Chapter 46
Chapter forty-six
ASH
“You’re such a fucking embarrassment, Lynn,” Papa says as he slams the door with one hand and shoves me deeper into the living room with the other. “I work at the Hangman,” he reminds me. “Those were my business associates.”
Oh fuck, what did I do? Estelle is going to be pissed. I said I’d head right back to Tia’s when the game was over. I’m so fucking stupid. The whole Pierce thing stopped my brain completely. I should be relieved that Papa didn’t notice I didn’t come home last night.
“Do you have any idea how that made me look? You just run off in the middle of a business deal?”
Right. He’s selling me. Picking who I’m going to have heat with and getting paid. Not anymore.
“I don’t want to…” My voice is small and shaky. I edge my way around the coffee table, trying to put space between us.
“I don’t fucking care what you want. You belong to me until some alpha lowers his standards enough to take on a whore like you.” His hands shake as he checks his phone “And no alpha is going to want you. Until then, you’re going to do exactly what I say when I say it.”
My cheeks burn. What if he’s right? What if they won’t want me if they know what Papa made me do?
He leans over with a groan and retrieves the charger from the wall, trying his best to wind it up into a messy ball.
“I want you to move your shit back into the house so I can keep an eye on you.” It takes him three tries to get the charger stuffed in his front pocket. “I’m late for work,” he mutters.
“You’re not selling my heat!” The words fire out of me, and I back up ten feet, like I had just lobbed a grenade into the middle of the living room. Papa just laughs.
“I will do whatever I fucking want with you.” He straightens his jacket and runs his fingers through his greasy hair. “I’m late for work. Don’t test me, Lynn.”
He rips the door open and slams it behind him. I race to the window and crouch down next to it, peeling the blinds back just enough that I can watch him get in the car and pull out of the driveway.
“Oh shit, what did I do?” My head is so fucked up, I didn’t realize I shouldn’t come back here. I am a stupid little omega. I fumble with my phone as I watch Papa get in the car and adjust the mirror. I pull up Estelle’s number.
I hear the car start, and I peek out again and watch Papa pull back out of the driveway, leaving the gate unlocked. My eyes are glued to him as he drives down the street.
Ash:
I fucked up. Long story. Can you pick me up? I accidentally went home
Immediately, I see the three little dots appear.
Estelle:
Accidentally?
Whatever
I’m coming
“Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.” I curl myself into a ball and wrap the hoodie over my knees.
I sink down and hug myself, burying my nose behind the collar of the hoodie.
It smells like a freshly laundered snickerdoodle.
I focus on that rather than all the other bullshit that just happened while I wait for Estelle.
I rest my head on my knees but then my eyes pop wide.
His wallet.
Papa left his wallet on the coffee table. He’ll come back. Any second. He’ll remember and come back.
Lights beam across the living room as a car turns into the drive. I peek out the window. It’s a black SUV. I bolt for the door and run as hard as I can in my borrowed shoes.
“GO! GO! GO!” I shout as I jump into the passenger seat, and I don’t take a full breath until we’re almost at Tia’s.