Page 58 of Break the Barrier
“Hey, Daddy.”
I smile, my chest warming at my daughter’s clear and present happiness.
“Hey, baby.” I grab the mail. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back, and we can order some food.”
“We’re eating here?” Lue claps, excited.
“What? My cooking is that bad?”
For a moment, Lue just stares at me and then gives me a sweet and almost condescending smile. “I love you, Daddy.”
“Oh, I see how it is.” I laugh and make my way to the bar, handing over the pile to Thea, who glances around to make sure her sisters are nowhere nearby before she takes the stack from me.
“Thank you,” she says, holding it to her chest.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she can open my mail, but I don’t, because all it does is give me another excuse to see her more. Why would I look that gift horse in the mouth?
“I saw a little something else in that pile, Dorothy.”
Her eyes widen in surprise, and she glances at it. “What?”
I stare at her for a moment, distracted by her beauty, distracted by the way she holds herself so confidently, yet there’s a part of her that’s unsure about everything. I can see it.
“From the correctional facility.”
Her shoulders deflate. “Another parole notice?”
I blink in surprise. “He’s up for parole?”
Brows furrowed, she nods. “Yeah, it’s why I’ve been so on edge lately. They’re supposed to decide if he’ll be let out soon.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My tone is low and dark. If that fucker even comes close to near her…
“Because…I don’t know.” She shrugs her shoulders, running a hand through her hair. “Things have been good with us. I hate bringing up the reason we’re finally…”
I let myself relax a little and look down at her soft, pink lips. If my daughter wasn’t watching us, I wouldn’t hesitate to kiss her right now.
“Things will be good for us, regardless of what he does,Thea. But I really want to be kept in the loop about what’s going on with him.”
“Okay, I’m sorry.” Her eyes search mine, and she reaches out a hand, grabbing one of mine and interlocking our fingers. “What did the letter say then?”
Dread laces through me again, and I sigh. “It was from him.” I glance around the bar. “He’s still keeping tabs on you.”
“Shit.” Her eyes pinch shut, and seemingly automatic, she opens them and glances around the restaurant, looking for someone she knows, maybe. “I had hoped they stopped.”
“Thea, I don’t want you here alone, you hear me?”
“Sometimes I have to close alone.”
“Okay, but Malcolm isn’t going to be leaving before you. Walk out with him.” Malcolm was one of her chefs and a beefy enough guy that he could throw down if he had to.
I also went to high school with him and knew he was a decent guy who would protect an innocent woman.
“Okay, I’ll make sure I never leave alone.”
Just picturing it, I see her heading home and then walking into a dark apartment all by herself. What were the chances they knew where she lived? Pretty good, I’d bet.
“Maybe you should come stay with me for a while.”
