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I’m already failing Jinx, worse than Giulio failed me. But I can’t let my failings derail me from understanding everything there is to know about my daughter’s life.
“Don’t sugarcoat the truth. Tell me how she was found,” I demand, barely keeping myself in check.
“My employer found Jinx after she’d been sold to a piece of shit who was about to test out ‘the goods’ before my boss arrived.” Zakiya twists her lips, her disgust is a palpable force between us.
All I hear is someone dared to ruin my child’s innocence. Will she forever associate grown men with her experience? Will the trauma she went through prevent us from having a true father-daughter bond?
“Did the motherfucker touch her?”
Rage unlike any I’ve experienced heats my skin and turns my vision black. I want blood. Today. Now. No one touches my child and lives to remember the horrors they perpetrated on her.
“I don’t know how far the man went, but he was naked while Jinx was mostly covered.”
“Even more reason to speak to your employer. I want names and locations.” I allow death’s whisper to underlie my demand. Zakiya claims to know me as a monster, but she has no idea how savage I can be.
“Names I can give. Locations, however, no one will ever have.”
“If your boss thinks to protect?—”
Zakiya doubles over as dark laughter spills from her lips. “Protect? Protect? Not on my boss’ watch. You won’t find them because their bodies no longer exist. My employer’s favorite pastime is eliminating child traffickers and pedophiles.”
I relax in my seat, although the rage continues to ride me hard. “And how’d they come to employ you?” I watch for the slightest hint of deception, hating the barrier her sunglasses and hair present.
Her mouth twists up at the corner. “For those in the know, understand I have more to offer than child-rearing skills.” The humor disappears from her face and I’m met with a fierceness one would encounter in the wild when trapped with a lioness protecting her young. “No one will work harder to keep Jinx safe than I will. There’s no sacrifice I won’t make to ensure the rest of her childhood is full of rainbows, glitter, and cotton candy for as long as she enjoys them.”
Despite not seeing her full face, I believe her. “I’d still like to meet your boss in person.”
“I’ll relay your request.”
“And I want Jinx under my roof tonight. My home is her home.”
“Have you equipped your home with everything a child her age needs?”
“I understand there will be growing pains as I learn to be a father, but I’m not completely useless. Of course, my home is ready for her.”
If anything, I may have gone overboard with everything I bought to prepare for Jinx’s arrival.
Zakiya leans into her chair, but I can’t read her expression. Again, I curse the glasses obstructing my view of her.
“Alright, barring any egregious behavior on your part, I’ll give you a month to prove yourself. From my information, you have several residences. Which one will be Jinx’s principal home?”
“Do you know my Haven district house?” Unlike the home I grew up in, the Haven mansion has no reminders of Giulio. I want Jinx as far away from my history with that man as possible.
It’s bad enough he continues to overshadow my interactions with my daughter, but I aim to eradicate his presence from my life and thoughts forever.
“I do.” Zakiya stands, putting an end to our conversation.
I swallow my disappointment while trying to find other topics to keep her near.
“We’ll come by at five tonight, establish a new bedtime routine, and after you and I will discuss my expectations in greater detail.”
I stand to match her stance until I tower over her despite the table separating us. “We’ll also discuss my expectations.”
A twitch of humor raises the corner of her lips. “Sure.” She turns to leave before pausing. “And by the way, tell your men not to follow me. It’ll be a waste of time when I’m sure there are other people you need to intimidate or other illegal activities they could advance for your organization.” She strides away before I can rebut her.
With reluctant admiration, I watch her walk away, more and more intrigued by her, physically and mentally. These past few days I’ve denied the desire humming beneath the surface every time my thoughts ran across her. Faced with her defiance, my craving has only grown.
I want to dominate her, frustrate her, and make her beg for my mercy.
