Page 126 of Mr. Almost

Within ten minutes, I’m standing at the door, knocking like I’m the police. As soon as it opens, I can hear my little girl’s screams echoing through the halls.

“Finally. I told your mother to leave, but she refused. That little brat refuses to shut up.”

I growl at her. “Take me to my daughter.”

She looks shocked by my reaction. “Your daughter? Christ. I told your mother I didn’t want to be involved. I never wanted to be involved, but she wouldn’t stop. I’m leaving. Do whatever you have to. Try not to get blood on the new carpet.”

With that, Victoria leaves the house. Not giving her a second thought, I run down the hall to where my daughter is screaming.

What I see has my vision turning red.

There, in the middle of the room, is my mother. She is standing so regal as if she were queen. In one hand, she has a glass filled with a brown liquid. The other hand is buried in my daughter’s hair as she screams and cries.

“Look, your father is here,” my mother says to my daughter.

Ari looks over at me, tears streaming down her face. “Daddy. Please. She’s hurting me.”

I go to step closer, but my mother shakes her head, pulling Ari’s hair tighter, making her cry out.

“No, it’s not going to be that easy. I got the little brat for you. Now I want you to cut that skank out of your life and marry Victoria. She’s gone to get the minister now.”

It becomes clear that my mother is completely delusional. I have no idea when it happened, but she isn’t all there anymore. She really thinks by kidnapping my daughter that it solved all her issues. That I will fall into line and marry Victoria.

“What if Victoria doesn’t want kids?” I ask her.

“She will do what I say. She only wants your checkbook. She will care for the little twat while you keep building the empire.”

I want to rip this woman’s throat out. I want to hurt her the way she is hurting my daughter. The problem is that she is unpredictable. Unstable.

Taking a deep breath, I force a smile.

“Of course, Mother. Now that my daughter is here, we can do this. How about I take Ari to the other room so she doesn’t interfere with the wedding?”

“Do you think I’m daft? This is a big house. You would likely walk out the front door and never return. That hooker has you mesmerized by her pussy. No, we will wait until Victoria is back.”

“Mother, I will not have you stand there hurting my daughter.” I try for the stern tone my father always used with her. “Now I willmarry the woman you chose, but will you at least let me take my daughter to another room?”

She blinks a few times before conceding. “Very well. Let’s go, brat.”

I walk behind them as she takes her to a cellar door. She opens it and waves Ari in.

“It’s okay, honey. You go down there and find a really cool place to hide. I’ll come find you soon.”

Ari nods, rushing down the stairs into the dark. I say a little prayer to keep her safe. I’m just thankful we are at Victoria’s house. That cellar is likely much nicer than any average person’s whole house.

With Ari hopefully safe, I turn to face my mother.

“Now let’s go have a chat.”

I gesture for her to go ahead of me, but she narrows her eyes, indicating I go first. I do as she asks and head back into the main living room. Moving to the bar on the side, I turn to her.

“Would you like another drink, Mother?”

“Yes, dear.”

Turning my back to her, I slip my phone from my pocket, dialing 911. I wait until it connects before I start talking while making the drinks.

“So you kidnapped my daughter, Ari, and brought her to Victoria Silverton’s house to try to force me to marry her?”

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