Page 26 of Captured

Not possible.

“I do care about you, Emily. And of course you remind me of your mother. She was the most precious thing in my life. You look exactly like her, perfect in every way. Only you’re not her.”

Maybe I should get out my violin and play him a little sappy tune.

He was such a horrible man, so selfish in every way. God, I hated him.

“Don’t you think I know that? You wish I’d been the one who’d been murdered. Not her.”

I knew he wasn’t really saying the words about me, the wistful, haunted look I’d seen more times than I could count, although he didn’t allow me to see the pain in his expression openly.

“That’s not true. I miss her, Em. I really do.”

Tell me another lie, Daddy.

“So do I. I wish every day I could have taken her place.”

“Never say that!” He pointed his finger at me, suddenly so angry his body was shaking. “Never. You are a precious woman and you deserve to live your life the way you want to.”

“Then stop treating me like a little girl. I’m all grown up.”

He threw back the rest of his drink, still shaking from rage. “Who gave you the fucking flowers? Do you have a boyfriend? I need to know.”

Just like that, the tiny bit of closeness he’d allowed me to see was gone. Vanished in the blink of an eye. I thought about the dozen white roses, the beautiful red ribbon attached and the card with a few little words written in gold calligraphy.

From an admirer.

They were from him, my stalker. I was certain of it. I’d been right and he’d been watching me.

Forever watching me.

“No. I don’t have a boyfriend. Boys are terrified of you, Daddy. Didn’t you know that? They won’t get within two feet. I have no clue who sent them. Except maybe that instructor who adores me.”

He gritted his teeth. “I should have that man fired. Or maybe I should handle him my way.”

His way. Maybe he would have one of what my friends called his goons take care of Mr. Romero in a permanent fashion. What a lucky girl I was.

“Well, don’t worry and don’t bother. I’ve graduated. I never need to see him again.”

“If you’re hiding something from me, I will find out. Look what happened to Karen’s boyfriend.”

“It’s Cara’s, Daddy. Cara. The only girl who’s ever been to this house. She’s devastated and I understand, Daddy. But his death had nothing to do with me.”

“Don’t be naïve, Emily. What happened has everything to do with who you are.”

“You mean who you are. As you’ve told me time and time again, I’m nothing.”

Another glaring look was slanted in my direction. At least I was managing to stand up to the bastard.

The slight buzzing of his phone kept him from going on and on about how embarrassed he’d been because of me. As he glared at the recent text, his jaw was more clenched than it had been before.

After he quickly shoved his phone into his pocket, he tossed back the rest of his drink, once again slamming the glass on the bar before heading toward the door to his office. “I have business I need to take care of.”

“What about dinner?” I didn’t bother turning around but I sensed almost immediately he’d stopped in the doorway.

“I think you should take some time to practice tonight. Don’t you? You don’t want to disappoint the world stage like you did to me tonight. And don’t leave this house. We’re not finished with this conversation.”

Of course we weren’t.

---