Page 58 of Seeds of Malice

"I want my daughter," my father repeats.

"I told you she's not here."

The walkie-talkie on my father's waist starts blaring.

More tension mounts.

Dax snarls, "Are you going to do your job and find out what's happening?"

More silence follows, and I keep low, with my eyes closed, praying my father doesn't see me.

The beeping gets louder. A man's voice calls out over the walkie-talkie, "John, we have a situation."

Dad finally picks up the walkie-talkie, presses the button, and replies, "What's going on?"

"Something's wrong with the heating in the greenhouse. You need to get down here and fix it. Everything's wilting. It's two times the normal temperature range."

I peek around the corner of the bed.

My father shakes his head and shuts his eyes.

Dax orders, "Do your job, John. Ivy isn't here."

My father gives him another dirty look. Then he says into the walkie-talkie, "I'm on my way." He hooks it back onto his belt and warns Dax, "You're to stay away from my daughter."

Dax doesn't flinch. He points at Dad, stating, "Don't come within 500 feet of my house again. Or I will fire you. Am I clear?" Dax threatens.

I close my eyes, my head spinning faster.

I caused this.

My father's going to get fired.

No, Dax told me he would never do that.

But Dad's actions are out of control.

"Stay away from Ivy," my father warns again and finally leaves.

When he's out of sight, Dax turns, declaring, "Your father is crazy."

I rise off the floor and finish putting my bikini on. Then I beg Dax, "I'll pay for the window. Please don't fire him."

Dax tugs me into him. "Shh. Your father's not getting fired. But he's crazy. You saw that, right?"

I nod into his chest. "Yes. I'm sorry. He's overprotective of me. Please don't fire him," I repeat, even though Dax just told me he's not going to.

He tightens his hold on me. "You need to trust me, Ivy. I've told you that will never happen, so calm down."

I pull my head back. "How can you be so calm after this? Your window is broken."

He slowly looks behind him at the window, then back at me, and shrugs. "So what? It's a piece of glass. I'll have someone fix it by the end of the day."

I gape at him.

He adds, "Your father's going to have to do way more than break my window to keep me away from you."

I slowly smile.

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