Page 55 of Whizz

“My son hates my guts and prefershis stepfather to me.I think it’s time I went back to Vegas.Lifehere is not what I expected.I thought this was where I belonged.Iwas wrong.I’ve only fucked everything up.”

“I didn’t know you had ason.”

“Not many people do.”He put hisempty cup down on the desk, turning to face her.“My problems arenot halved.”

“No, you’ve still got the choiceof running away.Your son hates you now, but what about next week?”She smiled at him.“Children are not a good indication for people,Alex, especially your own kids.Growing up I went from loving myparents to hating them when they wouldn’t let me do what I want.Don’t give up because of one bad day.”

The doorbell ringing interrupted theirmoment.

“That’s my dad.”

Alex followed her out as she went toanswer the door.Her father, Hank, stood on the otherside.

“Hey, Daddy.”She wrappedher arms around him.

“Go and wait in thecar.”

“Will do.”

Facing Hank, Alex raised abrow.

“I heard you were stayingback here.”

“It’s my house.”Alexstepped forward, grabbing the brown envelope he stashed in hispocket.“Here.”

“This isn’t right.She’s mydaughter.”

He’d been paying Hank and hiswife regularly tokeep their bakery open.Hank had a little gambling problem.When Alex had seen Sunshine, he’d wanted her, and he’d struck upthis bargain.He would pay Hank every month, and in return he’dencourage Sunshine to stay in Fort Wills, working as Alex’shousekeeper.When he first bought the place he discovered thebakery wasn’t doing well in business, and Hank’s gambling problemmade it all worse.He offered Hank money to keep him afloat.Hanktook the money and asked what he could do to repay him.Alex hadseen a picture of Sunshine.He told Hank to make sure his daughterapplied for a position as housekeeper and that she’d be part of thebargain.At the time he didn’t intend for anything more to happen.When he’d met Sunshine in the flesh, he knew he couldn’t let hergo.Sunshine was his, and he made sure to keep her by dealing withHank’s problems.

“How’sbusiness?”

“It’s fine.”

“And your other problem?”Alexasked, staring the man in the face.He was abusinessman,but what people forgot about Alex was that he’d survived in Vegaswithout any help from Tiny.He wasn’t a man to be messed with.Overthe years Alex had fucked up his fair share of people.

“I’ve not put on a bet insome time, Alex.I don’t want Sunshine working here.”

“We have an agreement.You letSunshineworkfor me and I pay you to stay the fuck out of our business.Do youwant people to know about your debts?I’m paying them off for you,Hank.”

“You’re older than her,Alex.This is wrong.”

“Business is booming and you wantto back out of our deal?Sunshine’s mine.You just never expectedme to collect.Where was your conscience when you allowed her to bepart of our bargain?”

“I made amistake.”

“No, you made a businessdeal.You just thought you could outsmart me, Hank.No oneoutsmarts me.”

“What could a Skull wantwith my daughter?”Hank asked.

“You don’t want to know theanswer.”Alex closed the door, leaving himself in peace andquiet.

Yes, he’d paid a parent for access totheir daughter.Sunshine didn’t have a clue that her parents had asgood as sold her to the highest bidder to get out of debt, and tohide Hank’s debts.Alex didn’t know if her mother even knew abouthis debts.He didn’t care.He just hoped Sunshine never found outthe truth.

Chapter Nine

Whizz watched Laceysleep.He’d fuckedher multiple times throughout the night not giving her a chance torest or to catch up on her beauty sleep.She looked so peaceful insleep.He eased a strand of her hair off her face so it didn’tblock the view of her beautiful face.

“It can’t be morning yet,”she said, opening her eyes to smile at him.

---