Page 196 of Inferno

“No.” I use my index finger to guide her gaze back to me.

“Four.”

“Birthday?” I snap.

“May the tenth.”

“Fuck.” I run my hands over my face, all the blood draining from me as I stand up, holding onto the table for support.

“Does he hurt my daughter?” I spit the words out.

As soon as I say them, I regret it as she flinches.

She stands, and her chair goes flying across the room.

“No, he doesn’t fucking hurt her, because I sacrifice myself every day to that man. I let him chain me up. Beat me. Fuck me. Everything. I am his property to keep him away from her!” she screams, pushing against my chest, knocking me backwards.

“I don’t fucking matter anymore. And I’ll keep doing it until the day I die. Because I won’t be leaving this earth without that bastard. And then she will be safe. So don’t ‘my daughter’ me. I’ve done all I can. He hasn’t touched a hair on her head.”

Her nostrils flare and her chest heaves.

I still haven’t fully processed.

My daughter.

“Fuck!” she shouts, slamming her fist on the table.

“You need to let me leave. Please. Let me out of here. I can’t do this anymore. Just take the notepad for Enzo and let me finish this.”

As she tries to step past me, I grab her face to silence her.

“Enough, Charlotte.” I deepen my tone to let her know I’m not fucking around.

Releasing her, she bats my hand away.

“Get off me.”

“I’m not done talking.” I pull out a chair and maneuver her to it. She reluctantly sits.

Picking up the one from the floor, I place it next to her and sit facing her.

Reaching out, I place her hands in mine on her lap.

“I have a little girl?” I say softly.

I ignore the sharp pain in my chest. Four years I’ve missed.

Enough time for her to know her daddy is a piece of shit who hasn’t saved her.

Long enough for her to have her own personality now.

“You do.”

Her chin starts to quiver, and I squeeze her hands to reassure her.

“What’s she like?”

Her eyes snap to mine. That darkness that lies behind them, with that switch just like Conan has, is tempered for now.

---