Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“Thank God that’s a long time away,” I mutter, amused at Cal’s line of thinking. “You almost done?” I gently touch Zella’s arm as I ask the question.
She yelps and then curls her arm against her chest. At first I think I’ve hurt her.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, dipping my head so I can see her face that’s now bowed.
The table grows quiet and Penny’s brows are furled with worry.
“Nothing,” Zella whispers.
“Is your arm hurt?”
She shrugs.
“Can I look at it?”
Her shoulders lift up again in another shrug.
Carefully, I pull up the sleeve of her arm. Silvery scars mar her brown skin, making sickness roil in my gut. One of the scars isn’t scarred over yet, though. It’s red and oozing with puss. An angry welt.
“Who did this to you?” I demand, already knowing the answer.
“Terrence,” Penny barks out at my harsh tone.
I glower at her before turning my attention back to Zella. “Who hurt you?”
“I accidentally touched Dadd—” She frowns at me, her face twisting in confusion. “I touched his smokes by accident.” Her eyes shift away as tears well in them.
“That motherfucker did this to you—” I growl, making her flinch, but am cut off by Penny.
“Enough. You’re freaking her out,” Penny snaps. Then, to Zella, she gently touches her shoulder. “Did Jack burn you?”
Zella shudders in apparent fear, shaking her head in vehemence. “I did it. It was an accident.”
“You’re lying,” I accuse, hurt that she would defend that monster.
“Terrence,” David booms. “That’s enough.”
Are they all blind?
She’s been fucking abused!
I rise to my feet, sending my chair scraping loudly back behind me. “I’m going to beat the fuck out of him!”
Cal is on his feet in the next instant as Zella bursts into tears. My heart shatters even more at hearing her cry. Penny hugs her while Cal grabs my shoulder.
“Take a walk with me,” Cal grinds out.
I’m pissed as fuck but allow him to guide me outside.
“Dude, calm the fuck down,” he says. “You scared the crap out of your kid.”
I wince at his words. “But he hurt her!”
“I’m not fucking blind,” he growls. “But scaring her when she’s already petrified won’t help. You need to calm down. Call Samantha. Find out what to do next. But accusing her of lying is only going to make her retreat more.”
I pace along the gravel in front of the cabin, rubbing at the tension now forming in my neck. “How can he do that? How can he burn a little kid like that?” Tears burn at my eyes. Zella is so sweet. She doesn’t deserve that shit. “Lacey had scars too.”
Cal’s lips press into a firm line.
“When we slept together, I saw them. She was embarrassed. Thought I wouldn’t want her because of them.” Fuck, my chest aches. “Do you think Zella is ashamed? Is that why she’s denying it was him?”
Cal shrugs and walks up to me, a frown on his face. “That or she’s scared. Maybe he threatened her.”
My blood boils and I fist my hands. “I’m going to kill him.”
“And leave your kid parentless?” He shakes his head. “No, you get Samantha’s ass on this. Beating that motherfucker to death will only feel good for a second. Then, you’ll be cuffed and dragged to jail. Zella needs you.”
I know he’s right. Cal could have killed Michael and Ryan for what they did to Charlotte, but he didn’t. They lived and after the trial, their asses will be locked up for a very long time. Too much evidence stacked against them. It’s sweeter justice in the end. I need to get Samantha to move the ball on this custody shit so she can be with me full-time and I don’t have to worry about Jack’s sadistic ass.
“I need to apologize to Zella,” I say with a sad sigh. “I don’t want her to think I’m like Jack.”
He nods and clutches my shoulder. “Get in there.”
We head back inside. Penny is packing up the little backpack of dolls Zella brought. Zella is no longer crying, but she’s withdrawn and staring at the floor. Charlotte and Kate both shoot me a sympathetic smile.
“I’ll take her home,” Penny says, not meeting my gaze.
“Absolutely not.” I try to keep the venom out of my tone so I don’t freak Zella out anymore. “I’ll take her home.”
Penny stands up, lifting her chin, fire blazing in her eyes. “I think it’s best if I do.”
“Penny,” I grit out. “I don’t want you anywhere near that man. It’s bad enough I have to send my daughter back there. Just stay here.”
“We’ll go with him,” David says, giving Penny a nod. “Just stay here with your sister. We’ll make sure Zella gets in safely and that Terrence doesn’t do anything to get himself in trouble.”
Penny’s shoulders relax and she nods. She gives Zella a fierce hug, bends to whisper something to her, and then kisses her forehead. I’m still in awe at the relationship they’ve already formed having only met twice.