Claire: The Forced Virgin Of The Billionaire

He winced and then shrugged and then started talking fast, too fast, “I didn’t think I’d get away. He stopped bothering me, too. I just hoped that he’d moved on. Claire didn’t really stay at home much, most of the time she’d be at the Pattinson’s so I hoped she’d be off your uncle’s radar.

For all these years he left me alone. But then about three- four months ago, I saw him at a poker game, but a small time game, like he showed up cuz he tracked me down and he gave me this look and he winked and I knew I hadn’t seen the last of him, that he was planning something.

He and I talked for a minute, I tried to make him know I wasn’t a threat. Then your cousin Dare turned up out of the blue to tell me the score; that it was time to settle my debt.

I kicked myself for not protecting her better but I asked around and found out your uncle was retiring and you were taking over. I heard good things about you.

I’m good friends with Marco Savarro’s brother-in-law and he said Marco said good things about you. I knew Marco worked here at your house while Claire was here. I was devastated when he was killed and when I found out that those Mexicans took my daughter.

Then I heard you got her back and I knew that she was safe and it was this huge weight off my mind. The Pattinson’s said she’s wearing your ring and she acts happy. I only ever wanted her safe.”

It didn’t make sense, what he was saying. A Swiss cheese story. And I wasn’t f*****g happy about the fact that Mexico seemed to be common knowledge.

“I may have more questions for you,” I said, “I’m gonna go get Claire.”

“Can I go somewhere and smoke, Azriel? This s**t has been stressful,” he said, “I need some nicotine before I face my baby girl.”

My jaw clenched at him calling her that.

“Nino’ll take you out back.”

Claire’s POV

“Are you sure you wanna see him? I think he’s tweaking from withdrawals or something.” We were walking upstairs from the basement together.

“I’m sure. What did he say, though?”

“I’ll fill you in later. I’ll bring you in and then you can be alone with him?” He posed it like a question.

“Can you stay?”

“You want me to stay, I’ll stay.”

I nodded, “Wait. If I say things that don’t sound positive, about how I felt in the beginning with us…”

He shook his head, “It’s okay. I won’t be offended. But I don’t have to be there if you don’t want me to be.”

I didn’t want him to think I was hiding anything, that I had any ulterior motives so I did want him there. He’d come into the games room, looking a bit frustrated. I’d stood when he walked in and he waited in the doorway and opened his arms and I went right to him and let him hold me for a minute. I wanted his support in that room, too.

We walked into the office and there sat my Dad, wearing his work clothes, a blue work jumpsuit with his name embroidered at the breast pocket. He was looking shaky. All the things I’d wanted to ask or say or scream and now here he was, looking pathetically at me with regret in his eyes. It looked fake.

Azriel shut the door behind himself and motioned for me to sit behind his desk. Dad sat in front of his desk in one of the three chairs sitting there facing the desk. Azriel sat on top of the conference table behind him, looking casually out the window.

“Sweetpea,” Dad said to me, about to stand.

I raised my hand to halt him and sat in Azriel’s chair.

“You look good,” he said softly, “So grown up. Remind me so much of your mother.”

I was wearing a necklace that had been my mother’s. It was a pretty with a dainty gold chain with a rose and gold cameo on it.

Thankfully the bruise on my throat was now faded mostly and I wasn’t sure it was even noticeable but Dad’s eyes landed on my throat so I guess it was still visible enough. Or maybe he was staring at the chain. I didn’t know.

His eyes trailed down from my throat to my hand and widened at the sight of my engagement ring.

“Nice rock,” he commented and it was said almost in a prideful way, like he was taking credit. It made me feel a little queasy.

“I want some truth from you, Dad.”

He let out a breath, “The truth is that I know I was a lousy father but I’ve always loved you.

You’ve always been the apple of my eye. Azriels uncle, Tom Clarke set his sights on you and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

You don’t know how it is in this world, Claire; the man had power and reach and there was nothing I could do. Your mother grew up in that world and I know she didn’t want it for you but I just prayed you’d somehow be happy and safe.

It looks like you are. I want to be in your life. I feel like I can finally be in your life now that I’m not looking over my shoulder all the time. Maybe now we can move ahead, put all that behind us.”

I took a deep breath.

“Do you know the stories I’ve heard from some of the girls whom I know were in foster care? Some of them that lived in group homes or who got molested or abused by other foster kids, foster dads?

That could’ve been my fate. All your new wife had to do was put me in one if she got too sick of me and you wouldn’t have even known since you were ever even barely home.

Everyone tells me I’m very well-adjusted considering what I’ve been through in my life but Dad, you get zero credit for that.

Zero f*****g credit.”

“I’ve never seen you so angry,” he looked down.