Page 79 of Corrupt Idol

“We didn’t think you’d approve.”

Again, she tried to straighten, but Jesse kept her pinned against him.

“And you think this is better? Sneaking around all this time?”

“It’s the only thing we could do,” Jesse said.

“Why has she been avoiding you all these years?”

“She was mad I enlisted in the military.”

This time, she managed to break his hold. She braced her hands on his chest and stared at him. Her throat was dry with fear, but she couldn’t let him tell these lies. He stared at her, as calm as could be. What the hell was wrong with him?

“Is this true, Vi?” Dad asked.

She stared at Jesse, silently willing him to tell the truth.

Jesse cupped her cheek. “Answer him, baby.”

Baby? She wasn’t his baby. Why was he acting like they dated? They didn’t date, they just had sex—alotof it.

Jesse’s eyes went over her shoulder. “She’s in shock. We never wanted you to find out like this.”

“Did you ever want me to find out?”

Dad’s disapproval was like imaginary smoke, cloying the air and making it hard to breathe.

“I wanted to tell you, but Violet didn’t feel the same way.”

“You’re gonna do right by my daughter,” Dad said.

She went stiff as a board as his words penetrated through her panicked haze. She shoved off Jesse and fell on her ass. She clasped the quilt to her chest as she turned to find her father moving toward the front door.

“Dad!”

He turned his head as she got to her feet and immediately averted his gaze.

“This isn’t what it seems,” she said desperately.

Jesse gripped her shoulder. She shrugged him off and took a step toward her father who refocused on her. His eyes were dull and lifeless. She wasn’t sure if it was from grief or shock. All she knew was he had never looked at her like that before.

“I raised you better,” he whispered.

She felt as if he plunged a knife in her stomach. She hunched over as pain seared her insides. She reached for him in supplication, her need to wipe that look from his face paramount, but he took a step back and shook his head.

“I can’t look at you right now.”

“But, Dad—”

“I won’t let you become your mother,” he said, voice shaking with emotion. “I don’t believe in sex before marriage and since you two have been carrying on since high school, you’re going to make this right. You two made your bed. Now you’re going to lie in it.”

“But, Dad—”

He walked through the front door. When she tried to go after him, Jesse hauled her back. When she opened her mouth to blast him, he clamped a hand over her lips. She caught a glimpse of her dad walking to the SUV parked in the driveway. Why hadn’t he parked in the garage? At least they could have gotten a warning.

Jesse picked her up and ignored her muffled scream as he carried her down the hall to his room and tossed her on the bed. He pounced on her before she could roll away. He pinned her arms over her head as she raged with all the hurt and pain thrumming through her.

“I hate you!” she shouted as tears streamed down her face.

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