Page 260 of Daddy, Take Me Away
“Yeah, well, Zoë’s really fucking good at faking shit, and I guess I am too, because there was never anything real between us. Now sign the damn papers and go, I’ve got shit to do.”
Gwen shakes her head, looking sad and then I hear the whimper behind her. Turning, I see Zoë standing there.
I rise, my heart pounding at the hurt on her face.
Shit.
Zoë takes three small steps back, turns and runs. And fuck, if she doesn’t take my heart with her.
“I thought you’d changed, Deo. And I was really happy you had. I thought you finally figured out it was your dad that betrayed your mom. He was the one that never loved her and then he took away the one person who did to punish her.” Gwen rises, holding her pregnant belly, and walks out.
I look down, barely seeing the signed papers on the table because she just blew my fucking mind.
Gwen’s right. My dad didn’t love my mother, he’d told me that a million times. And yet he expected her to stay and be loyal because he took responsibility when he knocked her up? Pfft. Like that was some hero move and not just the right thing to do. And when she strayed because she was starved for love and attention, he took everything from her, including me.
Picking up the papers, I toss them on the floor. I don’t give a fuck about them anymore. The only thing I care about is finding Zoë and making sure she knows I love her.
But before I can run after her, Émile blocks the doorway.
“What the fuck did you say to her?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, just decks me.
I stumble back, my face on fire, and even though I’m spoiling to punch something, I can’t hit back. Not only because I’ve deserved that punch for years, but because the pain is a welcome distraction from the gaping wound in my heart.
“Émile, I’m sorry.”
His fist is up, ready to hit my face again, but my words stop him.
“Not because I said something to upset her today, because I didn’t. I’m sorry I fucked around with Gwen all those years ago when you were in love with her.”
His arms drop to his sides, and he looks defeated.
“I don’t blame you two for fucking around on me. Because she was never mine to begin with. She was always yours. I was too fucking self-absorbed to notice.”
Émile swallows, his fists loosening. I grab him, pull him into my chest and slap his back.
“I want to talk this out with you, fix our friendship and make it up to you, but the woman I love just took off and I have to find her and tell her before it’s too late.”
Émile says nothing, just returns my back slap and steps out of my way.
I flash him an appreciative smile and take off at a run. But this time it’s Gwen’s lawyer that stops me.
“You need to sign the papers too.” He looks at his Rolex. “I’ve got a flight out of here in an hour. And court tomorrow. I don’t have time to wait. It’s now or never.”
“I guess it’s never.” I take off.
I can’t find Zoë’s anywhere. The last place I check is my villa, but when I knock, Aggie answers.
“Scram.”
“Aggie, I need to see her.”
“Over my dead body. Or yours.”
I curse and consider using my phone to unlock the door, but admittedly I’m a little afraid of the matriarch of Zoë’s family. I wouldn’t put it past her to clobber me and bury the body without so much as batting an eye. And if I’m dead, Zoë will never know that I love her. So I just keep pounding.
Chapter Thirteen
Zoë
