Page 44 of Daddy's Little Surprise

“What did he do?”

“It was nothing. It’s just, he doesn’t know where I live. I didn’t tell him or anyone where I was moving. But I’m pretty sure it was just my eyes playing tricks on me.”

“Not good enough. What did he do to make you run away?”

“He was verbally abusive, and when he drank, he got physically abusive. I knew I needed to leave. When I found out I was pregnant, I left in the middle of the night. He was part of some gang, I don’t know the name of it, but he changed, and I just knew I couldn’t stay anymore.”

Part of her felt lighter for telling him. She hadn’t told anybody yet, and it was like a weight lifted off her chest. She didn’t have to carry this alone. But it also put him in danger because if her ex-boyfriend was in town and part of a gang, it could end very badly.

Daddy placed her food down on her desk and took her hands. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and talk to the guy who’s been following Echo.”

Rainey pulled her hands out of his and shook her head. “You can’t do that! You don’t need to do that. I’m sure it was just my mind playing tricks on me.”

He just looked at her, making her nervous.

“Please. It really could be my mind playing tricks on me. For all I know, he could have been a completely different person who looked like my ex. I really think my mind was playing tricks on me. I don’t want you to go there and ask questions, possibly get hurt, and it be all for nothing.”

“Not all for nothing. I’m going to keep you safe, and if that means going to talk to a coupleof people, then I will.”

“Please, you don’t have to.”

“Okay, Little girl. If you see your ex again, you tell me immediately. Understood?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

Hopefully, she wouldn’t see her ex again. She didn’t want Daddy to go and talk to them. Echo’s man looked a little scary. And by a little, Rainey meant it was a lot.

“Open wide.” Daddy started to do the airplane with a fork full of her food.

She happily opened her mouth and started to chew.

“Can you cook for me all the time?” she asked.

“Little girl, no talking with your mouth full.”

Rainey pouted as she finished chewing her food.

“But yes, I can, and I will. Daddy loves cooking for you and making sure you and our baby get all the food you both need.”

Something warm and fuzzy filled her as he spoke those words. She felt loved and cared for in this instance.

“Thank you,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

He had made her cry moretimes than she could count, but most of them were happy tears if not all the time. Daddy just had a way with his words that made her all emotional.

“Sorry. I told myself I wasn’t going to cry today.”

“You can cry any time you want or need. It’s healthy to let your emotions out.”

“I don’t even know why I’m crying. I think it’s just because you said such nice words.”

“I’ll make it my mission to do it all the time. Shower you with love and kind words.”

She shook her head and took another bite from him. He was going to be the death of her.

“I’ll make up for all the times you didn’t have kindness shown to you. For when you didn’t get shown love.”

“That’ll be a lot of times,” she muttered. “You’ll probably get tired of doing it.”

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