Finding Me (25 page)

“No,” I spit back at him with gritted teeth.

“No? Look, kid, that’s my money, too. It’s owed to me.”

“Owed to you? You never even came back for their funerals. You still expected to take their money? I won’t hurt my parents just because you think you’re entitled. So yeah, no. Not ever.”

Marc slammed his hand on the table, making me and the three other people in the diner jump. “Stop saying ‘parents’!
I’m
your father. Lucas has his own kid. You think he cares about you? I’m your family, not him. And I need help, so you’re going to give it to me.”

“No. I’m not. You’re not my father. You aren’t family. Sperm donor is a better term for what you are. All these weeks, you tried to force yourself into my life and
this
was all you wanted?”

Tears pricked my eyelids but this son of a bitch wouldn’t see me cry. Leaning over the table, I narrowed my eyes at Marc.

“You’re no one to me. I have a father, and he’s not you.” I stood and grabbed my bag, zipping my coat as I stormed outside.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I charged into the chilly air. I couldn’t be in Marc’s presence for one second longer. I gazed at the deserted bus stop across the street. The sleepy little town was creepily quiet in the dark. I rummaged for my phone in my bag as I continued to walk. I needed Owen to get me.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Marc grabbed my forearm and twisted me toward him. I cried out in pain as I gazed into his dark and angry eyes. “I’m your father, not pretty boy. You want to believe he’s your father, and that your mother isn’t a cheating whore? You’ll get me that money, I’m not just walking away—”

“Let her go!” Owen came out of nowhere and pushed Marc off of me, causing him to release his grip and fall back. He scowled at Marc as he gripped my hand. “Bella, you okay?” One tear escaped the corner of my eye and fell down my cheek as I shook my head.
Why or how was Owen here?

“You mind your business. I’m her father and we’re having a private discussion.”

Owen pushed in between Marc and me. “I’m her boyfriend and you were hurting her, so I don’t care who you are.” Owen moved closer to Marc and got in his face.

“Are you threatening me?” Marc snickered. “Think I’m afraid of a redneck?” Marc reached behind Owen and yanked my arm, catching me by the elbow and twisting much harder this time. The pain was so unbearable I thought my arm would break. I screamed as a sob ran through me. Of all the ways tonight could have gone, this disaster was something I never expected.

“Let me go!” I shouted. The street was so deserted my echo yelled back at me.

Owen pulled me away and punched Marc in the stomach. He tumbled to the ground, hunched over.

“Yeah, you should be afraid of this redneck. Especially if you try to hurt his girl again.”

Marc coughed and started to laugh. He wasn’t only an asshole, he was a psychopath. The smile he gave us made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “I maybe won’t need Bella to do anything. I bet a lawyer would love to know how her boyfriend assaulted her own father. I could have you arrested. How long would that pretty face last in a cell?”

“A lot longer than yours would. See, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’m a hockey player, and I’ve had a ton of fights on the ice with a lot bigger than you. But nothing would give me more satisfaction than beating your sorry ass to a pulp.” Owen’s gaze locked on his as he remained stoic.

The smile faded from Marc’s face when he realized Owen wasn’t backing down. He had a good thirty pounds of muscle on Marc and was a full head taller.

“This isn’t over, Bella. One way or the other, I’ll get at least half of that money.” He limped back to the parking lot and to his car.

I dropped my face to my hands and wept. The pain in my arm was excruciating, but my pride hurt a shit load more.

“Baby, I’m so sorry.” Owen wrapped his arms around me and I sniffled into his chest.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t see you.”

Owen shrugged. “I had a hard time believing he had good intentions, although I didn’t expect this. If he hurt you because he didn’t say what you wanted to hear, I didn’t want you to be alone. I sat in the truck in the parking lot and Kristy texted me what was going on. I ran over when I saw you bolt. I’m so sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.”

I gazed up at him with a sad chuckle. “You’re my hero.”

Owen kissed me on top of my head and held me tighter.

“What did I do, Owen? This is all my fault.”

“No, Bella. It’s not. Not in the least.”

Owen rubbed my back and led me to his truck in the rear of the parking lot. I slid in the passenger seat and leaned my head against the window.

He picked up my hand and brought it to his lips. “Any father would love to have you for his daughter. It’s not your fault. Wanting to see him and hear him out just makes you a good person. It’s not stupid to want to give your own father a chance.”

“What if he causes trouble? What if he tries to get you arrested? You heard him, he won’t leave it alone.” I rubbed my forehead at the clusterfuck I started. I’d bet Marc was the type of guy to inflict his own bruises to fake an assault.

“Don’t worry about me. Like I said, I can hold my own.” He winked and I let out a sad laugh.

“Now repeat after me. This is not my fault.”

I nodded, but remained silent. This
was
my fault. After wondering for so many years why my father left, I needed to figure out how to make him stay away for good this time.

Bella

“C’MON, CITY. TALK TO ME.”
Owen lay next to me and wrapped his arms around me from behind. I hadn’t said a word the entire way back to his apartment from the diner. I went straight to his bedroom and curled up in a ball on top of the bed. He swept my hair to the side and planted a kiss on the nape of my neck.

I smiled into the pillow and rolled over to face him. “I think I have to go home.” My fingers threaded through Owen’s hair as I cuddled into his chest.

“Oh. I thought you’d want to stay with me but I can take you back to the dorms.” Owen frowned as he sat up but I pulled him back to me.

“Not the dorms. Home.
Queens
, home.” I drifted my hand down his cheek. “I need to talk to my parents. There should be a really early train to Grand Central Station tomorrow. If Marc is really planning to cause trouble, I need to come clean about everything.” I wasn’t looking forward to hurting my mother and Lucas, but trying to hide it would blow up in my face even more than it already had.

“How early?” Owen’s brow furrowed as he gazed at me.

“I think there’s usually a five o’clock train. It’s a three hour ride, and the faster I get there, the faster I can tell them and come up with some kind of plan. I let a psycho into my life and I have to deal with the fall out. I don’t want him to ruin your reputation by trying to make a phony assault charge.” My insides turned as my head dropped back onto his chest. I had no idea what Marc was capable of, and that frightened me most of all.

“Hey,” Owen crooned in my ear as he grabbed my arms to push me back. I winced.

“Does your arm hurt?” Owen rolled the sleeve of my sweater up above my elbow. Purple and black bruises wrapped around my arm. I could make out Marc’s fingerprints on the inside of my elbow from when he dug his hands into my skin.

“Shit!” Owen hissed through gritted teeth. “I should’ve kicked his ass. Baby, I’m so sorry.” He kissed the top of my head and pulled me closer.

I draped my arm over his waist. “Sorry? You’re my Southern knight in shining armor.” I rested my head on his chest and met his concerned gaze. “I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t been there. I love you, my superhero.”

“I’ll take Southern knight in shining armor.” I laughed and kissed his lips. “I love you too, Bella—more than you could ever imagine.”

“I may have a little idea.” I winked at Owen and his lips curved up in a smile.

Owen stood from the bed and grabbed his duffle bag. “If you’re going home, I’m coming with you.” He opened his dresser drawers and shoved clothes inside the bag.

“You would do that?” I narrowed my eyes at him as I sat up.

“That’s really early to go all the way to the city by yourself, and I don’t want you to be alone when you go through the whole story. I’m suspended from the next couple of games anyway.”

“I wish I’d had tickets for that fight.” I gave him a sly smile.

Owen shrugged and zipped his bag. “Not my finest hour, that’s for sure.” He sat back on the bed and clutched the back of my neck. “All that matters is you, no one else. So, is your dad going to make me sleep outside? It’s cool if he does, I just need to know what to pack.”

I burst out laughing, but tears crept up on me. “Maybe I got what I deserved. I never should have gone looking for a father when I already had one.”

Owen shook his head as he swiped a tear away with his thumb. “Repeat after me, again. ‘This isn’t my fault.’”

I rolled my eyes and let out a long sigh. “I’ll repeat it when I believe it.”

After Owen took me back to my dorm and I packed, I dialed my parents with a shaky hand.

“Bella? What’s wrong? Why are you calling so late?”

I bit my lip as I tried not to react to Dad’s panicked voice. “I need to come home this weekend. I’m taking the five o’clock train in the morning.” My heart thudded in my ears waiting for his expected reaction.

“The five o’clock train? I don’t like you taking the train that early on a Saturday morning. I’ll come get you. Let me get dressed and I’ll head out now.”

“Dad, that makes no sense. Almost four hours up here and four hours back is silly. The train is faster and I’ll be home before nine. I’ll be fine.” I sounded anything but fine. Dread filled my stomach as tears welled in my eyes.

“What’s wrong, Butterfly? Why can’t you tell me?” He let out an audible sigh and I pictured him rubbing his forehead trying to stay calm. I smiled through my tears at how predictable he always was. He was a real father who worried about his daughter, not one who manipulated her for his own sick agenda.

“It’s a long story, but better I tell you both in person. Owen’s coming with me. He didn’t want me going home alone either.”

Dad took in a short breath but stayed silent. “Bella, please tell me he’s not coming with you to tell us you’re . . .
Jesus
, please tell me that much.”

“No, it’s not that, I swear.” I was killing this poor man. We needed to get on that damn train. “Listen, I’m going to try to get a couple of hours of sleep before we go to the train station in the, well,
later
this morning I guess. I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Bella. Whatever it is, it’ll be okay. I promise, Butterfly.”

I wished I could be so sure. “I’ll see you soon.” I ended the call and wept into my pillow. It was hard to sleep when I was planning to break my parents’ hearts as soon as I woke up.