Annoyed, I go to answer the door. I don’t want whoever it is to wake Sadie up. I assume it’s probably the doorman with packages or mail or some shit like that.
“Okay, enough,” I say. “I’m coming.”
I pull open the door. Silas smiles at me, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Hello there, Gavin,” he says.
I take a step backwards. I didn’t expect this. “Silas,” I say. “What do you want?”
He frowns at me. “Are you joking?”
I pause and stare at him. He’s here for one reason and one reason alone: to bring back Sadie. That much is obvious. Her family must know she left and they figured out where she is pretty quickly.
“She doesn’t want to go with you,” I say softly, anger rising in my chest.
“Now, now, Gavin,” he says. “You know it doesn’t work like that.” He subtly opens his jacket, showing me his gun, “Make this easy, will you?”
I want to fight him, but I’m unarmed and wearing only a pair of jogging pants and a black t-shirt. I wouldn’t be able to get my gun before Silas can pull his weapon out.
“What’s with you people?” I say to him. “The girl wants to live her life. Aren’t you a little sick of working for guys like Tillman?”
“No,” Silas says flatly. “Please go get her.”
I clench my fists. For a second, I think I’m going to hit him. Maybe if I strike first, I can wrestle the gun away from him and get the upper hand.
But I’m stopped by a voice from behind me. “Let him in, Gavin,” Sadie says.
I turn and look at her. She’s standing inside, frowning at me. She’s wearing the same outfit from the night before.
“Your father sent me,” Silas says to her.
“I know who you are,” she answers. “I’ll come with you. Just give me a few minutes.”
He sighs. “I’m not supposed to do that.”
“Please. You won’t have any trouble.” Sadie looks pointedly at me.
I grunt and nod at Silas. “A few minutes,” I say.
“Fine,” he answers. “I’ll be out here.” He leans up against the wall next to my door. I shut it and lock it, then turn to Sadie.
She looks at me for a second then walks quickly over to me. I wrap my arms around her and pull her close.
I hug her tight. I hate that she had to see this asshole. She’s not crying, though, which makes me proud.
“You’re in deep shit,” I say to her with a smile.
She smiles back. “Guess so.”
“You don’t seem to mind.”
“I guess not.” She shrugs. “I’m figuring things out for myself.”
“Good for you.” I kiss her softly on the lips. “You don’t have to go, you know. I’ll get rid of him.”
“I bet you would,” she says, grinning at me. “But it’s better if I just go. It’s time for me to make some hard choices.”
I don’t exactly know what she means by that, but I can guess. “Are you sure?”
She nods once, resolute. “I’m sure.”
“Okay.” I kiss her one more time. “It’s a shame. I made a damn good breakfast.”
She smiles at me. “I bet you did.”
“Think you have time for a shower?”
She shakes her head, still smiling. “No, I don’t think so. And I don’t think you really want me to clean up.”
“No,” I admit. “I didn’t plan on letting you get clean.”
I kiss her deep and full then, hoping that she understands what I mean. I hope she understands that she’s mine and I’m not letting her go, no matter what her fucking family says.
We break apart slowly. “I’ll see you soon,” she says. “And I still have the phone.”
“Good.” I let her go and she steps toward the door.
She pause before she leaves and looks at me. “I’ll be thinking about you, Daddy.”
I smirk at her. “I know you will be.”
She smiles, opens the door, and then leaves. I get a glimpse of Silas looking back at me as they head down the hall, a mysterious look on his face.
I shut the door and lock it. I don’t know how to feel. On the one hand, I didn’t want her to leave, and I would have fought to keep her. But on the other, she decided to go back on her own, and I have to respect that maturity. She’s an impressive girl, and she just keeps getting more and more impressive.
18
Sadie
Going home with my father’s goon was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, but I knew that I couldn’t resist him. Silas is a scary man, although I’ve only met him a few times, but even I know that he’s the man my father sends to do the dirty work. I didn’t want Gavin to get hurt just because I couldn’t face the consequences of my actions.