"You're going to stay here with me."
"For tonight?" Her voice was so sad and so unsure, how will I ever indo the damage he’d done to my sweet girl? Killing him won’t fix that. It sure the fuck would make me feel a fuck of a lot better though.
"I was thinking more like...forever, if that's what you want." No matter what she says she’s not going back.
"But what about my dad, isn't he going to make trouble for you? I don't want you to get hurt because of me." She seemed afraid all of a sudden, holding onto me even tighter. What the fuck?
"Hurt how baby?" What the fuck had he said to her?
"Just be careful okay, don't go see my dad anymore, and if it's okay I want to stay here with you, but how?" Her words were all rushed and jumbled together but I got what I wanted. I’ll deal with her fears later, I’m not afraid of that fuck but I guess for her he was the scariest thing she knew. Fucking monster.
"Don't worry about it I'll take care of everything."
I stayed with her holding her hand and playing in her hair until she fell asleep with tear tracks on her face. This one was on me, but Cliff Sanders was still going to pay for making her cry.
I held her onto her a little longer before kissing her lips softly and leaving the room.
"Sam, I want those tapes before you call it a night." I kept my voice low in case she awakened and came looking for me.
"Sure thing sir uh, I think you should know he called in reinforcements. I don't think he's aware that we have ears on him. I'm not sure how he thinks we came to be here, but so far he's still speaking freely. Should I leave Bruce here or should we call it a night?"
"I got what I wanted out of there for now you can bring in the Intel in and call it a night."
I hung up the phone, reinforcements huh, probably his partner in crime Stark. Good, I hope they talked very freely then I could kill two birds with one stone.
I walked back to the bedroom to check that she was okay; she was sleeping peacefully curled up on her side. I kissed her brow and pulled the covers higher up around her shoulders and stood over her just looking at her. I can’t believe she was really here, even with the events of the last few hours it seemed unbelievable that she could really be mine. If I stopped to think about it I’d probably think I’d lost my damn mind. I shook my head even as the smile broke out across my face. Whatever had brought us here to this moment she was mine, this beautiful unbelievable creature was truly mine. “I’m going to make you so fucking happy Blossom, see if I don’t.”
Tomorrow her life with me begins. He might've destroyed those few paltry gifts but I will replace them and more. From now on she would have everything her heart desires, everything he’d denied her her whole life I will see that she gets. But most importantly I will show her that she was worth a hell of a lot more than he had planned to sell her for.
Chapter 8
Gideon
I prowled the living room when I wasn't checking in on her, those little whimpering noises she made in her throat made me want to go tear him limb from limb. But that was too easy when I hit him I’m going to hit him hard and with longer repercussions. As much as I’d like to kill the fuck he was still her father so my hands were somewhat tied.
I had the tapes from tonight in my possession but I haven't listened to them as yet because I don't want any interruptions when I finally do listen to them. She might need me and I didn’t want to there to be a chance that she’d come looking for me and overhear them. I can't go to sleep because I have to keep an eye on her I think she's fucking traumatized. Not to mention the fact that I'm too fucking fired up to even think about sleep. I have to get my head straight so I can decide what my next play’s gonna be. He obviously didn’t believe me when I said I’d hurt him if he fucked with her so now I have to send his stupid ass a message, one that he won’t misinterpret and won’t soon forget.
Then there’s her state of mind. I have her here now but what about in a couple days when things have calmed down? Will she want to return to him? It wasn't going to happen, no matter what she wasn't going back, ever, but would she want to?
I wasn't worried about school, getting her paperwork was no problem, and I'd already put a man there to keep an eye on her, though her father would still have access to her being her guardian of note.
That thought struck me again, the one about marrying her to get her out from under his thumb, but was I ready for that, and more importantly, was she?
It would be child's play to get a protection order against him, I had the necessary contacts to pull that off, but then she would have to deal with the signing and all that and I didn't want her going through any more than she already had. I ran through everything I could think of to protect her keep her safe. The one sure thing I kept coming back to was to keep her with me at all cost. It was the only way I could see where I could be sure that nothing else befell her.
I headed back to the bedroom and watched her as she slept, so beautiful, so peaceful, and so young.
What the fuck are you doing Thorpe? Have you lost your mind?
I’d taken one look at this girl and set out to own her. I hadn't stopped to think, I just saw her, wanted her, and went after her. Had I known the baggage she came with would I still have pursued her? Fuck yes, only I wouldn't have waited so long. My waiting could’ve cost me her and that thought scared the fuck out of me. That she could’ve been lost to me before I’d ever had the chance to know just how fucking prefect she is.
I put any lingering doubts aside as I climbed onto the bed with her. Combing her hair behind her ear with my fingers I drew her head onto my chest.
She sighed and cuddled closer, sighing my name in her sleep. That right there was enough to tell me that I’d done the right thing, that come what may, I will keep her with me, and that no one would ever hurt her again.
I had one of the best night's sleeps since I was a kid. The weight of her on my chest felt like she belonged there and when I kissed her brow gently it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I laid still breathing her in, enjoying the feel of her against me, willing myself not to turn her on her back and fuck her the way I imagined doing since the first day I laid eyes on her. Not yet, she was in no way ready for me, I have to ease her into that side of things. Didn’t want to scare her by moving too fast, besides I wanted to court her, and ain’t that a kick in the fucking balls? Think of something else quick Thorpe before you fuck this up.
I wondered if I should keep her home just for today, maybe her father would try something stupid since he'd proven that he had no sense. He couldn't possibly if he’d decided to take me on. Then again he couldn't have known I would find out, he had her terrified of him so he wouldn't expect her to tell me what he’d done. She has been hiding the shit her whole life after all. Who knows what the fuck else he would’ve done if my men weren’t there to stop him? Okay I need to get up, I was either gonna try to fuck her or lose my shit thinking about that dumb fuck. She wasn’t ready for either show.
I looked over at the bedside clock it was six o’clock. Damn I haven't slept this late since I started the business, looks like my Blossom was good for me in more ways than one.
I eased out from under her still not sure if I should wake her or not. She needed her school things shit, I hadn't thought of anything else but getting her out of there last night. What the fuck!
No problem, I needed to see one Cliffy Sanders alone anyway, I didn't need to hear the tapes for that he'd done plenty already.
I couldn't just leave without her knowing though so I had to wake her after all. She would freak if she knew where I was going so I wouldn't tell her, just make some shit up if it came to that.
"Blossom, wake up…come on baby open your eyes." I kissed her temple as I ran my hand through her hair and hugged her close. The feel of her warm soft body was a temptation that I fought to ignore, only a bastard would take advantage of her in this state.
"Gideon..." She reached her arms around my neck pulling me
closer. The move was both innocent and seductive in turns. I gritted my teeth as her plump breast pressed into my chest.
Seventeen Thorpe, you have to wait, you have to wait. Just one kiss, if I burn in hell so be it.
I covered her mouth with mine as she came awake her eyes widened in surprise before she settled and returned my kiss.
My baby isn't a kisser even there she was mine, untouched. Fuck yeah. It’s going to be a joy to introduce her to the delights of the flesh, but not now, though my body had other ideas.
I pulled tenderly away so I could look into her eyes. "Do you want to stay home today or go in to school?"
"I can't, I have tests all morning, but today's a half day, so I get to come home early..." She trailed off and twisted the covers in her hands as she looked down, I could see a blush tinting her cheek.
"What is it Ashley, what's on your mind?"
She peeked at me from under her lashes as she bit her lip. Damn morning trifecta, if she woke up like this every morning I was in serious trouble for the next few months. I’m already sporting a massive hard on which I was fighting to keep hidden from her, but if she kept biting her lip like that...
I pulled the offending flesh from between her teeth and lifted her chin with my finger.
"Tell me."
"Is this...home?"
Her voice was so small I barely made out the words but the look of fear in her eyes told me I had heard correctly.
"Yes it is, well one of them, but that's something we'll talk about later. Are you going to be okay to go to school today, you're sure? I could always call and have them postpone your testing."
"No, I want to go, do you think...do you think he'll come for me?" If he wants to fucking die sure. Her breathing got choppy with fear and tore at my gut.
"No sweetheart, he's not gonna come for you." I held her until her breathing quieted again, every tremble like a spike in my heart. How many years and how many horrors had she faced at the hands of the one who was supposed to protect? It made me sick to my stomach to think on it. She was such a fragile little thing, so soft, so...female. It was hard to imagine someone hurting her intentionally, it made me want to wrap her up in silk and tuck her away somewhere safe.
I wish I could erase every memory of every nightmare she had faced in her own personal hell. From what I had learned in the report I could only imagine what he had done and said to her all her life. One thing was for sure, the man was a sick bastard, and I will do everything in my power to keep her away from him. She'd understand one day if she doesn't now.
In the end I waited until she was in school, I dropped her off there myself and gave her one of my phones so she could call if she needed me. Barring that I would be back at one to pick her up.
I sped the rest of the way to her father's house, my anger once again at the forefront. Over breakfast, which she had insisted on making though I usually had just coffee in the mornings, she’d told me some of what had happened the night before.
He’d come into her room unannounced, a practice he seemed in the habit of doing on occasion. And when she'd tried to hide her new things he had gone into a rage, screaming profanities at her, along with calling her a whore, my whore.
I’d kept my peace while I listened but all the while I was imagining which bones I was going to break in his pathetic body.
I jumped out of my car in his driveway. I'm not a violent man by design but I have been known to lose my temper and have been told it's not a pretty sight.
Well Clifton Sanders was in for a treat because I don't think I've ever been this pissed in my fucking life.
It was still early in the morning and the few houses on the dead end street were quiet. I know that there were mostly retirees in this neighborhood and that will work in my favor.
I didn't stop to think, just kicked the door in and went right in. He wasn't upstairs but laid out on the couch in the living room. The noise from the door breaking must've woken him because he fumbled around trying to reach his gun on the side table.
"No you don't you son of a bitch."
I reached him in three strides and pulled him up by his neck. I nut punched him while glaring into his eyes and he dropped.
"I could've killed you for what you had planned for her that alone was your death sentence. I was willing to let it go for her sake but this just nailed your coffin shut.” I kicked him once for good measure it was no fun beating the shit out of a sniveling dog that was just rolling around on the floor nursing his balls. Weak fuck, he only knew how to prey on a defenseless girl in his care. Someone who’d looked to him for everything, and whom he gave nothing. “Now go upstairs and get me all her pertinent paperwork, birth certificate, social security, medical records, everything. I want it in five minutes or I'm breaking a bone in your fucking body for every minute of my time you waste.
"I don't have to give you anything Thorpe, you have no rights she's my daughter. I'll have you brought up on charges. What would your high class friends think of a pedophile?"
"In case you forgot you fuck, in this state the law says I can marry Ashley at sixteen, she's almost eighteen. Your threats don't mean shit to me and I could give a flying fuck what my peers think, now get me what I asked for, times a wasting." I walked over to him to get him moving the longer I stayed in here the closer he came to death.
"How do you expect me to explain this, her sudden disappearance? What am I supposed to tell people?"
"You really are stupid. Do I look like I give a fuck how you explain anything? All I care about is keeping you away from her, as of yesterday you can forget you even have a daughter."
He sneered at me as if he wanted to kill me, I'm sure that thought was giving him the warm and fuzzies. Join the line you fuck, the nerve of this sick fuck to call me a pedophile after what he’d had planned for his own flesh and blood.
"You don't seem to hear so good since you still went after her after I warned you not to, so heed me now, fuck with me on this and the tape recording I have of you goes to the six o clock news. I've already left instructions, just in case by some twist of fate you get the drop on me. Now get going."
I shoved him away from me onto the floor his face had paled at the mention of a recording. Good you piece a shit, now worry what recording I'm talking about I'm sure your treatment of your daughter isn't your only vice. I followed him up the stairs and went to her room while he went after what I needed.
In her room I gathered only those things she would need for school. On a hunch I opened her closet and a few drawers, fucking bastard, she barely had the bare necessities.
I met him in the living room where he had a packet ready for me. I opened it up and checked just to be sure, I didn't trust him worth a damn.
"You owe me four thousand dollars I expect it by the end of the week."
"What? I don't owe you anything." He tried to get huffy but we both knew it was only for show, I’m pretty sure if he gave me any excuse I’d end his ass right here and now.
"Yeah, the shit you destroyed, I paid for, you'll give me four-thousand, and for every day that it's late that will be another five hundred. If more than a week goes by then I start taking it out of your ass and trust me that little skirmish is nothing compared to what I will do to you."
"You don't need that money..."
"I know, but I hate you, I want you to suffer in anyway I can make you suffer, besides you owe her a hell of a lot more than that you monster."
"I want that tape, I kept my end of the bargain I gave you what you wanted."
"You'll never see that tape. Until I'm sure she's safe from you and that you won't be a pain in my ass the tape stays. Funny you don't even know what's on those tapes and you're still worried, you really are a sick fuck."
"All this trouble for that little bit..."
My fist was in his mouth before he could finish the sentence, I didn't stop there either, he’d finally given me just the opening I needed dumb fuck.
It had been some years since I ha
d to talk with my fist, but it all came back to me. His puny attempts were no match for my burning anger. I hit him for every year she had spent in terror, for every missed childhood dream. I didn't stop plowing my fist into him until I grew tired.
"Come near her again, I'll kill you."
I turned and walked out. There was no way of knowing whether or not he would heed my warning the guy seems not too bright. Either that or his personal vendetta against her superseded everything else including self -preservation.
I cleaned up before going to work and at about one I left to pick her up at school. Our house hunting will have to wait one more day. Today I’m going to fill every closet in the penthouse with shit for her. I thought of calling my sister over to get her input but changed my mind. I’m just not ready to share her with anyone else as yet not even family.
She walked out with the rest of the kids and headed for the car, the down look on her face disappearing as she climbed in next to me.
"How was your tests love?" I drew her in to get a fix it felt like forever since I’d dropped her off. I looked at her to make sure she was okay and that there were no lingering effects from her ordeal the night before. I’m sure that shit’s gonna fuck with her for a while but I’m gonna do all that’s in my power to cut it out like a cancer.
"Easy." She seemed more at ease than when I dropped her off as she clutched my arm while I drove. Maybe I was worrying for nothing. Damn, if one morning of freedom could do that for her then I would see that it never changed.
"We're going shopping again today love, you need clothes and stuff."
"That's too much, after yesterday." She pulled away and fussed with her seat belt.
"Ashley, do you have any idea how much I'm worth?" She shook her head no, and how refreshing was that? Shit any of the females of my past acquaintance would sell an ovary for the chance to go shopping on Gideon Thorpe’s dime.
The Billionaire Page 5