Page 62 of Cursed by Death

“They took my punishments,” I whispered as I sat forward and put a hand out, palm flat against his desk. “Even knowing who I was and being there to make sure I wasn’t a threat to anyone, they took my punishments for me.”

“What exactly do you mean by punishments?” my father asked me and I could hear in his voice that he had no idea what I was talking about.

“She was an abusive child molester,” Bane gritted out between clenched teeth.

I felt bad for the twins at that moment. It wasn’t just my history I was talking about here.

“It doesn’t matter anymore, though,” Roan murmured. “She died in prison and the past should have died with her.”

My father just stared at me. “I had no idea,” he whispered. “I thought you were safe and with your grandmother. I’m so sorry, Ruby Jane. You have no idea how sorry I am.”

I didn’t want his apology and I realized at that moment that I didn’t need it.

“I’m not here for an apology,” I told him honestly. “I’m here because I have people that I care about living with me. I don’t want any more people coming to my home looking for me because of you. I don’t want anything happening to anyone that I care about. I want to know that the threat against me is gone.”

“You’re my daughter,” he said simply. “And I cannot promise you that.”

I was afraid he was going to say that.

“Then I have nothing more to say to you,” I said calmly as I stood up.

I was proud of myself for remaining calm in that moment because I felt anything but calm. All I could think about was how I had wanted to make Ginger and the baby’s lives better, easier, and all I had succeeded in doing was putting them in danger.

Because the blood that ran through my veins was shared with this man in front of me.

“Sit down, Ruby Jane,” my father demanded. “We aren’t done with this conversation. The rest of you can leave us now. I wish to speak alone with my daughter.”

I heard the door open and I knew the two demons and the vampire were leaving the room without hesitation.

Bane and Roan were not.

“Please wait out in the hall for me,” I told them as I sat back down in the chair without taking my eyes off of my father.

They both grumbled under their breath but thankfully didn’t argue with me.

When the door was closed the man sighed and sat back in his seat, appearing somewhat deflated. It was a new look for him and one I hadn’t seen on him before.

It didn’t fool me, though. Not for a single second.

“I thought if I left you alone you’d be safe.”

I sat back as I crossed my arms over my chest. “I am safe. It’s not me that I’m worried about. But I will figure out what precautions I have to take to make my home safe for the people in it. That’s all that matters to me now.”

“You had Alec Raymond install your security system. I’ll speak to him and see if there’s any upgrades he can give you.”

I glared at him. “How the hell do you know that?” No one outside of the people who worked for Alec should know that. And they were under contract so they couldn’t say anything or they’d be facing a potential lawsuit.

I’d, unfortunately, have to find myself a new lawyer first before I could go down that road.

This pissed me off and frightened me at the same time. It made me want to have my system entirely redone, otherwise I worried I might not feel safe in my own home.

And feeling safe was something that was incredibly important to me.

“You’ve never actually met the man in person before, have you?”

A muscle in my jaw ticked. I had not actually met the man in person before. I always made sure to be somewhere else when they were working. And, for obvious reasons, I stayed somewhere else when my basement was being done.

“I’m Alec’s business partner. He might be the front man who runs things but I’m the money man behind the scenes.”

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