Daddy's Little Girl

Aftershock

Dante looked down at his watch as he stepped into the elevator to take up to Victoria's floor. It had taken him twenty minutes to take Gaby home and comeback, he was sure that he would have several tickets arriving shortly in the mail but he didn't care. He was on edge knowing that Victoria was alone even though her police detail had finally arrived, he needed to be by her side. After checking in with the police officers guarding Victoria's room he found Victoria sleeping peacefully, he sat in the couch across the bed and watched her sleep. The swelling in her face was starting to go down but it would be a while before she would look like her old self. Dante knew that if Victoria saw the damage done to her face she would go berserk.

Dante curled his large body up to fit on the tiny couch as his eyelids grew heavy with sleep. He closed his eyes for what seemed like only a few minutes until his alarm started to beep. He sat up as he shuffled with his phone to shut off the alarm before it woke Victoria up. The time read 4:30 it was the time he usually got up to go for his morning run. Standing up with a stretch, his shoulders and back aching from the uncomfortable position, he staggered over to Victoria who was asleep, her eyebrows set into a deep furrow. He kissed her forehead and the tension eased as he caressed her face. His stomach growled letting him know that it wasn't happy from the lack of food. Submitting to his hunger pains he stepped out of the room and found the two officers still alert but they looked drained.

"I'm heading out for something to eat, want me bring y'all back something?" Dante asked Damien.

"I could go for some coffee, black six sugars what about you Zach?"

"Nah I'm good,"

"Alright I'll be back soon, take care of my girl." Dante said before heading towards the elevator. He made it out of the hospital when he noticed flashing police lights. He watched as Detective Rooks walked up to him with her hands in her pockets.

"Mr. Jones I need for you to come with me."

"What for, I answered all of your questions?"

"I have a warrant for your arrest."

"What!" Dante exclaimed as Rooks signaled for the two male officers with her to handcuff Dante. In utter disbelief Dante just started into space as he was being handcuffed and was given his Miranda rights.

******

Victoria tossed her phone across the bed in frustration. She had been calling Dante all morning but the calls kept going unanswered.

"Where is that man?"

"I hear you're causing trouble," Director Fortune said as he walked into the room.

"What do you mean?"

"Why aren't you letting your family in to see you? Gaby is going insane right now."

"I need to keep some distance between them right now. It's the only way I can keep my family safe."

"That's real sweet Vic but if the man that attacked you was bold enough to attack you here, what's to stop him from going after your parents or siblings." He said holding her hand

"You need your family now more, than ever, you just let Uncle James worry about the protecting." he smiled down at her. "Are feeling strong enough to give me your statement?"

"Yeah, everything came back to me after the attack. I don't know the name of the man who attacked me but I can give a description and who he works for."

"Who?"

"He works for Jeffery Fox,"

"The man you're battling in court?"