Valleri drummed her fingers nervously on the table as she tried calling David for the third time that morning.
She glanced at the clock, it was just after eleven. David hadn't been home in over twenty four hours. It was so unlike David not to call, and what worried her more was that the last person who she knew had contact with David, was Daddy. He had said he would be right home, and now it was the next morning.
Valleri dressed quickly, not bothering to shower; she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and grabbed her purse, fishing out her keys. She hadn't wanted her own car, but David insisted that she have one, and now she was kind of glad she'd given in.
She pulled up in front of the mansion fifteen minutes later, turning off the car she stormed into the house.
It was quiet, which wasn't unusual, growing up Valleri could make all the noise she wanted, or scream as loud as she could, no one could ever hear. Walking up the hallway, the first room she checked was the library, it was empty, but Valleri got distracted looking at all the books on the shelves.
She hadn't been in here since the night of "her" party....that night with David. Walking over to the bookshelves, she ran her hand slowly over the dark wood. She stopped where both shelves met at the corner, the pads of her fingers running over the small, crescent shaped indents; eight of them, each one just big enough to fit one of her nails.
"Ah, so the prodigal daughter returns"
Valleri jumped and spun around. Daddy walked through the big double doors with a wide grin on his face.
"Welcome back, Valleri"
Valleri sidestepped, keeping her distance from Daddy. "I didn't come back" she snapped, their eyes locked as she backed further away.
"Sure looks that way" he smirked cocking his head to the side.
Valleri glared at him, but she still chose her words carefully, she knew if Daddy backed her into a corner it was over.
"Where is David?" She asked, watching as the corners of his mouth twitched in a smile.
"Oh so that's why you're here is it? Looking for Boy Wonder?"
Valleri clenched her jaw, but said nothing.
"I don't know where he is Val, he left here yesterday afternoon"
"Don't call me that"
Daddy raised his eyes in surprise. "Why not Princess? It is your name"
"Stop, you know damn well David didn't come home last night, what did you do?"
"This is your home, and David wasn't here"
"STOP DOING THAT!"
"I'm just so glad you came back home". He spoke to her as if nothing was wrong, he did it just to get under her skin, but she wasn't going to let him get to her, not this time.
"This is not home, this never was home, this never will be home! You made sure of that"
Valleri watched as his face fell, and then his eyes hardened. She'd seen that look so many times before; he had turned this into a game.
"Not your home?" He asked quietly. "Oh Valleri, that would just break your Mom's heart, you know how much she loved it here"
Her mouth fell open a fraction of an inch before her eyes darkened with anger. "Leave Mommy out of this"
"She did, didn't she? I remember what we used to do when you were little."
She tried her best to ignore him and stay focused on the reason she'd even come here in the first place. "Where is David"
"Not here"
Valleri watched that smirk playing on his lips. He loved this; he loved having the power over her.
"What did you do to him?"
"He was never here Valleri," he kept his voice low and even. It scared her how calm he was. "I haven't seen or spoken to either of you since you walked out on your wedding"
"He was here yesterday!"
"No one was here yesterday" he paused only to smirk at her again. "I've been away on business since last Tuesday; I won't be back until next week"
Daddy took a step forward and she instinctively took one back. She knew she wasn't crazy; David had been here. He took another step forward and Valleri took one back. She knew Daddy was cruel, but could he really have done what he was implying?
Valleri exhaled slowly, trying hard to keep her composure. Daddy took two more steps forward and she took two back; her back bumping against the bookshelf. Her heart caught in her throat. He had backed her into a corner and was standing between her and the door; she was in trouble.
She tried hard not to sound as terrified as she felt. "You're sick" she swallowed the lump in her throat, never taking her eyes off of his.
Daddy said nothing as he took another step closer. Valleri didn't dare try to move. She knew from experience she couldn't outrun him.
"Where is David?" Valleri asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
"I don't know"
He closed the small distance between them, his hand caressing her cheek. Valleri flinched away, slapping his hand.
"Don't-"
Daddy pulled his hand away slapping Valleri hard across the cheek. She said nothing, just stared.
"If you want to see him again, I suggest you watch yourself"
"WHAT DID YOU DO!"
Daddy made like he was going to hit her a second time; on reflex Valleri swung and her fist made contact with his jaw.
Realising what she had done Valleri froze in terror. Daddy didn't move, didn't flinch; didn't even blink.
He sighed, his eyes not leaving hers. Daddy's reflexes were like lightening. Valleri didn't even blink before she felt Daddy grip her wrist and squeeze hard. Valleri gasped in pain as he yanked her away from the bookshelf and turned her around pulling her back against his chest. His hands gripped both of her wrists holding them against her chest.
Valleri closed her eyes letting out a small sigh as Daddy leaned in next to her ear; his breath was hot on her neck.
"Let me go"
He chuckled softly against her neck. "Think again"
"Where is David" she asked through clenched teeth.
"I'd be more worried about you, he's not going to save you this time"
Valleri struggled against him trying to pull her hands free. She stopped almost immediately and screamed in pain as she felt her wrist snap under his thumb. She bit her lip to stop herself, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore and I know David isn't either so whatever little game you're playing. Your stupid little scare tactics aren't going to work."
Daddy squeezed her wrist again, he knew he'd broken it, and he wanted nothing more than to make her scream and beg for him to stop. All he was going to get was a whimper.
"If you hurt him, I swear to god I'll kill you"
Daddy scoffed. "And if I didn't?"
Valleri laughed shaking her head. "I'll still kill you. "You're a sick fuck and the sooner you're six feet underground the sooner I can start living my life"
"Not worried about getting caught for murder?" He whispered in her ear.
"Like father like daughter I guess"
