Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Dani-

She was crying like crazy, but still obedient when I told her to sit on the bed.

Apparently I interrupted more than a screaming match.

She promised that he didn't mean to, but he slapped her so hard she fell and hurt her ankle.

It was easy to see busted blood vessels in her eye.

I went to the kitchen and found a garbage bag, then started putting her stuffed animals in it as soon as I returned.

She just looked at me confused.

‘What else is yours, what else goes with us?’

Girl: ‘With us? I'm, I'm not allowed to go!’

‘Look, your daddy isn't in charge anymore, I am. Accept that, and this will be a lot easier on both of us, I'll explain later. Now, I'll have to make a call very soon, to some guys who will come over here, you do not want to be here when they arrive. So you're coming with me, and I will keep you safe. So what else do I need to pack?’

She looked so lost, but pointed to the dresser.

Girl: ‘The right side is mine, and my good girl pills are in the drawer under the TV in the living room. Could I have one?’

I emptied her clothes into the bag before going to the living room where I found a Tylenol bottle in the drawer.

After dumping the contents into my hand, I recognized the pain and anxiety pills instantly.

In the bedroom I handed her half a white pill.

Girl: ‘But it is night time, baby gets blue at night.’

I sighed seeing that she was totally hooked.

‘How many of these do you take a day little one? And how long have you been taking them?’

Girl: ‘Daddy said he needed me to calm down when he started his nose candy, he said I killed his buzz. He used to get them, but then said I had to be a good girl, and earn them from his friends. White ones with every time I'd have a meal, and one white between, like snacks. Then daddy gives me the blue ones at night until I'm a good girl and ready for sleep, but I usually only need two! I try so hard to be good!’

‘Ok well like I said your daddy isn't in charge anymore. I'm giving you half of this blue one, because it's been a crazy night.’

I handed it to her and she drank from the water bottle beside the bed.

‘Ok, you're coming with me, so I need you to be a good girl. I need you to let me carry you to my car because I don't want you on that ankle, and I need you to keep your eyes closed, until we're in my car.’

Girl: ‘Why close my eyes?’

‘Because I said so. I need you to trust me, I promise we'll have a long talk tonight, and I'll answer all the questions you have, but for now, just do as I say. Do that, and I will take care of you, I will keep you safe. Understood?’

Girl: ‘I'll be safe?’

‘Yes, I promise you that. So can you listen for me and be a good girl?’

She nodded her head and reached for me.

Once I had her secured on my hip I grabbed the bag.

‘Eyes closed.’

She rested her head over my shoulder and mumbled.

Girl: ‘Yes Ma'am.’

I hurried to the car, leaving the front door unlocked and got her into the passenger seat before putting the bag in the trunk.

I made sure she was buckled up and pulled away, stopping a few blocks over in a low traffic neighborhood.

‘I am going to send a text real quick, watch my rear view mirror for me, tell me if anyone is coming.’

Girl: ‘Yes Ma'am.’

*‘-Things didn't go as planned, he's bug food. You'll need to send the clean up crew, I'm honestly not even sure what happened. I'll be at our weekly coffee meeting tomorrow morning and fill you in. Tell them to take a truck, there was at least a nice flat screen and a few other things I saw that might cover his debt. I need to decompress for the night, I'll see you tomorrow.’*

‘Ok, it's after 8 so I'm guessing you had dinner, right?’

Girl: ‘Ya-yeah, kind of.’

‘What's kind of?’

Girl: ‘Daddy says with the pills, I'm not as hungry, so I don't need so much to eat.’

The bastard had to have been practically starving her from her appearance, she was light as a feather.

‘When is the last time you had a happy meal baby girl?’