Page 16 of Ashes

The private school she attended had agreed to my safety measures with Sarah.It was one of the reasons I had chosen that school.No photos of her were to be taken.She wasn’t allowed to be outside without a teacher.She must have a male teacher who was fit and could handle things in case of an emergency.I’d even met with Barry Powell, her teacher, prior to her attending to discuss her security.I hadn’t told the man I was part of the Southern Mafia, but I’d weaved enough fear into my words that he was aware of who he was dealing with if something happened to my daughter.

“Hey, Daddy!”Sarah’s happy voice came over the line.

Damn, it had been a while since she’d answered my calls like that.

“Hey, you.How was your day?”I replied, smiling.

“Awesome!I’m helping Oaky make dinner.We are having cheesy spaghetti and meatballs.And we bought a basket of apples on our way home from school, and we’re gonna make apple pie for dessert.”

Of course Oakley was the reason for my daughter’s joy.I should be thankful she was so damn happy.Not annoyed with the person who was causing it.

“That sounds good.How was school?”I asked, not wanting to talk about her aunt.

School was a safe zone.Oakley wasn’t there.

Sarah giggled.“Good.”

That was it.

“What’s funny?”I asked, curious as to what was amusing her.

“Mr.Powell has a crush on Oaky.”

I heard Oakley shush her in the background.When the hell had Barry seen Oakley?She had to drop Sarah off and pick her up, for God’s sake.Did the woman not go unnoticed by any man?

“Just from seeing her in the car line?”I asked, pressing for more information.

I heard some whispering and more laughter from Sarah.

“He saw her when she walked me in this morning,” Sarah blurted out, then squealed.

Oakley must be trying to stop her from telling me something.

I reached for my phone.I had my earbud in, talking to Sarah, but I wanted to see the camera in the kitchen.I didn’t like this, and I fucking didn’t like the fact that Oakley had done something that she was wanting my daughter to keep a secret from me.

Pulling up the app, I clicked on the camera in the kitchen so that it filled my screen.I had purposely not looked at the house cameras since I’d left because I didn’t want to see Oakley.Now, with her there in my kitchen, dressed in a crop top and tiny red shorts, stirring a pot while shaking her head at my daughter, who was clearly fighting back a fit of giggles as she held her phone, I wished I hadn’t looked.

The scene was one that was going to be hard to get out of my head.My kitchen, my daughter standing on a stool with a large bowl in front of her and a huge smile on her face while the only woman I’d ever loved stood at the stove, cooking, looking like a pinup model.

Fuck.

Jerking my gaze off Oakley, I watched as Belladonna put her front paws on the chair, begging for whatever was in Sarah’s bowl.

Clearing my throat, I quickly put my phone down.Staring at that wasn’t good for me.It was unrealistic shit, and I had to remember the cruelty that woman could wield.

“I see,” I said.“I’m sure you misunderstood the situation.”

“He asked me if she had a boyfriend and if she lived in town, and then he walked me to her car after school and winked at her.”

Not cool, Barry.My hand fisted as I glared at the window.Dammit, Oakley, do you have to cause a fucking scene everywhere you go?

“Tell me about your day.You.What you did today.What was the best part about your day?”

Get the subject off your aunt, who you love and I hate, before I say something I shouldn’t.

“My room!Oaky decorated it.She even got me this furry white beanbag chair that is AH-MAZING!And we are going to paint a mural of Belladonna playing down by the creek at her house.She’s going to draw it on the wall in my room, and then we paint it!”

Scowling, I fought the urge to grab my damn phone and throw it.Oakley hadn’t asked me if she could decorate Sarah’s room and buy her things for it.She sure as fuck hadn’t asked me if she could paint her walls.She was supposed to be babysitting, not redecorating my house.

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