Wronged

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- Anna's POV -

"...so yeah. He locked me down there. I'm not sure if it was because he didn't love me or if he just didn't want his whores to see he had a daughter, but it doesn't really matter." I finish, running my fingers through my unruly hair. I leave out the part where he may have also left the guitar for me because he already seems pissed enough.

"He didn't even fucking feed you?" Aiden seethes. "What kind of-"

"Dakota did. He took care of me," I interrupt, holding up a finger. "But...he left too. Apparently to protect me from you." I think about that for a moment and laugh bitterly. "The one I'm supposed to be with anyway."

Aiden stares at me for a moment, jaw tensed. "Everyone just left you."

My silver orbs flicker to the ground. I finally feel like I can be my shattered self around somebody. Someone who understands. After that story was finally retold out loud, a pressuring weight had been lifted from my chest. But I'm not fixed. I don't think I'll ever be fixed.

"Yeah...I guess they did," I whisper.

"I never met my dad," Aiden says. "If it makes you feel any better."

I shrug. "I honestly would've rather never met mine."

He just sits there and looks at me for a minute. Eyes scrutinizing, like always. Then he stands up.

"Come on."

I look up at him in confusion. "Where?"

Everywhere he's taken me hasn't been a good place. And I don't want to go anywhere where that Noah guy has set foot.

"I promise I'll keep you safe. And besides, it's not a bad place. It's a fun one." He sticks his hand down for me. "Come on."

I watch his hand hesitantly for a moment before giving in and grabbing on, getting pulled up easily. My stomach lurches both because I haven't eaten in two weeks and three hours and because of the way he makes me feel.

Warm.

~

We arrive at a huge building that must be at least thirty stories high. The glass and marble structure is obviously expensive, and I feel like a peasant just standing next to it. Well that, and Aiden and Aiden's car.

"Why are we at F Incorporate?" I ask skeptically. He never fails to bite and surprise me with his "fun place" ideas.

He doesn't answer and instead goes into the back, grabbing two backpacks. He hands one to me. I grab it with a weird look and hook the strap onto my shoulder.

"Just follow me, alright?"

He takes off through the doors without me responding, and I hobble along next to him in my big hoodie and black leggings I'd chosen to wear.

Inside is a waiting area, a fireplace, and shiny floors. My eyes widen at all of the business-dressed people talking on the phone or doing something on a laptop/paper. It's intimidating to me to be in such a big place so so many people.

Aiden grabs my hand and guides me to the front desk, where a man sits at a computer, typing something.

"Hey, Jim," Aiden says, voice greeting. I look at him strangely. He's not greeting.

The apparent Jim looks at us. He smiles. "Aiden! Here to visit your mother?"

Aiden chuckles and shakes his head. "Nah, I'm here to take my girlfriend up to the top today."

Jim raises his brows in shock, but he isn't the only one that does so. I gape at Aiden because of his friendly and carefree voice and how he called me his girlfriend. I'm also surprised at how real his tone is. I can usually spot false emotion in seconds, but if I were to first meet him it'd take me a moment to recognize it. He's good.