Chapter 17 #2
In my back pocket, my phone buzzes. Keeping a hand firmly on the back of Dax’s neck, I pull out my phone. When I see it’s my dad calling, I immediately cancel the call.
“Maybe you should answer it,” Dax murmurs.
I put the phone down on the bed and nuzzle my nose against Dax’s jaw. The phone buzzes again, but I don’t budge.
“Vanessa?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m not talking to him.”
The buzzing stops, and a moment later, starts again.
Dax motions to my phone. “He keeps calling. You should answer it.”
“No. I don’t care what he has to say.”
“Make things right with your dad,” he urges. “Don’t let it get worse. I’m not worth it.”
“Don’t say that.” My voice becomes raspy with desperation. “Of course you’re worth it.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not worth ignoring your family. You’re taken care of here. You can’t risk that.”
“But it doesn’t make me happy.” I scoop his hand in mine and rest it against my chest. “You make me happy.”
Sadness dulls his blue-gray eyes. “Don’t put it on me. I don’t want to get between you and your family.”
I lift his hand and kiss it. “I’ll talk to my dad purely because I hate seeing you sad.”
A hint of a smile twitches at the corners of his mouth. “Thanks.”
I move off the bed and leave the bedroom. As I move down the hallway, I grip the phone so tight it might snap in two. When I reach the living area, I hit answer and lift the phone to my ear.
“Dad?”
“Vanessa.” He’s breathless. “Where are you? I’ll send a car. I need you back home.”
“I didn’t leave the grounds.”
Surprise litters his tone. “You didn’t?”
I nod against the phone. “I’m still at Ashworth Estate. I just need some time to myself.”
“As long as you’re not with that boy, we can talk about this.”
I huff, raking a hand through my hair. “Meaning the alternative would be, if you saw me with him, you’d ignore me?”
Dad pauses, and I can almost hear his nostrils flaring. “No, honey. I just want you at home and safe.”
I spent a whole night out of the house with him, and you didn’t even notice. Even though it’s on the tip of my tongue, I dare not say it.
“You don’t even know him. He’s not dangerous.”
“LJ told me about his tattoos.”
“Wait,” it hisses out of me as anger injects into my veins. “LJ went running to you, and that’s why you flipped out when you saw me with Dax?”
“Do you have any idea what that scorpion tattoo means?”
I huff and throw my hand up. “It’s a motorcycle club.”
“It’s more than that.” Frustration gets the better of him, and his tone grows urgent. “You shouldn’t know about these things.”
A deep scowl embeds in my face. “Why? Because I’m just a simple girl?”
“Yes, you’re my little girl.”
I retch. “Don’t demean me. I’m more than just your daughter.”
Dad sighs. “I’m trying to protect you.”
“You haven’t been protecting me. You’ve been shutting me out.”
“Vanessa.” His voice turns stern. “Don’t be like this.”
“Why shouldn’t I? I’m not the child you want to talk with.”
“You need to stop acting like this. I’ve never played favorites with you and Ash.”
A laugh erupts from me before I can catch it.
“What has happened to you?” Dad says in a low tone. “You’ve never acted this way before.”
“Because I’m finally saying what’s on my mind. I’m not being your good girl who solely goes to the country club and plans parties.”
“Vanessa, I know you do more than that.”
“Do you? Because you’ve never taken me to work with you.”
“I didn’t think you were suited to it.”
“No, it’s because I’m not your son.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I quickly wipe them away, because this is too stupid to cry over.
“Maybe I should’ve taken you to the office,” Dad murmurs.
My heart pounds. “What was that?”
“Then maybe you’d know more about The Scorpions.”
“What does that mean?”
“They’ve disrupted work at our manufacturing plants in Logan’s Point,” Dad replies. “They’re menaces.”
“This is why you want me to stay away from Dax? Because you lost some efficiency in your factories?”
“No. I want you away from him because he’s a gang member. If you spend time with him, he’ll corrupt you.”
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Vanessa, come to my study. We’ll discuss this in person.”
“No, I can’t. I can’t be around you tonight.”
“It’s non-negotiable. I need to see you in the next ten minutes.”
“No.” I stomp my foot as my clammy hand squeezes the phone. “There are countless bedrooms in this manor. I’ll find the one farthest from your wing and camp there. Just leave me alone.”
I end the call before he can get in another demand. I pant heavily, staring at my phone, and my body fuels with adrenaline.
Holy cow. I just told off my dad.
I wipe the back of my hand over my forehead, collecting beads of sweat.
I trudge back to the bedroom and find Dax sprawled out on the bed. His forearm covers his eyes until his ears prick at my footsteps.
He lowers his arm and sits up. “How’d it go?”
I shrug and sit on the edge of the bed. “It doesn’t matter.”
He slides his hand over mine, and his warmth calms my nerves. “Yes, it does.”
I exhale and focus on the thumping of my heart. “He knows about The Scorpions because they’ve caused havoc at his factories. LJ saw your tattoo while we were at the tailor’s and tipped off my dad about us.”
“I get why your dad’s worried about you. He probably never expected to see his daughter on the back of a motorcycle.”
“That’s the problem. He has too many expectations of me.”
“He just wants to protect you.”
“But he won’t listen. If he did, he’d know I don’t need protection from you.”
“Yeah, but he thinks I’m like my dad.”
“If he saw what I witnessed today, he’d want to take you in and keep you safe.” I sniff hard, choking up. “That’s all I want.”
Dax scoots forward and pulls me into his arms. I rest my chin on his shoulder, fighting the urge to cry, as his strong hands rub my back.