Page 74 of Ravaged
“Oh,” Teagen said, glancing at me. I looked away. At that moment, I hated Oliver more than I hated Ken, and it was hard enough already to let her father live. I wasn’t going to correct him thatIhadn’t cut off his fingers. Teagen turned back to her father. “It’s going to be okay, Dad.”
“As long as you’re safe,” he said.
Axe turned into the international airport and opened the window separating us to hand me the keys to Oliver’s restraints. Teagen slid out of the way, and I entered the code for his cuffs, then unlocked them.
“I knew we were family,” Oliver said, a smug look on his face. “I just needed you to fall for my girl.”
“Come on, Dad,” Teagen said, annoyance in her voice.
I didn’t say a word. Once we were parked in a secluded corner of the garage, I told Teagen to stay put, then I pulled Oliver out of the car. I slammed the doors shut behind me and locked them too. Axe watched from the side, his arms crossed in front of him.
Oliver’s hair was frayed, his body bruised and healing. He seemed shorter than before, but as beaten down as he was, he forced a smile. Like Tegen often did. In my eyes, he was a worthless piece of shit, but Teagen cared about him. I would never understand her love for him, nor for me, but that didn’t matter right then.
“You’re going to go,” I said in a low voice to Oliver, “and you’re never going to come back. Your daughter is dead to you.” I flinched, an idea dawning on me. “For that matter, think of it this way: youneverhad a daughter. From what I know, you were never a father to her anyway.” I dug the barrel of the gun into his belly and he whimpered. “If it were my way, you’d be dead already.” I dropped the weapon from him, but left it cocked. “But that would break her heart, and you’ve already broken it too many times.” I gestured towards the elevator, which would take him to the crosswalk across to the airport. “But remember, Oliver. You are dead to her.”
Axe nodded at me, acknowledging my speech. “Take the car,” Axe said.
“Thanks,” I said.
He put a hand on Oliver’s shoulder, and Oliver cowered. Axe turned him towards the elevator.
Axe could have been taking Oliver to a better, more secluded place to find a new way to deliver him to Muro. That would have been a smart decision. But it seemed as though neither of those options were his goal. The more they walked, the more crowded it got, which increased Oliver’s chances of survival.
So Axe was escorting Oliver to the airport, making sure he would leave. My brothers were standing by me, even when it came to these decisions.
I opened the door to the back again and held out a hand. Teagen looked around cautiously, but then scooted closer to me.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“The airport.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“On the next flight out of here.”
Teagen’s green eyes beamed, curious and nervous, but then she reached up and took my hand. I helped her down out of the back and opened the passenger door for her. In the driver’s seat, I adjusted the mirrors. I shifted the car into reverse, ready to leave this place.
Then I tossed the harp necklace in her lap, and we left.
