Page 76 of Freed By Fire
“Funny how you call it her debt when theonlyreason London is here is because of you,” I say dangerously. “What kind of man lets his daughter enslave herself for him?”
Rage and disgust rise within me, and I’m tempted to give London’s father a taste of what he should’ve gotten, the punishment he only narrowly avoided.
It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to throw a punch or slice him open with my dagger and leave him within an inch of death.
The coward deserves nothing less.
“I didn’t let her do anything,” he replies. “London is a grown woman. She makes her choices. I told her to stay out of it.”
“I know you’re not as stupid as you look, Callahan,” I say. “You know your daughter is selfless and loyal to a fault. You didn’t really think she would leave you at my mercy.”
I have the grim satisfaction of watching him flinch as I move closer. “After the way you treated her when you found out, I should serve her your head on a silver platter.”
“You’re disgusting,” I continue. “Leaving your ex-wife to fight your battles for you and ripping your daughter to shreds for trying to protect you. I’d be doing the world a favor if I got rid of you.”
The monster inside me is practically chomping at the bit.
I picture dragging London’s father down to the basement and tying him up next to Noah. I see myself with a pair of pliers first, and then the drill.
I would take my time with him.
“You’re despicable.” London’s mother wedges herself between us and stares up at me. “He’s trying to do the right thing now.”
I ignore her. “He didn’t even tell you the truth, and you’re defending him?”
At least now I know where London gets her sense of self-preservation.
It’s no wonder she doesn’t know when to walk away for her own good when she had her parents as role models.
At least they’re trying. It’s more than you can say for a lot of your other clients.
I step away from them, walk over to the cart, and pour myself a drink.
“I’m not an unreasonable man. I’ll consider letting London out of her contract…”
The one that no longer exists …
“…and in return, you’ll give up the diner,” I finish.
London’s father frowns. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“I don’t believe you,” he says.
“You’d have to sign over the diner.”
London’s father continues to stare at me. “If the debt is forgiven, why do I have to give up the diner?”
“Consider it an olive branch or a token of friendship. Whatever the fuck you want to call it, I don’t care. This offer has an expiration date, and it ends when you walk out of the office.”
I know he won’t take it.
London’s father loves her enough to come and get her back, but after the amount of work he’s dedicated to the diner, he won’t give it up easily.
He won’t give me the diner without a fight, not even to save London.
It makes me hate him even more.
