Page 13 of Savage Obsession

“I don’t think so.” I close the distance in two strides. “You and I need to talk.”

“Who are you?” he repeats.

“Baz Bartosz. I believe you’ve been expecting me.”

“You!” He clearly recognises my name. “Look, whatever that bitch has said?—”

“That’s my wife. Mind your fucking tone.”

“Ex-wife.” The fool gathers his wits and attempts to correct me. “But, whatever, I’m done with her. You’re welcome. Now fuck off.”

I fold my arms and regard him for a few moments. Might as well come straight to the point. “I understand you’ve been playing happy families at my house, with my kid. Except, she’s not so happy with you. Is she?”

“Kid? What kid? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” He attempts to shove past me, heading for the door.

I step in front of him, halting his escape. “We’re talking about Lily. My daughter. I gather you’ve upset her, and obviously, that’s a problem.”

“How would I know if she’s upset? I barely speak to her. Sulky brat.”

My eyes narrow, and he has the good sense to pick up on it. He backs off, hands raised.

“I don’t mean anything by it. She’s just a kid, a typical preteen.”

I follow, matching his pace until he’s backed against the kitchen worktop. “And you know all about kids, do you? Typical preteens? Well, I suppose you would, since you clearly like them young.”

“What are you talking about? I just try to be friendly, that’s all. She needs a father figure, that’s what I told Julia.”

“I’m her father,” I remind him softly.

“I was only being friendly,” he repeats. He’s starting to babble now. “It’s hardly my fault if she gets the wrong end of the stick…”

“What end would that be, Gerek?” I keep my tone low and deceptively calm.

“A misunderstanding. I never meant?—”

He breaks off and makes a run for the bedroom door, but I’m faster. I let him think he’s almost made it before I slam the door on his fingers, then watch as he slithers, wailing to the floor.

“You broke my hand. I’ll have the law on you, you bastard.” He rolls about, clutching his injured hand.

I consider landing my boot in his ribs but decide to save that treat for later. Instead, I crouch beside him. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes. Misunderstandings.”

He scrambles away and attempts to shove himself to his feet. I decide to give him some encouragement by way of an uppercut to his jaw which lays him out flat on the carpet.

“Shall we go and have a sit down? And a chat? I want to understand just how it went, this ‘misunderstanding’ with my little girl.” I don’t wait for him to answer. Instead, I seize him under the armpits and haul him onto one of his posh kitchen chairs, and quickly secure him there with cable ties. I always keep a few in my pocket, nice and handy. Then, I pull up another chair and straddle it, facing him.

“So, tell me all about Lily.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Shall we cut the bollocks? I’ll be easier, in the long run. What did you think, when you first saw her?”

He stares at me, bewildered. “I didn’t think anything. She was just Julia’s kid, that’s all.”

“We both know that’s not true. A man like you, you like young girls. You always notice. Don’t you?”

I know it, down to my toenails. This man is a predator, I’ve seen his type countless times. I recognise it in myself, though my preferred prey is scrotes and lowlife dickheads who think they can avoid paying what they owe. But there’s a look, a way they have. We have.

My flesh crawls when I think of my precious little girl at the mercy of this animal. And I’m proud that she found a way to get herself out of his clutches, though she should never have been put in such a position. She’s in danger, out there, on her own somewhere, because of him.

---