Page 15 of In the Air Tonight

Did he decide to attack me because she’s not able to have sex with him? Did he pick me because he knows people hate me, and I wouldn’t dare speak out against him?

Kane and I had been waiting to have sex until he comes to visit next month, which is another thing Ryder took from me—my first time with someone I truly love. Now I can’t imagine doing that with Kane or anyone.

Ever.

What used to be something I looked forward to with anticipation and a tiny bit of fear is now something to be avoided at all costs.

I want Ryder to pay for what he took from me.

I’m angry, hurt and terrified he might’ve gotten me pregnant. My period is due in two days, and if it doesn’t show up on time, I don’t know what I’ll do.

A couple of hours later, I’m pretending to read a book while lying on top of my bed, which is made for the first time in weeks, when my dad appears in the doorway.

“There’s my baby girl.”

“Hey, Dad.” I get up to greet him with a hug. He’s tall, dark and handsome, which is how my mother always describes him.

The minute I catch a hint of his familiar scent as he hugs me I want to break down and tell him the whole sordid story.

But I can’t.

I just can’t.

“How’s my favorite daughter?”

“Still your only daughter, that I know of.”

The back and forth with him is one of the best things in my life.

His smile fades a bit. “How’s your mom been?”

“A little worse than usual.”

“How’s that possible?”

“I’m not sure.”

He runs his fingers through his hair, which he does whenever he’s annoyed or frustrated. I’m sure he’s both when it comes to her. “I have to get her into a program somewhere.”

“There’s no point in that until she’s ready for it.”

We’ve done the research. A year ago, we had a local facility ready to take her for three weeks of intensive in-patient treatment, but she refused to go. We found out we couldn’t make her go. She has rights.

What about our rights, my dad asked at the time.

“Ronnie called the other day.”

My stomach sinks. “He calledyou?”

Ronnie is my mother’s first cousin. He owns the restaurant where I used to work.

“He was worried about you when you stopped coming to work.” He leans against the doorframe. “Your mom wasn’t answering his calls, and you were vague about what’s going on. You didn’t tell me you quit your job. I thought you liked it there.”

“I do. I mean I did.”

“What happened?”

“I wasn’t feeling well for a couple of days, and Ronnie got mad when I called out.”

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