CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The scene I step into freezes my blood. Callie’s father is seconds away from slapping her across the face. Had I arrived a moment later, she’d be battered and bruised.
It’s a damn good thing I followed the gut instinct that urged me to check in over here. Something didn’t feel quite right. Now I know it’s this piece of shit stinking up the place.
The man whirls to face me after my blatant interruption. “Well, look who decided to join us. You must be the boyfriend.”
“Damn straight, and that makes me your worst nightmare. I’d suggest you get the fuck out before I break your ability to do so.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Depends on your response,” I drawl.
He widens his stance, as if that will make him appear like an adequate opponent. It’s pathetic.
“This is a family matter. It doesn’t involve you.”He has the courage to point at me.
I almost laugh in his face. “Nah, you’re the intruder in this situation. That woman you’re disrespecting is my whole world. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna stand back while you try to make her feel less than. That goes for her mama too. The way I see it, you owe them both an apology.”
The ass blubbers soundlessly like a fish out of water. “I’ll never apologize for fulfilling my duty as the head of our household. Over my dead body,” he adds.
“That can certainly be arranged.”
His face takes on a reddish hue as he snorts like a bull. “Are you even listening to me?”
“No.”
“Those two”—he blindly points at the women who have the displeasure of witnessing his rant—“need to be taught a lesson.”
I go still when that venom spews from him. The suggestion strikes a match and hovers the flame over my short fuse. Consider me triggered.
A memory assaults me, and it’s not even mine. The scar on Callie’s arm might as well be seared into my own flesh. That burn mark spreads into a lethal blaze fueled by countless injustices from this waste of oxygen. Revenge is the only extinguisher.
My hands clench into weapons that won’t quit until he’s properly dealt with. I glance at Callie taking a stand against her tormentor. She returns my stare and must see the desire for vengeance overtaking me. Her head shakes, just slightly. That refusal diffuses the bomb set to detonate. He’s still her father. I probably shouldn’t kill him.
My exhale releases the fire in my veins. “For their sake, I’m gonna pretend you didn’t suggest that.”
His eyes bulge to cartoon proportions. “You’re defending their behavior?”
“Bet your sorry ass. Not only that, I encourage them to be independent. They have my full support to chase their wildest dreams.”
His molars audibly grind. “I didn’t come here for jokes.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I grunt.
Especially when he talks about his wife and daughter like they’re disobedient dogs. If anyone has earned a one-way ticket behind the barn, it’s this ugly fucker I’m forced to stare at. I’d be doing us all a favor by putting him down.
He swats at my most recent retort. “Just release my wife and we’ll be on our way.”
“Haven’t we already been over this? That’s not gonna happen unless she willingly goes with you.”
His glare swivels in her direction. “She belongs to me.”
“Like a piece of property?” I thump his forehead to regain his attention. Maybe knock some sense into him too. “You’re a real sack of shit. Who gave you this power over her? Did she volunteer?”
He hesitates after my corrective action but makes no move to reciprocate. “That’s the structure Billmoore thrives on. My wife will be prosecuted for the harm she caused.”
“The harm she caused,” I echo. The impulse to smack him again heats my palm. “What crimes did she commit?”
He blinks, scrounging for an answer that doesn’t exist. His corrupt rules hold no value. “She stepped out of line.”
“Didn’t take you for a hypocrite.”
His temper flexes and strains against whatever is holding him back. “I’ve about had it with your insults.”
My chuckle is a taunt. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Why don’t you tell me about your off-season hunting practices? Or maybe you’d prefer to share the details of your gambling circuit? Both are illegal, and that’s by government law. Not some fictional justice scheme you’ve cooked up.”
He visibly pales. “How do you know about that?”
“I paid a visit to your backwoods community. It didn’t take much to get the dirt I went for.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me? That’s extortion.”
“It’s hilarious that you’re trying to use legitimate legal jargon when it suits you.”
His throat bobs with a thick gulp. “We don’t need to get the authorities involved. Just give me my wife—”
“The answer is still no,” I interrupt.
He sputters. “I drive all this way to fetch her—”
“Gonna stop you there,” I cut in again.
Before I continue, Callie appears at my side. She squares off against her dad. “How did you know where to find her?”
“I don’t have to answer to you, Calliope.”
“Guess again,” I growl.
He looks positively perturbed by my frequent redirection. “I suppose it won’t hurt to reveal my ingenious methods.”
“The fucking ego on this guy,” I mutter. “Your dick must be the size of a Tic Tac. No wonder your wife left you.”
His mouth pinches into a pucker that would be very popular in prison. “As I was saying, I took precautions after Calliope left. I figured her mother might get the same idea, but I made sure she couldn’t get far. Stupid woman is dumb enough to believe that gaudy bauble on her wrist is an actual token of my affection.”
An uncharted level of disgust twists Callie’s features. “You’re tracking her?”
“Have been for over a year now.” The schmuck has the audacity to appear proud.
A shrill noise cuts across the room seconds before Althea chucks the bracelet onto the floor. She stomps on the fake jewelry as if crushing his balls beneath her heel. Satisfaction raises her chin to a haughty tilt when the task is complete.
I nod in approval. “Couldn’t have said it better myself. Who else feels vindicated?”
Callie’s father trembles with barely contained fury. “I can’t believe you’re allowing them to act like this.”
“In case you missed my statement earlier, they’re free to do whatever the fuck they want. You and I aren’t the same.” It’s an offensive slur to my moral code that he assumes otherwise. “Which leads to you taking the hint and showing yourself out. Or I can go with you. We can put an end to this dispute once and for all.”
“I’m not going anywhere without my wife,” he repeats.
My head tilts as a thought occurs to me. “Was there a wedding?”
His expression is dumbfounded. “Huh?”
“Did you exchange vows? Sign a marriage certificate? Make it legitimate?”
“That’s not how—”
“Then she’s not your anything, except maybe by common law. But I doubt you believe in that either.”
“I’ve had enough,” he barks. “Come, Althea. We’re going home.”
“She already said no. Is that word foreign to you? Does she need to repeat herself?”
Althea is trembling like a leaf but she meets his glare. “No.”
“You don’t have a choice.” He launches himself at her, but I have his shirt in my grip before he moves an inch.
I stride toward the door with him in tow. “Excuse me, ladies. It’s time for me to take out the trash.”
He’s fussing and kicking like an insolent toddler the entire trek to the driveway. “You can’t do this.”
I shove him off me. “It was very unfortunate meeting you. Let’s never do it again.”
His beady gaze narrows. “As if I plan to make this a habit.”
“Glad we have an understanding. Not sure where you parked, but I suggest you run for it before I beat you to it.” I make a shooing motion to scurry him along.
“This isn’t the last you’ll hear from me. I’ll be back with reinforcements.”
“Like a party? Fucking awesome. I love big groups of people. While you’re doing that, I’ll compile a list of the laws you’re breaking. In addition to the two I already mentioned, this is private property and you’re trespassing. The cops are good friends of mine, which makes them your enemy.”
“All I hear are more empty threats,” he snarls.
Clearly, nobody ever taught him not to poke the bear. I stroll at a leisurely pace to where he’s loitering in the street. “This can go two ways, old man. I can kick your ass before letting you leave town, or you can get the fuck out on your own with some of your dignity still intact. Either way, if I ever see your face again, you’ll regret it.”
“Fucking prick,” he sneers.
“That’s not very nice. I was trying to be considerate by giving you a choice, not that you deserve it. Now I’ll just do what I want.” I pretend to lunge at him. It’s more posturing than anything.
The fake intimidation tactic does the trick.He tucks tail and dashes into the dark, which fills me with more joy than I thought he was capable of providing.
I wave at his retreating form. “Tootle-fucking-oo.”
Vanilla carries on the breeze like a reward for my valiant efforts. That welcome scent has me retracing my steps until I’m hovering over the threshold. I grip onto the doorframe, stopping myself from imposing. These two have tolerated more than their fair share of masculine energy for one evening.
Before I can take my leave, Callie rushes forward and climbs me like a tree. Her legs cinch my middle while she peppers my face with kisses. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Althea is more demure in her appreciation. Her smile is small, but present. A sure sign she’s going to be okay. That alone is worth the senseless sniveling I just endured.
I band an arm under Callie’s ass to brace her weight against me. “No gratitude necessary. It’s an honor to protect you, sweetness.”
She huffs. “Um, you’re our hero. The dragon is slayed.”
“Didn’t we decide this isn’t a fairytale?”
“It feels pretty dreamy,” she breathes.
“Mhmm.” My agreement is pressed against her lips. “I should go.”
Callie arches away to study my expression. “Why?”
“I’m sure you want to decompress after… that.” My free hand points to where her dad was last seen.
She shakes her head. “Don’t leave. What if he isn’t really gone?”
He’ll meet my fist, but I don’t reveal that. “Would it make you feel better if I camp in the yard?”
“No, stay in here.” She rocks her hips into my lower abdomen as if that will persuade me.
If I’m being honest, temptation clouds my judgment. But I refuse to overstep. “Your mom would probably be more comfortable if I left.”
“Let’s ask her.” Callie releases her hold on me, sliding down my front before pivoting to face her mother.
“Althea has been through enough,” I rumble.
The older woman straightens in her spot on the couch. “Call me Thea, and please, take a seat.”