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

“You suck. You never even told me you liked him back in high school.”

“How could I? You never let me get a word in with all of your ramblings on about him.”

“Give me a break. He comes from movie star money and he’s the damn district attorney.” She stops and looks around before continuing. “You didn’t hear this from me,” she says, pausing to look around again. “But I heard the reason he fired your dad was because there was a rumor going around the office about him liking you. Your dad confronted him. They came to blows and Garrett fired him.”

“I don’t believe you. Who told you that?”

“I overheard my mom talking about it,” she says, and I roll my eyes. Her mom is notorious for being a gossiper. “Okay, I know she’s usually full of shit, but you know her nosy ass always has her ear to the wall. She probably heard something from your dad.”

“Daddy never told me anything like that, and why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Look, don’t be pissed at me, okay? I’m just the messenger over here. Plus, he never did anything to you back then, right? Of course, he didn’t. He’s the DA. His like whole life would have been over because you can’t keep a secret for shit and people would accuse him of being a sex abuser like his dad.”

“He’s nothing like his dad. He’s not a rapist, and it’s all lies. My dad was fired because he lost a stupid case, that’s it, and I don’t feel comfortable talking about it.”

“Sorry, I’m just being a bitch because I’m jealous. What girl wouldn’t be. I can just look at him and see he’s good. What is he like forty?”

“Thirty- five.”

“He has to be good. No one in their right mind would be able to resist his charms.”

“You sure couldn’t. I thought Matt was going to have to pick your face up off the pavement when you saw him walking up.”

“Give me a break. I looked up to see Adonis walking toward us. I freaked out. It took all I had not to piss my pants,” she says, and I laugh. It’s funny that I don’t see him that way. I mean, he is intimidating sometimes, but he’s not the torture monster that I thought he was when I signed that contract. “Let’s go before Matt blows up our phones,” she jokes.

“Speak of the devil,” I tell her as I take my phone out of my pocket to take his call.

“We’re coming, Matt,” I answer the phone before turning to Leslie to roll my eyes.

“Sydney Warren,” a female voice comes through the phone.

“It’s not him,” I whisper to Leslie, covering the phone with my hand. “Go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”

“Okay, but I can’t guarantee Matt will wait for you,” she says.

“Hello?” I answer the phone after she leaves. “Yes, this is Sydney.”

“This is Isabella Chang, an on-call doctor at Cedar Sinai Hospital.”

“Yes? How can I help you?” I frown, wondering why she’s calling me.

“I got your number from the prison infirmary—”

“What’s happened to my dad?”

“He was brought in a week ago.”

“Is he okay?”

“I’m afraid not. He was stabbed multiple times.”

“Oh, my God.”

“We’ve managed to treat the wounds, but the ones on his left leg are problematic. His poor circulation is preventing healing. We wanted to operate, but your father refused.”

“What? No, he can’t refuse. Why didn’t you call me sooner?”

“He told us not to. The reason why I’m calling now is that he’s become confused. Whatever they stabbed him with has infected his leg, and the antibiotics we’ve started him on aren’t working. We’ve managed to treat the sepsis. That’s when—”

“I know what it is. What else can you do for him?”

“We need your permission to operate—”

“Do it.”

“We have to take the leg. It’s the reason he refused the surgery.”

“Do it.”

“How soon can you get here to sign the paperwork?”

“I’m on my way.”

I grab my bag and my car keys, leaving my unpacked books behind as I race out of the library to my car. I hit Mr. Garrett’s number on speed dial.

“Miss Warren,” he answers the way he normally does when I call him.

“Sir,” I say, near tears.

“What’s wrong?” I can hear the concern in his voice, but I can’t even get the words out. “Sydney, what is it?”

“My dad was attacked and he needs emergency surgery. I need to get to Cedars.”

Why I called him, I have no idea. He’s on the other side of town and too far away to help me.

“You’re too upset to drive,” he says. “I’ll have someone take you.”

“But, sir,” I start to tell him that I can’t wait.

“Miss Warren.” A woman comes up behind me. I’m a little freaked out by her.

“Yes,” I say to her, holding my phone tightly in my hand up to my ear.

“I’m Joanna. I work for Mr. Garrett. He’s informed me of your situation and I’ll be more than happy to get you to the hospital.”

“Go with her,” Mr. Garrett says.

“Okay,” I tell him, not having the time or even caring enough to question where she came from so fast.

“I’ll meet you there,” he assures me.

“Thank you,” I tell him, feeling relieved that he’s coming to be with me.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he whispers to me.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Roger has been in surgery for over two hours and we haven’t heard a word from anyone. With Sydney’s permission, Mom went to go see what she could find out. She’s been a volunteer here for many years, so I called her as soon as I got off the phone with Sydney. I wanted her to have someone to help with what I’m sure was a difficult decision in sending her father in for surgery. I knew Mom could get the answers to all her questions and ask the doctors a few Sydney might not know to ask. Mom learned a lot about this