Page 71 of His Wild Seduction

“He came to the cabin where I bunked with the other guards a few hours after I left you in the garden. Tears in his eyes, that motherfucker. He gave me the note and a check for twenty-five thousand with his apologies,” Josef told me.

I already figured that out, but I was glad Josef confirmed it for me.

It felt cathartic in a way. Like we were mending fences. Building bridges over the past.

“I know. He showed me a copy of the check. Said you cashed it immediately.”

“I did. Fuck, Meredith. I left and took it right away. I just couldn’t believe someone as special as you would ever really want me,” he confessed, and I was stunned.

“I’m so sorry, Baby. A friend needed money for his business, and I was his first investor. I gave him the check an hour after I got it. I was so fucking hurt. But when did you leave?” Josef asked after a few moments.

“After writing the note, right before he went to see you. He, um, well, he’d been drinking. He stunk of booze. He pulled my hair, slapped my face, and then he, he,” I stuttered on that part.

“He what?”

“He tore my shirt, and he g-grabbed my breast and twisted it. He was shocked when I started screaming. He called me names. Said it was my fault and called me more terrible names. Then he locked me in his office,” I said with remembered shame.

I shuddered against Josef. A strangled sound came from his throat, and he squeezed me tighter, but I needed to finish telling him. So I did.

“I was so confused and hurt and tired, but I couldn’t fall asleep in there. The sun wasn’t up yet. But I knew he would be back. When he returned, I rushed the door, knocking him out of the way.”

“Thank God. Thank God you got away,” he whispered huskily.

“I ran. I just took that opening, and I ran. I tried to find you, but you were gone. So I went to the guesthouse where I hid until I finally bribed a maid, her name was Gretchen, to grab some stuff from my room. Then I ran as far away as I could with the money in my pocket and my passport,” I finished.

I took a deep breath, gasping when Josef squeezed me. I felt relieved, like I’d just lost about fifty pounds of shame and guilt.

“Fuck. Fuck. Baby, I am so fucking sorry. Sorry you had to go through that, Sorry I left. And I’m fucking sorry he’s dead. I want to kill him myself,” Josef growled, surprising a laugh from me.

I couldn’t help it. I knew it was wrong. I knew it made me sicko or a freak. But I really just could not help myself.

Relief flooded my veins, and it was euphoric.

Just knowing that Josef knew.

That he knew and still wanted to defend me. That he didn’t blame me. That he believed me.

Knowing all of that helped so much.

I hadn’t realized how much guilt I’d been carrying around. As if I was somehow responsible for Franklin Gray’s revolting behavior.

“It wasn’t your fault, Baby,” Josef said, squeezing me tighter.

“I know,” I replied.

And for once, I really did know.

“That was all him. It wasn’t you. He was supposed to protect you from the monsters, not be one.”

“I didn’t know he wasn’t my father,” I confessed. “I didn’t know. I mean, I didn’t look like either of them. Not my mom or him. But I didn’t know.”

“It doesn’t matter if he was your biological father or not. He was responsible for you, Meredith. He should have done better. I should have done better, too. I’m so fucking sorry for all of it.”

I felt anger and more roiling through him, and I hugged Josef tighter. It wasn’t his fault, either.

He had to know I didn’t blame him.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you did.”

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