Page 38 of Saving You Losing Me

“She told me nothing. She is probably too scared.”

A little of his confidence restores. “You’re delusional. You have seen nothing.”

“I wish that was true, but I have suspected for some time and set up my phone to record the entire sordid act a few nights ago.”

He stares at me in disbelief as I continue. “My boyfriend has a duplicate of the recording, and I instructed him to take it to the police if I was forbidden from seeing him. I’m aware the local cops would do nothing, so he has the number for the FBI programmed into his phone and he only needs to press send. You see, daddy–”

I stand, inwardly shaking but outwardly cool and collected. “I am your daughter, whether you want that or not. If you stop me from living my life, or ever touch me again, I will walk out of here and never look back. You will watch me giving upcollege and moving in with the local MC club, surrounded by your friends who won’t want to be associated with you because of it. You will be disgraced and frozen out and I will be happy because I’ll be with a decent man who loves me. So, what do you say? Let me continue seeing the man I love and explain it away to your friends as a wild phase, or face prosecution and public humiliation knowing that you put your foot down like the big man you think you are?Nowthe choice is yours.”

“You bitch.” His voice shakes, but he slumps into the chair, his eyes wild and disbelieving.

“I’ll take that as a compliment and one day you will realize that I am more like you than you are comfortable with. So–”

I rub my face and say dismissively, “Good night daddy. Don’t worry, I won’t be inviting my boyfriend home to meet you. I would be too ashamed—of you, that is. Enjoy the rest of your evening. I’m going to bed.”

As I leave the room, I am shaking inside, still amazed that I managed to get the words out. He spoke of choices and yet soon realized what that really meant. I am so done with being manipulated and told what to do and my life begins now, wherever that may take me.

CHAPTER 20

ATOM

Somehow, the stars aligned, and life has fallen into place. My sale is going through and the hottest girl on the planet is riding pillion on my bike. The next few weeks are the best of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Clara’s family grudgingly accepted that she’s an adult now and allowed her to carry on seeing me. She told me she has them wrapped around her pinky finger and I don’t doubt that for a second because I am holding on tight to the one on her other hand.

It’s the summer of dreams and most nights are spent with Clara in my bed, doing everything I imagined since I first set eyes on her. She is my dark angel and has slotted in well with life at the club.

She still has her friends and hangs with them at the club they are members of, but those times are nothing in comparison to the hours we share together. She gave up Easy Joes to spend more time with me because college is beckoning and I’m aware we won’t have long together.

Tonight, we grabbed take out and are sitting on the ridge overlooking the town, leaning against the bike, our legs touching, feeding one another fries and bites of chicken.

“I’m going to miss this.” She sighs, angling her head onto my shoulder and her words tug on my heart because the clock is ticking and college isn’t long now.

“It’s only a two-hour ride. You call and I’ll be there.”

“And we’ll have our weekends.”

She raises her eyes to mine and I drown in the lust reflecting back at me.

“Of course.” I say the words, but my heart sinks because the week Clara leaves for college is the completion of my purchase. I will be taking ownership of the garage and it will be all hands on deck, setting things up. To take off to see Clara for the weekend isn’t an option, but I can collect her and drop her back there. It will be worth the ride for any of her time.

The stars are burning brightly and she whispers, “I want you to promise me something, Atom.”

“Anything, darlin’.” I kiss the top of her head and she shifts to face me. I smile as she extends her little finger and curls it around mine like a child.

“Let’s promise that nothing will come between us. To be apart as little as possible and only when it’s necessary.”

She smiles softly. “To always love one another and keep the flame between us burning brightly forever. Promise me your heart and I will do the same.”

I smile into her eyes and whisper, “You captured my heart two years ago, darlin’ and I don’t want it back because there is only one owner allowed.”

“Atom.” Her eyes soften and she whispers, “I give you my heart to do with what you will. It will always be yours and I devote my life to you.”

As our fingers shake, I tug her closer and our tongues curl together, cementing our promise. I wasn’t kidding when I said she has my heart. She always did, which is why I waited for her.

“We are one another’s firsts and will be our lasts,” she whispers against my lips and I nod my agreement.

“That is a promise I will never break. I love you Clara and the moment you are free from college and ready for the next step, I want to be the one right beside you, encouraging you to take it.”

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