Page 19 of Gideon

“Asleep,” he said.

“What did she say?”

“Well, for once I don’t need to worry about patient-doctor confidentiality because she barely said a word.” He paused. “She’s veryaccepting, which I don’t like one little bit. I don’t think she blames herself, more that she doesn’t expect good things to happen to her. I suggest some therapy sooner rather than later. I’ll email you my suggestions.” And with that, he nodded at the other two and left.

Max got up. “Do you need me to stay?”

I shook my head. “I’d appreciate it if you guys can cover me for the next few days.”

“Dion’s back tomorrow,” Walker pointed out. “We can manage just fine. Take your time.”

I didn’t need to lock up after they left, because we all had the pass codes for each other’s homes.

I got some water and put it in a special Tinkerbell cup that would keep it cold, then climbed the stairs. Abby was curled up in a little ball in the middle of the bed, almost looking as if she were trying to make herself smaller,less of a target.

I quietly got in bed beside her and curled my body behind hers, prepared to be on watch all night, because if the only way of protecting her was to keep her by my side, then that’s exactly what I would do.

Chapter ten

Abigail

Daddy thought I was asleep, and I had been, sort of. Most of what happened had been a blur. Well, it was because I made sure it was. What was I going to do? I could never go back to my apartment, which meant I would have to find a new place, and what about work? It was still dark out, so I knew I’d slept the day away, and I really didn’t want to leave.

I had vague recollections of the doc, and Daddy trying to get me to eat, stumbling to the bathroom when he went to get me some more water. Him trying to look after me.

Except I was way too much trouble. Everyone eventually got sick of me. And Daddy would too. And then what would happen?

I’d be stuck alone with nowhere to live.

“Baby girl?”

I heard the rumble behind me, felt it, because I knew Daddy had pulled me back against his chest. It wasn’t fair. He checked off everything on my Dream Daddy List.

“I need my clock.” Because the list was in there. There was a small enough gap with the batteries I could tuck the paper inside. And it would make me feel better to know I had it. My heart thumped. What if that nasty man went into my apartment? He was the landlord. The fact that Daddy had changed the locks wouldn’t matter. He’d just break the door and keep my $495 security deposit. It had taken me weeks to save that. And he’d steal everything. “I need it.” I needed everything. All my things. “I don’t have Panda anymore, but I need everything else,” and I started struggling. I had to go get them.

“Baby, it’s okay. I can send for all your things. Don’t worry.”

“No, I have to go now. No one can see.”

“Then I’ll go. I’ve already seen, remember?” Which made me stop. It was true. “When?”

“It’s only five am, Abby.”

“But he might get them.” I knew he would. He’d trash everything.

Daddy kissed the back of my neck. “No, he won’t. I told you yesterday I had security making sure all your things were safe. You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

He had? “You did?” And why didn’t I have to worry? I knew Daddy had punched him, but that would just make Mr. Kirkman even more cruel. In the back of my mind, I wondered if it would have been simpler if I hadn’t…no, ohughh, that made me want to vomit, andI swallowed heavily.

“Look.” Daddy reached over for his phone and searched. He tilted it to me and showed me a view of my apartment door. “I had a camera installed.”

“But what if it doesn’t work or that horrid man breaks it?” Because he would. I knew that. He would come for me.

“Watch.” And Daddy scrolled through a list of alerts, and there were many. Every time another tenant walked past my door, it sent an alert.

I swallowed. Daddy had thought of everything. I so wanted to stay. Stay here forever.

“How about you try to go back to sleep?”

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