Page 15 of Bad Daddy

“You disgusting piece of shit. You’ll pay for this!” I shout, kicking him in the balls as I run out of the office and then out of the building into the cloudy afternoon.

I don’t stop going until I near the subway station. Ducking into the family-owned coffee shop on the corner, I grab a table in the back and make a call that will detonate an explosion of chaos.

“Sweet girl, I’m on my way to you now. Shouldn’t you be in class?” Carter’s caring voice does me in.

“Daddy,” I sob into the phone, finally breaking down.

“Cece, what happened?” His tone is harsher now. Lethal, if I’m honest. “Cece!” he barks when I don’t answer.

Taking a few deep breaths in and out, I wipe my face and explain. “I called out a teacher for being an asshole, and then I was sent to the office where the principal got…handsy with me. I stabbed him in the thigh and kicked him in the nuts on my way out and ran to a coffee shop down the street.”

It’s so quiet I think the call dropped before I hear his voice again. “Stay there. I’m on my way.” I hear horns blaring before the call ends, and I wait, trying to keep my cool.

“Here you go, my dear.” The woman who owns the shop places a warm cup of tea on the table in front of me. “You look a little shook up.” I nod because my voice is trapped in my throat. When I move to pull out money, she shakes her head. “No chance, dear. This one is on me. Us ladies need to stick together.” With a warm smile and playful wink, she returns to the counter to assist other customers.

Staring down into the cup of steaming water, I dunk the tea bag inside and spin it with a spoon. Mesmerized, I lose myself in the stirring motion until the water is so dark I can no longer see the bottom of the teacup. Removing the bag, I place it on a napkin before adding my cream and sugar.

People around me talk, order, and make sense of their own lives while I sit here, scared and completely lost. Thirty minutes ago, I was strong. Invincible in the knowledge that Carter would have my back no matter what.

He still will. I don’t doubt it for a second. My issue is with what happened in the principal's office. Thanks to my mother, I’ve been in some sketchy situations, but I never felt as helpless as I did in that office.

CHAPTER 11

Carter

The brakes of my BMW squeal to a halt in front of Atalanta Prep. Slamming the car door behind me before sprinting up the front steps and into the building, I storm the office. The receptionist is startled by my sudden appearance, but I don’t think she’s surprised to see me because she points back to a closed office door.

Lifting a foot, I kick it open. The door flies off the hinges, and the man treating a bloody leg wound behind the desk screams like a little girl when he sees me.

“You fucking put your hands on a student,” I snarl, my teeth bared, shoulders hunched, and ready to pounce on this asshole before snapping his neck. “Did you think you would get her to suck your tiny dick to get out of trouble?”

He whines as I step closer. “The bitch stabbed me.” My fist shoots forward, breaking his nose, and blood spurts everywhere. “Fuck!” he shouts, and two more male teachers come running in.

“What the hell is going on?” one asks, his bald head shiny in the fluorescent lights.

“I’m calling the police,” the other one threatens, shoving his glasses up on his nose.

“You’ll sit down and shut the fuck up.” The threat in my tone can’t be missed because they do as I say. “Now, you”–I point at the fucker I came to see–“are going to tell them in detail what you did to Cece Brown and what your plans were with the girl after you got her alone.”

“She’s lying,” he accuses.

I don’t respond, but my fist strikes out again, knocking a tooth to the ground. “I can keep going.” The warning is clear. He whimpers and nods hesitantly.

As he begins to explain what happened in his office and what he wanted from Cece, he’s ensured he won’t live to see another sunrise. I can’t act right now, but tonight, when the sun is down and he’s at home, believing he’s safe in bed, I’ll strike. It might not be the smart thing to do after what’s been witnessed here, but from the men’s disgusted expressions, I’m not sure they’ll raise much of a fuss over what happens to this predator.

Leaving the man to his peers, I go in search of this coffee shop Cece waits for me in. It doesn’t take much to find, and as soon as I enter, the older woman behind the counter nods her head to the back of the shop.

Spotting Cece staring into a cup, I stride towards her with purpose in every step. Calling her name softly, her head pops up. She’s in a daze, then her eyes focus on me, and tears spill over immediately before she rushes into my arms.

Picking her up, she wraps her arms around my neck, burying her face in my throat, and her legs grip around my hips. She sobs into me as I grab her bag, toss a couple of bills on the table, and leave.

Approaching my car, which remains parked in front of her school, I unlock it and slip her into the passenger seat, buckling her belt. I kiss her temple, then shoot around to the driver’s side, and without saying a word, I drive us home.

Her muted cries break my heart as I help her inside, guiding her straight up to our room. I settle her on the bed and draw her a warm bath with the citrus bath salts she likes. While the water runs, I check on her to find her sitting exactly where I left her–lost in her head and appearing helpless.

Crouching in front of her, I wipe the tears drying on her cheeks. “Sweet girl, look at me.” I wait for her eyes to meet mine. “You’re safe now. He’ll never come near you again.”

“How many others, though?” Her insightful question gives me pause. “Did he do it to other girls? I couldn’t have been the only one, could I?”

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