Page 35 of The Hottest Daddy
“Not so much with the fiancé around, but when he steps out … yeah. She made it clear I could make this all go away if I were to … ugh. I can’t even say the words.”
Sunday put her arms around his neck. “Listen … while we’re dealing with her, let’s give her a taste of her own medicine. I’ll make myself known, if she doesn’t recognize me this time, and I’ll tell her I’m here on a deep cover assignment. A historical case … a story about the sexual abuse of a child of a rich man … and the outing of an abuser. It won’t be true … but it’ll give her pause.” She shook her head. “Every time I think about it, I want to kill her, and to think she had the nerve to want to be in Berry’s life …”
“Hey, hey, breathe,” River said, then chuckled. “I guess we both could kill for the other.”
Sunday nodded. “I would die for you, River. And Berry.”
River took a deep breath in. “I feel the same but neither of us is dying for anyone. This is our family now, and there’s nothing I won’t do to protect it.Nothing.”
Chapter Seventeen
They decide to give Angelina a little shock. Sunday would wait until Angelina was settled, talking to Berry and River before making herself known. “I cannot wait to see the look on that bitch’s face.”
River chuckled. “I love the mischief in you.”
Sunday grinned at him. “Stop looking at me like that, or we’ll be still fucking when they get here.”
“Now I have a semi.”
“Bat it down, player.”
Sunday marveled at their ability to joke around in the face of what was about to happen, but she had learned that it was their way. Losing your ability to see color and you’re an artist?Joke about it.Facing your abuser?Kid around.Stalked by a maniac?Act like you don’t give a rat’s ass.
But it was in their hands clasping, the touching of their bodies, the meeting of their gazes that everything was said.You are mine, and I will die to protect you.Sunday saw that in River’s eyes now and hoped he could see it in hers.
Carmen came to find them. “Vampira’s here.”
Sunday snorted and she felt River relax slightly. “Who’s Vampira?” Berry came into the room, and Carmel made a face.
“Vampira is Carmen’s pet name for Angelina,” River picked his daughter up. “Because she’s not a nice person.”
Sunday was surprised at River’s honesty. “But you shouldn’t tell Angelina that Carmen calls her that,” she said hurriedly.
Berry shrugged. “Okay.”
Sunday went to wait out of sight while Carmen took Berry back to her bedroom. The first time she heard Angelina’s voice, she felt white-hot rage. How dare this woman keep intruding on River’s life like this, after what she had done? She heard the voice of Brian Scanlan, greeting River politely. Who was this dude?
She waited until they sat, and then she heard River speak. “So, after our last discussion, I should let you know things have changed. I will be applying for full custody of Berry, and I will ask the judge to issue a lifelong restraining order against you. You will never see her again.”
There was a stunned silence. “This is not what we discussed.”
“No, but it’s what I’ve decided, Angelina. There is no way I will let a pedophile have access to my child. Are you crazy?”
Unseen, Sunday made a victory salute with her hand.Go get her, baby. She heard Scanlan clear his throat. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what he’s talking about, Angelina.”
I’m on.“What he’s talking about, Mr. Scanlan,” she said, coming into the room, “is that your fiancée, Ms. Marshall here, abused and raped River from when he was fifteen years old until he was eighteen. She not only sexually abused him, but verbally and emotionally made his life hell.” She looked at Angelina, who was staring at her in hatred. “Hello, Angelina, how absolutely horrific to see you again.”
Angelina’s lip curled. “My God …Marley Locke.” She didn’t seem surprised.
Brian Scanlan blinked. “I’m sorry, who is this woman?”
“My name now is Sunday Kemp, Mr. Scanlan, but before I was Marley Locke, a journalist and news anchor in New York. And Ms. Marshall and I have history. I’ve been working deep cover to get Mr. Giotto’s story about you, Angelina, and believe me, the evidence is incontrovertible. We have written testimony from his father and some of the staff Ludo employed and we’ll be handing it over to the authorities.”
She squeezed River’s shoulder, hoping he would know she was making this up. “You’re finished, Angelina,” she said, her voice like steel. “We’ve already handed the evidence over to the police. I expect you’ll be arrested when you return to New York.”
“You bitch,” Angelina was shaking, clearly rattled. “You think you coming here, spreading your legs for my son …”
“Not your son.Not ever your son.” River stood now, his height imposing. Even Scanlan couldn’t match it. River’s rage was white-hot as he stepped towards Angelina, who skittered to her feet and backed off. “Yourapedme … you really think I would ever,everlet you near my child? And don’t paint yourself as a victim, although I know that’s your favorite position. Our Lady of Perpetual Victimhood. You’re scum, Angelina.” He looked at Scanlan. “I don’t know your deal but run. Get out. Get away from her. She will suck the life out of you.”
