One Stray Rebel

Chapter 20 ~The Man With the Gray Goatee and Me

I was in shock. My father? The last I seen him was before I was left behind. How could he possibly have anything to do with this? My mother was crying hysterically at this point. She kept going on and on about how I needed to leave and go far away, leave the United States if possible. So many thoughts filled my mind at once, my heart felt as if it was about to collapse. Before I could even sort out my thoughts there was a knock at the door.

"He's here," my mom gasped. I walked over to the door and opened it slowly. A man of about 50 stood on the doorstep.

"Ah. Look who it is. My little girl," his voice bellowed. I observed the unfamiliar man that stood before me. His hair was gray and slicked back, he had a goatee. His teeth were chipped, and uneven, but surprisingly clean and white. He wore a faded blue button up shirt with a black tie and black pants. He seemed to carry himself as a professional.

"Don't call me that," I choked, "What do you want?"

"I feel offended," he placed his hands over his heart, "A father can't see his daughter?"

"Not when the father put his daughter in serious danger for years, no," James butt in. The man gave James a glare, but didn't defend himself.

"And if it isn't the old sheep bag!" He chuckled when he spotted my mother across the room. "I just want to thank you for helping me create this extraordinary being. Making her was miserable, but she turned out great!" My mom's eyes filled up with tears again, but she didn't let them fall.

"Even more miserable for me," she huffed. The man's attention turned towards me again.

"I'm not going to give you whatever it is you want just so you are fully aware," I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Who says I even want anything?" He said in his fake offensive voice once again. "Maybe I just want to see my daughter after all these years, did you ever consider that?" He reached out to grab my chin, but James' clenched his hand around his wrist before he could touch me.

"No touching her," James said in a low, protective voice, "You're lucky I let you stay this long. It's really hard to hold back my urge to clock you across the jaw." I never seen him so dominating. It was actually really hot, but no time for hormones to kick in, there's business to be done. This man standing in front of me made me, as weird as it may seem he is my father. Maybe somehow some way everything will be fine. Maybe I can go back to living my life as a normal girl. Who am I kidding? This man almost got me killed multiple times before, why should I let him down easy?

"What the fuck do you want?" I asked, my voice was as cold as ice.

"I want you to come with me. We could go somewhere and chat. Just me and you. Some quality dad and daughter time," He smiled an evil grin.

"I would rather put myself through a woodchipper than go anywhere with you," I stated while staring into his stone cold eyes. He placed his hands over his heart and a fake look of sorrow fell upon his face.

"Ouch. That hit me right here."

"Wish it were something sharp that but you there instead," I replied coldly.

"All jokes aside," the man stepped closer to me, "either you come with me, or you can kiss everything you see in front of you goodbye." He reached out to grab my hair. I clenched my eyes shut to prepare for the pain, but instead there was two loud thuds. I opened my eyes to find my father laying on the ground, and James in front of me holding a frying pan up like a baseball bat.

"Damn that worked better than I expected," He stared at the pan in awe. I look at the man's limp body, and get on my knees to check his pulse. Its still there. Phew. Time for me to take charge and find all the answers I need.

"Hey ma, You got any cable ties?" Mom looked up at me with a knowing smirk.

"You know what, I think I just might," she said as she walked out the back door. It's my time to show these "bosses" who's really boss. It's time for me to take my life into my own hands once again.