Chapter 37: Wrath

I let out a sigh of frustration as I hit yet another dead end in my search for Charles' current book conquest. I thought I had finally tracked down the original to a dealer in the USA, but when I had the paper stock checked it turned out to be a twentieth-century forgery. Damn it. At least I didn't have to travel this time and face the dealer's wrath in person when I informed them that the book that they were hoping to sell for five thousand pounds was worthless.

I glance up at the clock on the wall of the sunroom and decide to call it a day. I have been working from home all week while Charles has been abroad for work, which has made a nice change from having to commute across town to his office in London's Docklands. I make my way into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea when I hear my phone ring. Not recognising the number, I contemplate letting it go to voicemail, but then I wonder if it could be someone coming back to me on one of my queries, so I pick it up with a business-like "Hello?"

"Pumpkin?" All it takes is one word and my world seems to start spinning out of control.

I take a deep breath before answering, "Daddy?" And just like that, I am thirteen again.

"Oh, pumpkin. I am so glad I have finally tracked your number down."

The memory of how my father had been trying to blackmail Alex flares up in my mind and immediately I feel my body tense up. "What do you want, Dad?" My voice is harsh as I pull myself back from the shock of hearing his voice.

"Oh, sweetheart. I am so worried about you, darling. When I found out what kind of man you are married to, I knew that I had to do something. I have to protect you from that monster." My head is spinning. What the hell?

"He is not a monster, Dad. I love him," I blurt out. I am so angry at his words that my hands have started shaking and I sink down into a chair at the table.

"My girl," he says, his voice laced with concern. "You can't believe his lies. You need to leave him straight away. I am so worried about your safety." I have no idea where this is headed, so I let him continue. "I have a friend that can sort out a quick divorce for you and then when you get the payoff you are due, you can start afresh and I will be there to help you with anything you need."

In that instant, I see exactly what my father is trying to do. If he can't get the money through Alex, then I am the next target. My voice is as cold as ice as I reply, "You can forget about any money, Dad. I signed a prenup which means I walk away with nothing. And do you really think that showing up after twenty years, I am instantly going to listen to anything you say?" My anger is creeping through my voice. "Yes, Daddy, where exactly have you been while I slogged my guts out to look after Mum, huh? Scamming people in the US, I hear. Well, go crawl back under that rock you have been hiding under. Otherwise, I will be getting Alex to turn you into the Feds. No, actually, I will do it myself!" I am shouting so loud down the phone that I haven't even noticed Alex appear by my side.

"You are just like that fucking whore mother of yours," I hear my father respond as Alex is removing the phone from my hand.

"James, this is Alex," he says, icy calm in his voice belying the anger that I can see rippling through Alex's body. "Shut your fucking mouth now and listen very carefully, because I am only going to say this once." Alex pauses briefly before continuing. "If you ever talk to Olivia, come anywhere near her—no, scratch that—even fucking think about her again, I will make sure that you end up in a nice American jail where the inmates will know exactly how you treated your wife and little girl. Do you understand, you shit?"

There is a brief pause where I guess my dickhead father is agreeing to Alex's demands. "Good, because I am sure the inmates won't tolerate a prick like you. This is the end of this, you hear?" And with that, Alex ends the call and crouches down in front of me, taking my trembling hands in his own sturdy ones.

"Liv, it's okay, baby," Alex soothes, wiping away tears that I didn't even realise were falling.

"I am so angry, Alex," I say. "How dare he?" I stand up quickly and start pacing backwards and forwards as Alex just watches me carefully. "I mean it. He was a crap dad, but there were times when I just wished he would come back into my life. What a joke is that?"

"It's not a joke, Liv," Alex says quietly. "In an ideal world, everyone would have an awesome dad in their lives. But you got a raw deal. A shit who couldn’t see the gifts he was given and then chose to piss them away. You are better off without him, Liv."

I am so worked up that I just can't seem to stop the rage flowing through me at the unfairness of it all. I sink to the floor as sobs wrack my body. "While I was dealing with my mum's illness, there were times that I would wish he was back to help me…just so I wouldn't be alone. How fucked up is that?"

Alex sinks down and pulls me into his lap, his arms wrapping around my shaking body. Rocking me gently, he whispers into my ear, soft words that wrap around my wounded soul. "Liv, you are not alone. I will always be here. I am not going anywhere, baby. You are mine and I will protect you until the day I die."

We stay like that, on the floor, Alex wrapped around me like a blanket until a buzzing noise brings us both back to the present. Grabbing his phone, Alex quickly scans the message. "Shit," Alex says softly.

"What's up?" I ask.

"That was my mum. She's in a cab, on her way from the airport. She thought she would surprise us."

"Okaayyyy…." I say. Oh shit, I think to myself, as I try to banish the emotions I am feeling regarding my deadbeat father. I attempt to get out of Alex's lap, but he pulls me back into his embrace, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Liv, seriously. I am here for you, okay?" Alex says, looking into my eyes.

"I know," I say softly. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" I ask stroking Alex's cheek lightly. With that, Alex brings his mouth down onto my mine, kissing me gently as he runs his hands through my hair.

"Alex…" I eventually say against his mouth.

"Hmm?" he responds.

"I need to sort my face out before your mum arrives. Otherwise, she will know something is going on, and I don't want to worry her." I pull away from Alex regretfully and he gives me a rueful grin.