Page 30 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

Lyla shook her head. “He insulted me and the Pyres. He has no respect for anyone so why should I have respect for him? You and Dad need to figure it out.”

Her mother’s mouth dropped open. She was clearly stunned by Lyla’s calm delivery.

“But, what if he can’t get another job?” her mother asked.

“That’s his problem. If you need a place to stay, you can always come to me, but Dad isn’t welcome.”

“He’s your father, Lyla.”

“Calling me a slut and a whore doesn’t make me feel charitable towards him, especially when I gave up everything to save his ass when he embezzled.”

“He can be callous sometimes, but—”

“No, Mom, I’m done.” Lyla looked at Aunt Isabel who was clearly fascinated. “Hi, Aunty, you ready?”

“You can’t just do this to us!” Mom burst out. “You have a responsibility to take care of us.”

“When you can’t take care of yourselves, I will, out of duty,” Lyla said dispassionately. “But right now, if he can run his mouth as easily as he does, he can make a living.”

“You’ve changed,” her mother said accusingly.

“Yes, I have,” Lyla agreed.

“I don’t know what you’ve become, but you aren’t the daughter I raised.”

Lyla stared at her mother. “You haven’t asked where I’ve been for the past year and a half.”

“What?”

“You haven’t asked how I am, where I’ve been, if I’m happy. Parents who cared would ask.” Lyla waited for her mother to say something, but she’d been struck dumb. “Let’s go, Aunt Isabel.”

Lyla walked out of the house and was joined in the back of the SUV by Aunt Isabel and Carmen. Aunt Isabel took Lyla’s hand and squeezed.

“Your parents care... in their way,” Aunt Isabel said.

Lyla gave her a weak smile. “That’s not important. How are you?”

“Getting on. I’m glad Carmen’s here. I haven’t been good company.”

“It’ll take time,” Lyla said and then, “I’m sorry for what happened between me and my dad. I shouldn’t have—”

“I heard what he said. If you hadn’t done something, Gavin would have and he had every right to,” Aunt Isabel said crisply. “If Louie heard your father, he would have whooped his ass too.”

“I don’t know what came over me.”

“Years of pent up frustration, probably,” Aunt Isabel said. “Pat never treated you right and you’ve always been so sweet.”

Carmen snickered. “That was awesome. He’s been begging for it for years. Dad would have been proud.”

They chatted until they reached the salon. Carmen air kissed the cheek of the owner and Lyla did the same. It seemed like a lifetime since they had been here last. The hairdressers clucked over the state of their hair when Lyla’s phone rang again. Lyla picked up the phone and leaned into the large lit up mirror.

“Hi,” she said.

“You’re frying my nerves here,” Gavin growled.

“Sorry. We just got to the salon.” She surveyed herself and fluffed her hair. “You think I’ll look cute with pink hair?”

“Come again?”

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