Page 106 of Sweet Possession
“Co…Cora?”Freddy croaked, squinting his eyes to see who’d comein. When he realized it was his daughter, his shoulders slumped. The fool thought she’d come to help him.“Darlin’, I’m so glad you’re here. Help your dad outta here, and we can go home.”
Cora gaped at him, her bottom lip quivering as she began to recoil inon herself, becoming the scared little girl Freddy made her. I tugged her hand, getting her attention.
“You can do this, baby girl,”I said when her haunted eyes met mine.“He doesn’t control you anymore. Your past doesn’t control you.”
“Cora!”Freddy barked.“Who the fuck is he? Let me out of thesegoddamn chains!”He pulled against his restraints, the metal clanging and snapping Cora out of the daze she’d fallen in.
She dropped my hand, taking a step toward Freddy who stoppedrattling the chains.
“I’m not here to let you out. I’m here to say goodbye,”she said, hervoice soft, yet assertive. Freddy’s brows arched, confusion settling in.“But before I say goodbye, I want you to knowthatthere was a time I loved you, and all I ever wanted was your love in return. But now I know. You’re incapable of love.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, you stupid girl? Of course I loveyou, I’m your dad!”Freddy yelled, spittle flying from his mouth and landing in his shabby beard.
I cracked my knuckles.“That’s strike one, Freddy. Interrupt her or call her stupid again,and I’ll take away your ability to talk.”
His face turned ghostly white, fear filling his eyes as he took in mysize.
Wisely, he chose not to reply.
“Go on, baby girl,”I said, placing a hand gently on Cora’s back,encouraging her to carry on when itseemedlike the words were stuck in her throat.
“Huh,”she laughed, but there was no humor to it.“You know what? Ithought I would have so much to say to you, but honestly? I don’t want to waste my energy. It’s not like you would ever find it in you to apologize for the way you treated me all these years. NotthatI want an apology. I’m going to walk out of this room in a few minutes to carry on with my life, and I’m never going to think about you again. I’ll never refer to you as my dad, orevenspeak your name.”
She paused to look over at me, giving me an affectionate smilebefore turning back to Freddy.“I know what it’s like to be loved now, and I knowwhat it’s like to give my love to someone who deserves it. I know what it feels like to have someone in my corner, encouraging me to be the best person I can be. Someone who doesn’t try to break me like you tried so hard to do, but failed. I feel sorry for you if anything. You’ll never know what it’s like to experience the kind of love I have.”
She sucked in a breath.
This was it.
Her final goodbye.
“I hope when you take your last breath, you think of me, and youregret every single hateful word you ever said to me. I hope every cruel thing you ever did to me haunts you for all of eternity in hell.”
Freddy stared back at his daughter, a cold expression on his face.After everything she’djustsaid, he couldn’t even find it in himself toshow the tiniest hint of remorse. She would have had more of a reaction talking to a brick wall.
“I’m done, Daddy. I want to go home,”Cora said, her tone hard.
“Daddy?” Freddy snorted. “Fucking hell, Cora. You really are messed up.”
I ground my teeth. If I didn’t want to scare the life out of my girl, I’dhave followed up on my threat to make it sothatFreddy couldn’t speak again.
Soon.
With my hand still on her lower back, I guided her out of the cell,pride thundering through methatshe’d held herself together long enough to get everything out. When she got home, I was sure reality would hit, but she’d get through it because I would be there for her.
Every step of the way.
“Go on up to Nash, baby girl,”I said, kissing her on her forehead.“I’llbe home once I’m done.”
She didn’t move for a few seconds, her eyes darting back to the celldoor, and I briefly wondered if she was going to ask to stay. There was no chance ofthathappening though.
But she didn’t ask. She tore her gaze away from the door, looking tome with relief shining in her eyes.“I love you, Daddy. Thank you for coming back for me.”
My lips pulled up into a smile on one side.“There will never be aday when I don’t come for you, Cora.” I placed a delicate kiss on her perfect mouth, relishing the feel of her lips against mine. “Now go on, get going so I can get this done and come home to you.”
I waited until she’d reached the top of the stairs before I went backinto Freddy, closing the door behind me with a thud.
He watched me warily as I slowly stalked toward him.
