Page 105 of Hell Hath No Fury
"He'snot my real father. He did all those things to me, and he's not my father."
“No. He made you think he is because he’s a sick man.”
“I had to call him Daddy.”
“I know.”
She heaves again.
Prez comes back with Iron and Ebony in tow.
I jerk my head to tell him to get Ebony out of here. She doesn't need to see this. Our leader's daughter is a tough cookie,though, and only raises an eyebrow at me before striding into the room and coming to sit on the bed beside Layla.
"Hey." Ebony hands her the bottle of whiskey. "Take a sip of this. It’ll burn your throat, but it’ll make you feel better."
"Ebony." Layla's eyes go wide as the bottle is pressed to her mouth, and she takes a swig of the amber liquid.
“Yes.” Ebony turns to her father and asks, “She’s Aunt Ginger’s daughter, isn’t she?”
Her father nods.
“Willow?” Ebony smiles at her and helps her take another sip of whiskey.
I’m beginning to feel helpless watching the two girls together. I stop stroking Layla’s, or is it Willow’s, back, but she turns and looks at me. She doesn’t need to say anything—I know from the look in her eyes she wants me to continue. My hand resumes stroking her.
“Is that my real name?” Layla asks.
"Yes. Willow Thomas," Ebony tells her.
“It doesn’t feel right.” She looks toward me. “Your name, Caim, you said it means a man with a sword.Hetold me Layla means dark beauty.”
"We'll call you whatever you prefer." Ebony takes her hand and squeezes it.
“Caim?” she asks for my opinion.
“I can’t decide for you, Layla.” The name is out of my mouth even before I have a chance to think about it.
“Layla it is then. For now…”
She appears to have calmed down, and her breathing has evened out.
"Your mother and father are on their way." Iron's prominent figure fills the doorway, and Layla looks up at him.
“My mother isn’t dead?”
“No. She and your father have missed you every day since you disappeared. It’ll take them a couple of hours to get here. It’s the first time I’ve ever known Gunner to get on a plane. They’re desperate to see you again.”
“I need to see them.” Layla’s brows furrow when she speaks . “Where’s Dad…er…”
“Snake,” I offer her.
“Yes, Snake. Where is he?”
“He’s in our dungeon. My sergeant-at-arms is trying to find out what’s been going on with him.” Prez holds his hand out to Ebony, and she goes to her father.
Even though Ebony has grown up around the MC life, I can see by the young girl’s face that it’s going to take a while for her to digest what’s happened to her friend, and it will leave scars.
“Is he torturing him?” Layla asks.
