Page 50 of Deserving Ryleigh
Cora helped Reese to her feet, since she was still healing from giving birth, and walked her to the door, holding her arm. Henley headed out with Alaska at her heels.
Ry hugged everyone and walked toward the lodge. She wasn’t ready to go back to the cabin yet. As much as an introvert as she was, at the moment, she didn’t want to be alone. Tiny was helping Tonka with the animals in the barn, so she headed for the laundry room. Carly, Jess, and Joshua would most likely be there, folding towels and sheets.
The Refuge wasn’t where she thought she’d end up, not in a million years. Living and working at a retreat that was in the middle of the woods, miles and miles from any kind of big city? No. But deciding to hole up here for a few months had been the best decision she’d ever made. It was now her home. And Ry would do whatever it took to protect it…and the people who lived and worked here.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Uh, Tiny?”
“Yeah?” He looked over at Ryleigh. She was sitting on the couch next to him and clicking away at her keyboard, as usual. She’d been out of sorts for hours.
Earlier that afternoon, Jasna had arrived back at The Refuge in tears. She’d discovered that her grades were all D’s and F’s. Which made no sense whatsoever, since the girl was actually a very good student.
Ryleigh nearly lost her mind, but Henley stayed calm. Told Ryleigh in no uncertain terms thatshewould take care of that one. That Jasna’s teachers would realize immediately the electronically printed report card was wrong.
But everyone knew this was one more way Ryleigh’s father was attempting to cause trouble. To pick on a child was unacceptable. Why Tiny thought the man would have any shred of compassion or empathy, and not drag a kid into his schemes, he had no idea.
While fixing the grade snafu would’ve probably been way easier than fixing most things Harold Lodge haddone, it was a huge blow to Ryleigh. Tinyhatedthis. All of it. He could kill a terrorist intent on doing harm to him or his team members, could hunt down an HVT, high-value target, and take him or her out without any remorse. But he was helpless to fight against someone who hid behind a keyboard. Who used electronic means as his weapons.
Ryleigh was still doing her best to mitigate the damage her father was causing, but they were all on pins and needles, wondering what would happen next.
“You told me that if I heard from my dad, I should let you know. Well…he’s messaging me.”
“What?” Tiny asked, putting aside his phone and practically leaping for Ryleigh. She handed her laptop over to him without hesitation.
The message on the screen wasn’t in a normal chat box. What looked like row after row of html code was slowly scrolling by, and it took Tiny a moment to pick out the message from Ryleigh’s father.
Bitch dont mess with me. you’ll give it back. all of it or else.
“Give what back?” Tiny asked.
“Um…I might have stolen ten thousand dollars from his account today,” Ryleigh said.
“What?Why?”
“He made me mad! Messed with Cora and Pipe’s foster application. And since he’s refused to answer any of the messages I’ve sent him, I decided to talk to him in a language he couldn’t ignore.”
Tiny watched as more words scrolled past him on the screen.
The shit i’ve done, its nothing compared to whats coming.
Tiny had no idea how a father could talk to his ownflesh and blood like this. “How do I respond? Just type?” he asked.
“Uh-huh. But…what are you saying?”
You’re a coward, Lodge. And a shit human being. Stop taking your patheticness out on innocent people.
ah the big bad seal speaks! enjoy her cunt, I’m sure its nice and tight considering what an uptight bitch my daughter is
Tiny ground his teeth together. He was doubly glad she’d let him screen the messages, as he’d asked. She didn’t need to see this vitriol.
i shouldve sold her when I had the chance
Leave her alone. You’ve done enough to fuck up her life. We’re going to find you, and when we do, you’ll spend the rest of your pathetic life behind bars.
ha! no you aren’t, and no I’m not
Be a real man and own up to your sins.Tiny knew that wasn’t going to happen, but figured he might as well see if he could try to goad him into doing the right thing.
