Page 46 of Outplayed

“Okay. Bye, Mr Marcus.”

“Later, squirt.”

She giggled and waved. They went out of the room, but then I heard her run back in. “Almost forgot.” She came at me. I crouched enough for her to plant a kiss on my cheek. “Hi, Daddy.”

Chuckling, I kissed her cheek. “Hi, princess. Have a good day at kinder?”

“Sure did. I’ll bring down all my drawings.”

“Can’t wait to see them.”

As soon as she left, Talon turned to me. “That’s also a reason I won’t kill you. But you fuck my sister over, I’ll second-guess my decision.”

I nodded. Couldn’t say I blamed him for the threat, but I wouldn’t allow myself to fuck Violet over ever again. I just had to make her see that.

* * *

It had been nearly a month since seeing Violet. Since I fucked everything up. A month where she had evaded my texts, my calls, my emails, and my stop-ins. I’d thought something would have changed after the gifts or at the very least after sending her the photos. I’d hoped she’d remember how good we’d been together.

But there’d been no contact on her part.

It fucking scared me.

Still, I wouldn’t give the hell up.

Patience was my new friend. One I’d never had before but was willing to give it a go for her.

Warden was like her personal guard, stuck to her like glue at work. He wouldn’t let me pass, no matter how many times I tried.

I didn’t want to shout out how I’d changed my life because of her. How better off I was with her in my days. I just needed a moment with her to let her know everything.

“Daddy,” Izzy, in a tired voice, said from her bed after I’d started for the door.

Turning, I asked, “Yes, princess?”

“When will we get to see Miss Violet again?”

Fuck. She’s been asking nearly every day, and all I had to tell her was soon, that Violet was too busy with work right now. I hated the way the lie tasted on my tongue. I couldn’t exactly tell her it was my fault Violet wasn’t around. I’d fucked up. Let business get in the way when I should have taken Violet into account right from the start.

“Soon, I hope, Izzy.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“Do you think Miss Violet doesn’t like me, just like Mummy doesn’t?”

A hand closed around my heart and squeezed.

Striding to the bed, I pulled back her covers and picked her up, holding her close. “Why do you say that, princess? Why do you think your mum doesn’t like you?”

Her tiny arms wound around my neck, and she buried her head into my shoulder.

“B-because Mummy said so.”

My body locked. I stared up at the camera in the corner of the room. Link was in the office waiting to go over some paperwork with me. I hoped to fucking Christ he was either listening or recording this for proof.

“When?” I managed to get out through my clenched teeth.

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