Daddy's Girl: A Daddy Issues Novel by Rebel Wild (books to read for 13 year olds .TXT) 📕

I hear Mr. Garrett behind me. I slowly turn around, hoping it was just my imagination, but nope, he’s there. “What are you still doing up?”

“Sir,” I say to him as I remember to lower my eyes when I face him. “I was just thirsty.”

“I see,” he says as he takes my water. “But for soda?”

“Yes, sir,” I tell him, as he sits the bottle on the counter.

“Look at me,” he demands and I obey. “How can something so good for you be so bad?” He tucks my hair behind my ears, seeming almost human. His hand lingers on my cheek. His being gentle confuses the hell out of me, and I try in vain to figure him out. He seems exhausted like he’s stressed about something. “What?”

“Are you okay?”

“Why would you ask me that?” He says, snatching his hands from me.

His walls are flying up so fast I can almost hear them.

“No reason, sir,” I tell him, lowering my head from being chastised.

He’s right, I am being stupid. I really need to learn to just shut up. I hear him sigh and I raise my head again, but I can’t bring myself to look him in the eye.

“It’s been a very long and nonproductive workday. Figuring out how to get your father off without ruining my career is problematic.”

“But you’ll do it?”

“As soon as you give me what I want,” he says, waving a folded-up piece of paper at me before putting it on the counter for me to see. I unfold it. It’s the test results from his doctor’s office. He’s clean. “Now, that’s all out of the way, it should be easy for you to give it up.”

“I will give it up, but do we have to wait the entire time? If I give it to you now, make it so you can savor it or whatever, will you drop the charges right now?”

“No. He’ll be freed when we’re done. Once he’s out, he’ll have all your attention. I don’t want to share my time with your damn daddy.”

“You won’t. I promise.”

“No, and I don’t want to hear any more about it. Once we’re done, he’ll be released and the two of you can ride off into the sunset together. Until then, you agreed to work for me and I expect you to stick to the contract or this will be the end of it.”

“But how can I guarantee that? Once you get what you want, how can I be sure you’ll give me what I want?”

“That’s how business works. It’s called trust.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, not wanting to piss him off to where he drops the whole thing.

“Go now,” he demands, giving me back my water and I run back to my room.

Trust. He’s asking for too much.

Chapter Eight

I’m just finishing up getting ready to see Daddy when someone knocks on my door.

“Come in.”

“I picked up your mail,” Joe says, coming in and handing me a large stack of envelopes. “No cops to harass me this time.”

“That’s good.” I laugh.

“Tristan wants you to give him all of your bills.”

I nod as I shuffle through it all, taking out my utility bills and handing them over to a patiently waiting Joe. I toss the junk mail on my bed.

“Um, did you happen to see Mrs. Leland?”

“She’s doing okay. Bree’s including her in the grocery shopping and I delivered more than enough food and stuff to last until I see her again.”

“Thank you, Joe.”

“Not a problem,” he says. “I’m ready to take you to see your old man when you are.”

“Okay, just let me grab my shoes.”

“I’ll meet you downstairs.”

I arrive at the jail a little after eight when visiting hours begin. The closer we get to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility; the more Joe hates it. He nearly broke out in hives, but he made it as far as the visitor’s gate.

“I might catch a case with these assholes,” he said. “It’s like they can smell me coming.”

He’s nothing like his brother.

“I won’t be too long,” I tell him.

After the body search, I’m allowed in. I smack my cheeks and shake out my hair so that it’s more in my face to make me seem livelier. I plaster a smile on my face, take a breath, and sit down in front of the thick glass where he’s already waiting for me.

“Hi, Daddy.”

I can tell he’s happy to see me, but when his eyes meet mine, all I see is sadness.

“How are you, pumpkin?”

“Okay, I guess.” I shrug, sitting down in the chair on my side of the glass between us.

“You guess? That doesn’t sound like you. Come on, let me hear it. Are you getting ready for school and what about that nosy old neighbor that keeps giving you those wacky socks?”

“She’s not nosy,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“What are you moping around for?”

“I just miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“How’s your new lawyer?”

“Competent. I still don’t know how we can afford him.”

“I told you I have a job.”

“And how many shifts at that restaurant do you have to work?”

“I don’t work there anymore. I found something… better.”

“Like what?”

“Daddy, we don’t have a lot of time and I don’t want to waste it talking about my stupid job.”

“I’m going to hate it that much? Let me hear it.”

“Okay, but don’t get mad,” I tell him. He just stares at me. “I’m working for the DA’s office.”

“You’re working for that asshole Garrett?”

“I’m just helping Mona around the office. I hardly ever see him.”

“I don’t want you working for him.”

“But it’s easy money and I’m not working for him, I’m helping Mona.”

“Stay the hell away from him, Foxy. I mean it.”

“I am. I will. Don’t worry about it, okay? I’m just glad you like the lawyer. What’s his plan?”

He covers the phone receiver with his hand, but I can still hear him cursing through the phone. He takes a deep breath, shaking his head at me before