Page 206 of Plaything

“I promise,” she agreed.

“Aiden,” she sent him a pointed look. “Tell me again when I don’t look like a blobfish?” The corner of her mouth lifted into a small smile.

“I take it back,” he rolled his eyes. It was silly, considering words couldn’t be unspoken. I suppose she didn’t want to remember our first spoken ‘I love you’s’ being bruised and bloody.

Niko took her upstairs to clean her up and let her sleep. Once the bruises fully developed, she’d be very sore in the morning.

“Where are my keys?” Dominic asked while returning to the living room where Aiden and I sat, reviewing the documents again.

“What? Are you going to break into the Whitlock mansion and beat him?” Aiden cocked an eyebrow. “He has security, Dominic. I don’t feel like bailing you out of jail tonight,” he dismissed.

I smirked. I wasn’t a violent man; I was nearly a pacifist. However, I was my father’s son. I didn’t live in Alabama for long, but my family brought their southern... customs with them. Unfortunately for Charles, I was raised around hicks who didn’t tolerate men laying hands on a woman.

“Wyatt...” Aiden narrowed his eyes on me. “I know that look. Don’t be stupid,” he warned.

Too late. I stood, patting Dominic’s shoulder as I passed. “Be right back.”

When I opened the drawer I’d hidden the keys in, I was surprised to see it was empty. I rolled my eyes. “Niko...” I mumbled under my breath. Somehow, he knew I’d end up giving the keys to Dominic or joining him myself, so he’d re-hidden them.

As much as I didn’t want to credit him, it was a smart move. I wanted to feel Charles’ bones snap under my knuckles and hear him confess to the police he’d certainly denied the accusations of earlier.

I closed the drawer. As angry as we were, and as much as Charles deserved it, we wouldn’t be leaving the manor tonight. This wasn’t Niko’s way of saving Charles from us. He was saving us from going to prison for manslaughter.

Odette needed us. Aiden said it best; the only thing we could do was care for her. Even if that meant sharing a bed with Niko to be with her tonight, that was what I’d do.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Odette

He was so much taller than me in my nine-year-old body. Daddy had always been a big and rather scary man. Especially now, as he stormed up to me in his office.

I didn’t know why we were there or why he looked so angry with me. Although I was confused, I wanted to make him happy. That was all I ever wanted. I loved nothing more than when he had a good day at work. He’d come home with a smile for me and ask about my day. Sometimes, he’d even take me out for a pretzel.

Days like that didn’t happen often for daddy, so when I got his smiles... I cherished them. My chest warmed, and my heart felt like it could burst when he was happy. I always tried to do my best to be perfect for him.

Daddy didn’t like it when I did certain things. It upset him if I was too noisy, bothered him, ran around, asked him to play, or clanked my fork against the plate at dinner. When I remembered, I always made sure to avoid the things that didn’t make him happy.

How he ended up so angry was a mystery because I couldn’t recall doing anything to upset him. That didn’t matter; I would try to brighten his mood!

“Hi, daddy.” My voice was small and high as I spoke with a smile. “What’s wrong?”

His pace didn’t lessen as he raised a big fist in the air. “Daddy?” I widened my eyes as he punched me.

I was so confused. I cried as he kept hitting me, begging him to be happy. My body hurt, but my heart was shattered.

Why would daddy do this? I was his pretty girl; that was what he called me when he was happy. I couldn’t be pretty if I had a bruised face.

“Daddy, what did I do?” I wailed, wishing I could fix this. “I’m sorry!”

“Odette!” Niko’s roaring voice woke me, his hands firm on my shoulders, softly shaking me into reality.

I sat upright in his bed; my eyes (or just single eye really) were wide as I fought to break out of the nightmare. My face was wet with tears, breathing strained, and my hand was balled in a fist over my heart.

A single candle on Niko’s dresser cast faint light and shadows in the chilled room. I watched it flicker and dance calmly for a moment, wishing my pounding heart would mirror it.

Wyatt touched my neck, turning me to face him. “You’re safe. It’s just a bad dream,” he attempted to calm me. His sandy hair was a tousled mess, showing that he’d only just woken. Despite their sleepy state, he and Niko both looked distressed.

“I’m sorry,” I huffed quickly, having a hunch they’d been trying to wake me for more than the seconds it should have taken.

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