Follow Me Down

by Melissa Toppen

“Yes you do. You’ve always wanted to go. That’s been your dream since you were little.”

  “No, it’s been your dream. Don’t you get it? I don’t want to go to school where you went. I don’t want to become an attorney or run for public office. I don’t want to be anything like you.”

  “Because being like me would be such a bad thing?”

  “For me, yes. Because I’m not like you.”

  “Well, you’re right there. Because I would never act as selfishly and irresponsibly as you have. Running off. Not calling to let anyone know where you are or if you’re okay.”

  “I didn’t call you because I knew this would happen. I knew you would show up and that was the last thing I wanted. I love you, Dad. I do. But you have to let me be my own person. You have to let me live my own life and stop trying to make me live yours.”

  “I’m finished with this conversation, Fallon. Get your things and let’s go.”

  “No.” I stomp my foot like a child. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Now please leave.”

  “Fallon.” He grinds his molars. “I swear to god if you don’t get in the car right this instant...”

  “That’s enough.” Titus’ strong voice makes me jump and I turn to see him step out onto the porch behind me, his gaze locked firmly on my father. That staggering intimidation I felt from Titus the night I met him is back, seeping off of him in waves. Even knowing him better now, I still take a small step back. “Fallon asked you to leave. I’m telling you to.”

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” My father’s face turns every shade of red you can imagine. It looks like his whole head is about to explode at any moment.

  “I am the owner of this property and you are no longer welcome on it. Now leave willingly or me and my junkie friend in there will be happy to forcefully remove you. Your choice.”

  “Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?”

  “Oh I know exactly who you are, Governor Buckley. The real question is, do I care?” My shocked gaze swings back to Titus, but he doesn’t glance my way. “So let me tell you one last time, get the hell off my property.” Titus steps forward and my father instantly steps back, nearly losing his footing on the top step.

  Guilt slams into me.

  I know he’s a selfish, crude man, but he’s still my father. Can I really do this? Can I really be this disconnected from the man who raised me? Uncertainty pulses through my veins and I start to second guess what exactly I’m doing here.

  “You always were just like your mother... a disappointment.” And as quickly as I forgot why I ran, why I never wanted to go home once Titus found me, I remember as my father insults my dead mother.

  My father’s seething gaze moves to Titus. “Son, you’ve started a war you stand no chance of winning.” With that, he spins on his heel and walks away, speeding down the driveway in his sleek black car seconds later.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Titus

  “What the hell was that?” I wait until the headlights of the car disappear before turning my gaze to Fallon.

  She turns toward me slowly, her face as white as a sheet.

  “I... I...” she stutters, unable to form an actual sentence. Her eyes fill with unshed tears and her bottom lip trembles.

  As confused as I am about what the fuck just transpired, I’m more concerned about the fact that Fallon looks seconds away from crumbling to pieces on the front porch.

  “Are you okay?” I soften my approach, trying to push past the anger boiling in my chest.

  To say her father showing up was a shock is an understatement after learning who her father is.

  Governor Buckley. She’s Governor Buckley’s daughter... Not that I knew that’s who he was at first. But Link did. Apparently, he’s seen him on television a few times. Who knew his obsession with the news would actually prove helpful?

  “I don’t know.” Her voice is barely audible when she finally answers me.

  I knew Fallon was hiding things. I knew she was hiding a lot of things. In the near week and a half she’s been here, she’s barely mentioned anything about her family or her past. I knew she was running from something. I knew that the night she climbed on the back of my motorcycle. I just didn’t know from what.

  It’s a hard pill to swallow, realizing the girl who has annihilated my walls is someone I don’t know a single thing about.

  “Come here.” I grab her forearm and pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her slender shoulders.

  She shakes against me as her emotions break free.

  I’m not sure what to do, or say, so I do the only thing that makes sense. I hold her tightly and wait for the storm to pass.

  I don’t know how long we stand like that. With the evening sun growing low in the sky, Fallon silent in my arms. But when she finally pulls away, her eyes are red and her cheeks are damp with tears.

  “I’m so sorry.” She wipes at her face as she steps back. “I’m sorry about what he said... About you. About Link. He’s...”

  “Hey.” I reach out to tip her chin, forcing her gaze to mine. “You don’t have to apologize for him. You don’t have to apologize for any of it.”

  If anyone can respect someone’s need to keep their secrets it’s me. Even still, I won’t deny the sting in my chest over the knowledge that she didn’t feel like she could tell me the truth.

  I had known her all of one day before I told her about my family. And yet here we are, days later, having spent several nights in the same bed, and she never mentioned a word about who her father is.

  “I knew this would happen.” She hugs her arms around herself. “I knew it the moment I saw my cell phone powered on.”

  “That’s how he found you?”

  She nods slowly. “That’s why I kept it off, why I hadn’t charged it.”

  “Fuck.” I let out a heavy puff of air. “I’m so sorry, Fallon. I didn’t think...”

  “Don’t,” she cuts me off. “This isn’t on you. It was only a matter of time.” She shrugs weakly. “I can leave.” She goes to step past me, but I grab her bicep to halt her movements, swinging my head to the side to look down at her.

  “You aren’t going anywhere.”

  “You don’t want me to leave?” She looks surprised and... hopeful.

  “Why would I want you to leave?”

  “You heard what he said. He’s not going to stop. It’s not worth it. I’m not worth it.”

  “He can throw everything in his arsenal at me, it won’t make me want you here any less. And you’re wrong, Fallon. You are worth it.” I turn so that I’m facing her head on, both of my hands on her shoulders. “You are more than worth it.”

  Her chin quivers again and fuck if the sight doesn’t feel like a knife stabbing me straight in the chest.

  I don’t know when it happened. When I went from wanting this girl physically to feeling like I need her emotionally. But the thought of her walking out my door and never coming back is more than I can fucking bare.

  She’s gotten under my skin in a way no woman ever has before. I’ll be damned if I lose her over something like this.

  If anyone can understand what it’s like to have powerful, influential parents, with unlimited resources at their fingertips, it’s me. When I left, my father didn’t let me do so peacefully. But like Fallon, he couldn’t stop me.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who my father is.”

  “You weren’t ready to share that part of your life yet. I get it. Fuck, if anyone gets it, I do. When I first broke free of my parents I didn’t tell anyone about my family or where I came from.”

  She nods, still seeming unsure.

  “Fallon, listen.” I slide my hands up to cup her face. “I don’t give a shit who your father is. It doesn’t change what’s happening here.”

  “And what exactly is happening here?” She looks up at me through thick, full lashes, still wet with tears.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. But whatever it is, I like it. A
lot,” I admit, even though it’s difficult for me to do. I’ve never been good at opening up to someone, but with Fallon I want her to know all of me.

  “Me too.” A trace of a smile pulls at her lips.

  “Fuck him. Fuck his threats. He can’t do shit and he knows it.”

  “That doesn’t mean he won’t try.”

  “Let him. It won’t make a fucking bit of difference.” I bend my knees so that I’m eye level with her. “You’re mine now. You understand me? And I protect what’s mine.” I lean in, laying a soft kiss to her perfect, pink lips. “Come on.” I pull back. “Let’s get inside.”

  She nods, waiting until I pull open the door before heading into the cabin. I follow in behind her, finding Link at the kitchen counter, watching us.

  I shake my head at him, telling him not to say anything. He gives me a nod of understanding.

  I follow Fallon back to the bedroom, closing the door as she takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

  “I don’t know when he became this person,” she starts. “I don’t know if he was always like this or if it got worse over time. I feel like I remember a time when he was a good man, a good father. I remember trips we would take when my mom was still alive. I remember how he used to smile and laugh. But as I got older, I started to wonder if maybe I was too young to see what he was hiding behind that smile before. In a way I think maybe it was all an act. An effort to put on the perfect façade of a happy family.”

  “I get that.” I cross the room, taking a seat next to her. I grab her hand, pulling it into my lap before entwining our fingers together. It feels so natural, being with her. Almost as easy as breathing.

  “I should have told you about him. I should have told you a lot of things.”

  “You’re telling me now.”

  “Yeah, but you had a right to know what you were getting into. I’m not the person you thought I was.”

  “You’re exactly who I thought you were. Someone like me. Someone who comes from a life where your every move is dictated. Someone who wanted to break free.” I pause. “But I have to ask... The night I found you...”

  “I was supposed to be staying the week with my friend, Christy. Well, if you can even call her that. She’s really more of an acquaintance. Someone my father made me hang out with because it served his agenda.” She blows out a breath. “I had always planned on leaving, on escaping my father’s rule and breaking free. What happened that night.” She swallows hard. “I wasn’t planning on leaving like that. But then you found me and suddenly I was removed. From him. From all of it. And for some reason I couldn’t go back.”

  “What happened that night?”

  “Christy is a bit of a partier. I knew going away with her wasn’t a good idea, but given my father’s persistence, I did. When we arrived at the lake house, there were already people there. I tried to let loose and enjoy myself the best I could. I had a couple drinks by the fire and got to talking to this guy... Austin.” Her voice shakes and she pauses. “After a while, we both grew tired of how crazy some of the people were behaving and he asked if I wanted to take a walk. I thought it would be nice. To get away from the party. To talk to someone who seemed a lot like me. I guess you could say I’m not a very good judge of character.” She looks down at our adjoined hands. “We had walked quite a ways into the woods. I thought he just wanted to talk, but, but then...”

  “Did he hurt you?” Anger flares in my voice.

  “He tried,” she admits, her gaze lifting to mine. “I don’t know what happened. One minute we’re talking, I don’t even remember what about, and the next he had me pinned to the ground.” Emotion clogs her throat. “I fought so hard. I tried to stop him.”

  It takes everything I have to stay sitting next to her. What I really want to do is get up and punch something. I knew something had happened to her. It was pretty obvious given the shape I found her in. I guess deep down I was hoping I was wrong.

  “I screamed... So loud. But we were too far from the party for anyone to hear me. I’m still not sure how I got away. All I know is the moment I was free, I had to run. And so I did. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know which direction the lake house was. So I just ran. I ran as far and as fast as my feet would take me.” She pulls in a slow breath. “That’s when you found me.”

  “Fallon.” I squeeze her hand.

  “I didn’t even care that I didn’t know you. I just wanted, no, I needed, to get away from there. From him. From everyone. I didn’t expect to still be here almost two weeks later. I didn’t anticipate the bonds I would form with you and Link. The truth is, I feel more at home here than I ever felt with my father. You took me in, no questions asked. You gave me a place to stay. You made me feel cared for and safe. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you for what you did for me that night, and for every moment since.”

  “This guy... Did you know him before that night?”

  “No.” She shakes her head slowly, her soft curls moving across her shoulders.

  “So you have no idea where he is now?”

  “No.” She blinks. “And I hope I never see him again.”

  “What he did to you... What he could have done to you.” I release her hand and stand, running my fingers through my hair.

  “Hey.” She stands too, reaching for me. “He tried and he failed.”

  “It still doesn’t make it okay, Fallon.” My voice is strained, my anger clear.

  The thought of him touching her, of her screaming for help and there being no one to help her. It’s like someone has lit a fire in my chest and it’s quickly spreading into a consuming inferno.

  “I know it doesn’t.”

  I hate that she’s the one reassuring me. It should be me reassuring her, comforting her, making sure she knows that no one will ever hurt her that way again.

  “Was he there? When I took you to get your things, was he there?”

  “No.” She looks down at the ground.

  “Jesus, Fallon. You knew he could have been though. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Because I didn’t want to cause a scene. I just wanted to get in and out undetected. I wanted to forget that it ever happened.”

  “But had he been there...”

  “He wasn’t,” she cuts in, her blue eyes finding mine. “And it’s over now. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to move past it.”

  Move past it? How can she be so cavalier about this? The last thing I want to do is move past it. In truth, I want to track this mother fucker down and make damn sure he doesn’t have the means to ever hurt someone like this again.

  I try to push down my anger and remind myself that this isn’t about me. This is about Fallon. My Fallon. The sweet, innocent girl who walked into my life unexpectedly and completely turned my world on its axis.

  “I’m sorry.” I let out a puff of air. “Just the thought of him hurting you...”

  “But he didn’t.”

  I consider her words, my thoughts filtering back to what started this conversation to begin with.

  “You’re serious about never going home again?”

  “I am. At least not if I have any choice in the matter. I’m done. With my father. With that life. There’s nothing left there for me.”

  “Your father didn’t seem to agree with you.”

  “He doesn’t care about me. He only cares about what my actions will look like to others. My whole life he’s been priming me to be the perfect politician’s daughter. Every move I make has been under scrutiny for as long as I can remember. I’ve been trained to smile at the right moment. When to speak and when to stay quiet. My life is about him. It always has been. And it’s only gotten worse since his advisors suggested he run for the next presidential election.”

  “Wait. He’s running for president?” I gawk at her.

  “He plans to. Though I doubt he has a chance at winning. Of course, he doesn’t see it that way. He thinks if he runs he’ll win,
and I’m sure he’s already weighing it in his mind how his only child falling off the rails will affect his chances. That’s the only reason he came here tonight. He doesn’t care about me. He doesn’t care if I’m safe or happy. He only cares about how my actions reflect on him.”

  “I’m starting to think your father is an even bigger ass than mine... And that’s saying something.” I smile to lighten the mood. “Seems we have more in common than I originally thought.”

  “That we do,” she agrees with a small tilt of her head.

  “Promise me something.” I wait a beat before continuing. “Promise me you’ll never go back there. That you’ll never let him use you again.”

  “I don’t want to go back. But I may not be able to control that. I don’t have a job or a source of income. I have no home or anything to fall back on. I have no one. I threw myself off the cliff without checking to see if there was a safety net at the bottom.”

  “You’re wrong. You have me. And you have Link. And this is your home now.”

  “Titus.” She shakes her head.

  “I’m serious, Fallon. Stay here, with us. Make your life here.”

  “I...”

  “I know it’s insane, trust me I do. We barely know each other. But I can’t ever imagine not wanting you here.”

  “So what? You just expect me to stay here and mooch off of you? To eat your food and live in your house and not do my part? That’s not me, Titus. That’s not who I am. I left my father to forge my own path. To find what it is that I love and do something with it. To be my own person.”

  “So be your own person. Go out, find something that makes you happy. Build a life for yourself. All I’m asking is that at the end of the day you come home to me. The rest we can figure out as we go.”

  “You can’t mean that.” She seems taken aback, like she can’t wrap her head around the fact that I want her here.

  Hell, I’m not sure I’ve fully grasped it either. But I do. I want her here. I want her with me. Like I’ve never wanted anything before in my entire life.

  It’s terrifying and unnerving, yet when I look in her eyes it feels right, in a way that nothing else ever has before.