Page 55 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

“Fancy houses and fast cars can’t erase the past, Rock,” she says softly, her eyes becoming hazy with tears.

“I know, I know. But they can help mold the future if you think about it. No more living on the streets, no more having to walk or take the bus. No more Parkers and no more Thompkins. Only Creeds.”

I don’t know when I became such a fan of fairy tales, but I’m willing to say whatever it takes to get her to trust me—to believe that we can do this—that wedeserveto do this.

“But with Thompkins money?” she asks as she wipes at her eyes.

“And Parker,” I reply slyly.

“What?”

“Listen, I get you don’t want anything to do with them, and let’s be real. Who would? However, Angie deserves that money. We can sack it all away in a trust for her if you want, but I really think you need to hit them where it hurts, and that’s their bank account. Especially since he’d have to pay back child support. Imagine how all of his kiddie diddler friends would feel knowing that it could happen to them too!”

I’m so excited that I’m rambling, but I hope she agrees that I have a point. We don’t need any oftheirmoney, and I don’t want it any more than she does, but she has to give the kid a chance. We won’t be around forever, and we could start building her a really cushy nest egg by skinning it from Julius’ back.

“Can I sleep on it?” she asks finally.

“Sure. Just let me know what you decide either way, okay?”

Daveigh nods and I reach forward to give her arm a playful punch before I motion for her to follow me into the kitchen. I’m sure she’ll enjoy a nice, fresh meal and since cooking is one of my hobbies, I think it’ll be an easy way to impress her.

Then maybe we can try to be together like we were before,I think wistfully as I open the refrigerator door and begin to pull out packages of fruit.

Chapter 22

Emily

Daddy has always been an impressive man.

In stature, financially, how much he loves me, and how strong he is about whatever situation is tossed at him.

I stand in his bedroom doorway as he combs his hair neatly, then smooths out the collar of his dress shirt. He catches sight of me in the reflection and smiles at me, before he reaches for the tie sitting on the dresser beside him.

“Big day today, Emily,” he states in his deep, confident tone.

“I know, Daddy. Everything is gonna work out just fine, you’ll see,” I state, echoing his confident tone.

It took almost no time for him to get subpoenaed, partly because Mr. Thompkins pushed hard for it. He gave some brimstone and fire speech of having to teach Daddy a lesson,and in doing so, ensure the safety of our children.

I roll my eyes as I think about it, then cross my arms over my chest as I lean against the doorframe. Daddy lowers the tie over his head and under the collar of his shirt, then begins to loop it until it looks like a work of art.

The thing that no one is expecting is for his lawyer to use a wild card witness, and the last thing they’ll expect is for it to beme.

It’s a dog and pony show, and they’re trying to use my father as a scapegoat, but I won’t stand by and let them. I’ll tell them all what happened, how Davina pushed and pushed for Daddy to get into her bed, and when he wouldn’t, how she would sneak into his room when Mom was away on one of hergirls’ weekends.

What bothers me the most about this is knowing that the statute of limitations ran out a long time ago concerning Daddy and Davina, but that’s what he asked me to talk about, so I guess I’ll go ahead and do it.

Today isn’t anything court related.

Hell, none of this is.

It’s a private deposition that Daddy arranged through a judge friend of his, much to the chagrin of the Mr. Thompkins and his team. I know damn well that it means he has something up his sleeve and I’ll do anything he needs to help him beat this.

Plus, it’ll serve as a stern little warning shit at Davina and Rock. No one fucks with the Parker Family and gets away with it.

“How do I look, honey?” he asks, breaking into my thoughts. I glance over at him as he pulls at the hem of his suit jacket then holds his hands out to the sides, palms up.

I give him an approving nod, “Like the finest damn gentleman this town has ever seen.”

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