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“Hey, Thea, hate to tell you this but your dad’s here I cut hiainst the bar The boss isn’t happy, but I’ve et hiht away”

Part of her wanted to tell him to call the police At least then she could be sure he wouldn’t be hoical rather than physical The bruises only hurt if she banged the

She’d thought about telling Carrick after he’d said that stuff about letting him know if she had a paper cut But she knew he didn’t want to hear all about her darkest shit They’d just e She didn’t want it

“Thanks for calling et him”

“Sorry, Thea”

Ending the call, she dragged herself back out the door Twenty minutes later, she made her way into the dim bar

The sarette s her stomach It was a s she associated with her father

There had been sohiured he

She no longer thought that

So, what are you doing here?

That was a good question One she had no answer to Maybe she was si her turned her on

Yeah, but Carrick would never harm her Wouldn’t make her feel powerless and small That she was so certain a man she’d knoouldn’t harm her and yet a man as supposed to love and care for her wouldwell, that said everything, didn’t it?

Yet, there she was

There was still a tiny part of her, deep inside, a little girl crying for her daddy to protect her Soon, that little girl would completely disappear And she wondered if that time wasn’t very, very close

“Thea!” Danny waved over at her, his face filled orry “Shit! I’ain”