Page 35 of Twisted Collide

“The reason I want you here is actually about Josie,” he says. It feels like a bowling ball is dropped in my stomach. What the hell does he want to talk about? “I’m concerned about the guys.”

My hands under the table go stiff. “The guys?”

“That one might try to take advantage of Josie. She’s young, after all, and my daughter.”

Bile rises in my throat. Little does he know that I’m that bastard who already has. I might not have realized it, but I knew she was young.

“I’m sure everyone knows better than to make a move on your daughter.” I turn to her when I say this, trying to let her know that I never would have done what I did had I known.

“Be that as it may, I want you to do me a favor.”

“Anything,” I respond. After everything he’s done for me, I’d do anything for him.

“Keep an eye on her. Watch her like you would Molly.”

The weight of his words hits my chest. I can feel the pain with every breath I take.

How will I ever look at this man again, knowing what I did tohis daughter? I feel sick to my stomach, but I can’t let on. I can’t say anything; what’s done is done, and I just have to move forward.

As if she can hear my words and decides to do the opposite, I feel something touching my foot from under the table. It takes me a moment to realize what it is.

The little hellfire is trying to fuck with me, and her method of torture is playing footsie with me under the table.

My jaw goes rigid, and I turn and glower at her.

She’s smiling innocently at me, then turns back to her father, her lips flattening into a thin line. “I don’t need anyone to look out for me,” she responds. “I get that I needed a job, and you’re the only one hiring, so I’m stuck here, but I’m twenty-two, which is hardly a baby. I can take care of myself.”

“You might think that, but you don’t know my players. It would mean the world to me if Dane here would—”

“Protect me.” Although she isn’t facing me, I can see her roll her eyes, then the corner of her lip tips up.Shit.What is she up to now? My question is answered when her foot travels higher, and I nearly choke.

“Yes.”

“Very well. Dane, will you do it?” she says, but by the way she says it, protecting her isn’t what she’s talking about anymore.

She’s trouble with a capitalT, and I don’t think she’s the one who needs protection.

13

JOSIE

It feelslike I’m in prison.

While my father’s house is the nicest place I have ever been to, the walls feel like they’re closing in on me.

I’ve sequestered myself within the guesthouse for days, refusing to leave.

I freeze, realizing the source of my sour mood. It’s Sunday Date Night.

Growing up, my mom worked eighty hour weeks, yet shealwaysmanaged to put aside Sundays for our mother-daughter date nights. Even if it meant switching shifts. Or missing out on overtime. Spaghetti, movies, online shopping for things we never bought. I miss it all.

On instinct, I press the first speed dial on my phone. It doesn’t even ring before I end the call, realizing what I almost did. I refuse to be the first to break.

I can’t behere anymore.

The air feels stale and stagnant. I can’t breathe, and to be honest, I ran out of food last night.

I’ll have no choice but to walk to the main house today. That is, unless I want to starve to death.

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