Page 17 of Paying Daddy's Debt Collector

I don’t know why Chris came home so early, but by the time I get upstairs, he’d already left again. To my grave disappointment, he isn’t back in time for dinner either. Night falls and I take the dogs for their final run of the night. We’re only out for a few minutes when I see a light shining over the back corner of the fence. The dogs let out a slow growl and inch toward it.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Cassidy. I’m here if you want to go see your father.”

After that punishment from Chris, my head is clearer. “No, I can’t. I’m sorry you wasted your time coming here.”

He steps out of the shadows, and both dogs let out a low, guttural growl, their hackles raised. “Really? What has this guy done to brainwash you? This is your father we’re talking about.”

“I said no. Now leave me alone.”

I turn to walk away but feel a rush of air behind me. He must have climbed the fence because I feel his hands and a searing pain in the back of my head. I don’t know what he hit me with, but I drop to my knees and watch the world spin in circles around me until it goes black. The sound of the dogs barking is the last thing I hear.

8

CHRIS

Another late night in the trenches has me wired up like a stick of dynamite. All I want is to take a hot shower and see my little girl. I’m just about to lock up the office when my phone rings.

“Yeah, Bobby. What’s going on?” Bobby is on security detail at the house and never calls unless there’s an issue.

“I don’t know what to say, boss. The dogs were outside barking up a storm and the girl was nowhere to be found.”

My blood turns to molten lava inside my veins and I clench my fist. I take a few deep breaths to settle myself before asking, “What do you mean she’s nowhere to be found? Did you search the house?”

“Yeah. We checked everywhere. She’s just gone. I’m reviewing the camera footage now but she walks into a blind spot and never comes back into the frame.”

“Are you suggesting she did that intentionally? Like she plotted an escape plan?”

“I mean, isn’t that what it looks like?”

“No! I don’t care what you think it looks like. How did she know about a blind spot? Does she even know there are cameras out there?”

“I don’t know. I’m just calling to let you know and to ask you what you want us to do.”

“Find the father and pick him up. That’s the first step. I’ll interrogate him myself.”

I end the call and try Cassidy’s cell phone. The call goes straight to her voicemail. I slam my fist into the wall so hard that it comes out the other side. Could her father have the balls to come and steal her from me? I can’t see it when he was so willing to give her up, but if he did have a change of heart about the situation, he’s gonna be very sorry he chose to fuck with me.

For the next two hours, I pace the floor thinking about the things I’m going to do to whoever went to my home and took what’s mine. If they hurt a single hair on her head, they’re going to experience a level of torture that’ll make them wish they were dead.

The front door to the building opens, and I hear struggling on the stairs. Bobby must have found Cassidy’s piece of shit father. Besides, Bobby’s the only other person with a key to the front door. I lean against my desk and wait for them to enter the office. Bobby and another one of my men have her father by the arms and drag him into view. He’s a little beaten up already so he must have put up a fight.

“Where did you find him?” I ask, cracking my knuckles.

“In the casino.”

“Was he alone?” I hold my breath, hoping they’ll tell me Cassidy is home safe now.

“Sorry, boss. He was.”

“Well then, I guess we should just cut to the case.” I rush over and grab his hair to tip his head up. “Were you near my house tonight?”

“No, I don’t even know where you live,” he groans.

“Did you send someone to retrieve your daughter from me?”

“What? No. I would never do that. I have too much respect for you and a deal is a deal.”

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