan.