Page 88 of Play Dirty
His belt unbuckles, and I thrash beneath him. I’m not his, only Nico’s.
I scream, even as his fingers continue to force their way into my throat. “ZAYDEN!” I shout. Brad laughs. “THIAGO!” I shout again, and he laughs harder.
“They can’t hear you.”
But then the door slams open.
Zayden.
He comes into view, crashing into Brad like a wrecking ball, sending them both to the floor. Brad shouts, but Thiago steps inside and locks the door, just as Zayden lands punch after punch. The sound of bone meeting bone cracks through the low music. I scramble back, my dress torn and my heart beating out of my chest.
Brad gasps under the weight of Zayden’s rage. There’s a knock on the door, but that doesn’t stop Z. The door opens, and Wyatt emerges with a grin on his face. His eyes are locked on me as he moves towards Zayden, who just continues to beat the living shit out of Brad.
“He killed June.” I choke out. “He killed June.”
“You sick piece of shit.” Thiago snaps, kicking him in the face. Over and over until Brad goes limp beneath Zayden. Wyatt tucks his arms beneath Thiago and pulls him towards him. “It’s done. It’s done.”
But Thiago is beyond reason. “Is my dad here?” They all look at me, wondering if they should reply, but I don’t wait. Rising from the couch, I let the memory of Nico guide me, bringing me straight towards the red door that hides Daddy Dearest’s depravity. The door is cracked. For a second. I contemplate stepping away, but I push back the urge and storm inside.
My dad sits in the corner of the bed, as one of the petals pleases him. The blonde girl I recognize from the hunt and dinner. There was a time when I thought my daddy could do no wrong. He did nothing but dote on me, spoil me rotten like any dad would for his little girl. But the truth is dark and bitter to swallow. I’m nothing but an investment. Now I see him for the monster he is– the one who strung up Nico like prey and called it charity.
“Shiloh.” My dad snaps, trying to hide the evidence of his cock inside her mouth. She scrambles back in tears as I step between them, not caring that my father is naked just inches away. I don’t look away.
My eyes clash with those emotionless sapphire eyes. “Resign.”
He chuckles nervously as I pull out my phone and navigate through apps until I find exactly what I need. “Resign and help Nico. If not, the world will know who you are.” My dad's face reddens from anger.
“You wouldn’t dare.” He hisses. I feel the grin stretching across my face. As I hit play, the sound of Nico crying echoes from the phone speaker. A gasp. Then silence. Nothing but skin slapping harshly against his—“You take it so well.” My father coos through the speaker as I bite down into my cheek, choking back the acid clawing up my throat. Swallowing the pain.
I don’t flinch. Nico deserves someone to see him. Truly bear the weight of his pain. But my father doesn’t. His face collapses inward like a dying star. I have never seen something so pathetic.
“Shiloh, you cannot do this.” He breathes, running a shaky hand down his sweating face. His white skin stained red, his blue eyes still cold. “There’s more to it than just that tape. You can’t do what you’re thinking.”
“Try me, I am your daughter after all. A Johnson.”
We face off for what feels like an eternity. His nose flares, but I don’t back down. Not even as Daddy’s face turns an entirely different shade of crimson, and his cobalt eyes are bloodshot and bulging from his skull.
He’s furious.
Good, soam I. “Get Nico out of jail and stay the fuck away from him. And me.”
This time, my father doesn’t look at me but Zayden and Thiago who remain leaning against the door. Hiding from the shame— this didn’t expose only Nico and my father, but them. No one ever walks away from Villalargos clean, but I will be the one who does. I guess this is what happens when a daughter becomes her father’s reckoning, and I just became his.
Chapter Thirty - Five
Nico
“Reyes,” the grumpy detective who locked me up; steps into view. I perch on my elbow and watch as the door opens. He doesn’t spare me a glance as he says,“You made bail. Let’s go.” I swing my legs off the cot, my sneakers hitting the cold floor with a light thud.
“Bail?” I ask.
“You heard me.” He taps his clipboard against the bars, annoyed. “Some kid with too much money and a busted lip signed the paperwork.”
My brows twitch.
It must be Thiago, of course.
I nod and keep my mouth shut for once. Stepping outside the cell and into the hall, I follow him as he brings me to sign my release. My heart gallops inside my chest, my palms sweaty as I draw closer.
