Page 30 of Fight Me Daddy

I pulled over and parked. "We're here," I said cutting him off as he stumbled over his words. "Come along, mutt."

I climbed out of the car and shut the door as Calix commenced barking. He was a cute little mutt, but he really didn't know when to shut the hell up. I paused as I reached the front of the car.

Did I just think Calix was cute? When did I hit my head? I had to if I'm thinking Gonzalez is anything other than a pain in the ass.

Calix climbed out of the car with a frown etched on his face. He wouldn't look at me and I wanted nothing more than to shove him against my car and demand answers. Did he really think I'd drugged him to get him to sleep with me? If that was it, why the hell did I leave his house hard as hell? I'd been satisfied enough that he felt good and was going to get rest. If he was just another toy for me to stick my dick in, then I wouldn’t have left until I’d gotten off too.

I closed my mouth as we headed for the bar. Even if I brought it up again, he was going to say he didn't want it, but I knew that was a goddamn lie. The look in Calix's eyes when I'd been ready to leave had been desperate and pleading. It was the whole reason I'd gone back to him so I didn't have to see that damn expression.

"Who are we here for?" Calix asked as we stepped inside.

"Seth Hills," I answered shortly.

He glanced at me. "Again?"

"Again."

Calix stared at me for a minute before his mouth opened and he shut it again. Whatever he was about to say, he cut it off and scanned the bar. I did the same and saw our target in the back, hunched over, nursing a beer.

I moved through the smoky crowd. Most people moved out of my way automatically and I slipped between the rest of them until I was approaching Seth's table. He glanced up just as I reached the side and bolted.

"This shit again, Hills? Really?" I called.

"Please, leave me alone!" he yelled as he made a beeline for the front door.

"At least he's not stupid enough to try the back again," I muttered as I turned on my heels and waved a hand at Calix. "Get that bastard!"

Calix took off after him. He was closer to Seth than I was and as he grabbed the man they both crashed through the front door. The bar owner shook his head at me and I reached into my pocket and tossed some bills toward him.

"Sorry for the commotion. We'll be out of your hair shortly."

The man snatched up the cash and nodded in approval after a minute. "Alright. Fine."

I nodded and turned on my heels. I walked outside and looked around for Calix. My heart raced when I didn't see him and I trekked around the side of the building before I saw him with Seth. My heart slowed once I saw he was alright. He had the man's collar gripped tightly in his fist, but he still looked unsure.

I'm going to show you what kind of trash we're dealing with here, Calix. Maybe then you’ll stop seeing me as an asshole and nothing more.

As I walked toward Seth, he started breathing heavier. He pulled back as if he could get away from me, but Calix held him in place.

"Seth, here we are again," I said as I sighed. "You have the money?"

He made a strangled sound and shook his head hard. "N-no, I don't have anything," he said, his skin pale underneath the arc of yellow light from the streetlamps. "I-I thought I had more time."

"You don't," I said as I stepped toward him. "Especially when I realized those bills you gave me last time were forged."

I didn't think he could get any whiter, but the man turned as pale as a sheet of paper. His knees gave out as he tried to sink to the ground, but Calix held him steady and he couldn't give into his dramatics the way he wanted to. I looked at him as if he was nothing more than a bug to crush underfoot as he babbled about why he didn't have the money.

Finally, I held up a hand. "Seth, stop talking. I think we can come to an arrangement." I moved forward until he was right up against me. He stared up, unblinking and shivering so hard I could practically hear it. I reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. After searching for a moment, I found what I was looking for. "Who's this?" I asked as I took out the picture and showed it to him.

"Th-that's my daughter," he whispered before he stared at me with wet eyes. "Please, don't hurt her."

I waved a hand. "I don't want to hurt her," I said as I tapped the photo and tilted my head at him. "I want to know, how old is she?"

"Sixteen," he stammered.

I nodded. "Old enough," I said as I rubbed my chin. "Give her to me and I'll erase your debt."

Seth paused and stared at me, his eyes so wide it was almost comical. "Give you...my daughter?"

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