Page 39 of Melt For Us, Daddy
Sunshine. She needed sunshine, maybe just a short walk around the building to help fight off some of the lethargy of the day. Grabbing her phone and purse, she headed out with a wave for her coworkers, her blood already humming at the thought of getting some much-needed Vitamin D.
When the sun hit her face as she stepped outside, she gave herself a moment to close her eyes and simply drink it in before beginning her stroll. And as she walked, her mind wandered, as it often did these days, to Jacob.
Two weeks had passed since he’d come barreling, quite literally, into their lives. Per Braden, he was holding his own with his job at the club, and he’d even been asking questions about different pieces of equipment. The answers, according to Braden, always left him red-faced and stammering, but Braden said he’d often find him staring at whatever piece he’d been asking about later with a wondering expression on his face.
Cordelia was doing a very good job of pretending she wasn’t curious about his curiosity, thank you very much.
Her phone buzzed again, this time with a picture of Ivy holding up a stuffed pink axolotl, her bottom lip puffed out in a pleading pout.
My Blossom
Can I pleeeeeeeeeease get her??? Pretty please with me on top?
* * *
Laughing at her babygirl’s dramatics, she tapped out a response.
* * *
Hmm. You have been a very good girl lately, so I suppose you’ve earned a reward.
My Blossom
Thank you, Ma’am!
* * *
The ‘thank you’ was followed by a series of multicolored heart emojis that had Cordelia’s heart twisting painfully in her chest. God, she loved that woman.
Glancing up, she spotted a familiar black building with gold trim and the letters Rev and Roll above the door. Ivy really had been a very good girl lately. She’d even taken the change to their routine mostly in stride, and Cordelia had only needed to remind her twice about putting her collar on right after her bathroom routine in the morning.
With a quick check of traffic, she jogged across the street, already anticipating Ivy’s excited squeals when she came home with the box of treats in hand as she reached for the front door.
“Hello, Esther.”
No. No, no, no, no.
The air around her turned thick and heavy as she turned to face him, her fingers still gripping the shiny chrome handle of the bakery door.
He looked even more like his father than Jacob, though with none of his son’s sweetness and light. Harlan Redding was all cruel lines and sadistic glee as he smirked down at her.
“That’s not my name.”
“Oh, but it is, Esther. You caused quite a stir when you left, you know. My father would be very interested in a reunion, especially now that his days on Earth are so few.”
Bile rose in her throat at the thought of going anywhere near the man who had stolen her childhood and her innocence. “Sorry. Not interested.”
“And if I told you I have a group of prophets just waiting to take you back to your rightful place by his side? What would you do?”
“You’re bluffing.” After so many decades of carefully concealing their crimes, there was no way The Prophets would risk such a blatant display. “And even if you aren’t, I’d scream. Make a scene. If there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you’ll do anything to continue flying under law enforcement’s radar.”
“You’re very right about that, Esther. But you won’t always be on a crowded street. And while I’m sure the apartment you share with the lovely Ivy is perfectly nice, the security leaves something to be desired.”
Oh, god. Ivy. The thought of them putting their hands on her babygirl had panic clawing at her throat, but she fought it back. “What do you want?”
“My son.” Lips pulled back in an expression that was more snarl than smile, he stepped closer. “Give me my son, and you have my word that The Prophets will stop looking for you. As far as we’re concerned, you died fourteen years ago.”
“You could promise me that Jesus himself would come down and kiss my feet and I still wouldn’t tell you where he is. Go back to your hole, Harlan, and don’t ever fucking contact me again.”
