Save Me(WITSEC #2)(52)

“I am.”

“I’m Sheriff McAllister. I was informed there was an incident here last night,” he said in a professional tone.

This was Cassy’s father.

“I wouldn’t call it an incident. If you look in my driveway and at my window right here, you’d see that it’s more like vandalism or the destruction of private property.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “I thought we could talk about it.” He put his hand on my door. “Maybe I could come in.”

The hair on the back of my neck rose. My instincts were screaming to get away from this man. I put my foot up against the door and mentally pictured where my nearest gun was. Behind the TV and under the coffee table. “I’m not comfortable with that. I know you’re Cassy’s father.”

He held up his hands. “I only came here to have a heart-to-heart with you,” he said. “I want to tell you that Cassy regrets what she did. She hasn’t had an easy life. Her mother walked out on us when she was nine and I wasn’t home a lot because the job of a cop is very demanding. This is her first offense and I just don’t want this one mistake to ruin her future.”

He portrayed the role of a concerned father almost too well. I didn’t believe a single word that came out of his mouth. “No offense, sir, but your daughter is a bully. She has made my life hell since the first day of school. Bad actions have consequences. As a cop, you should understand that. Your daughter deserves what she gets.” The more I spoke, the angrier he looked. “I don’t think it would be appropriate to speak to you further without a lawyer present. Have a nice day.” I went to shut my door and he slammed his hand on it, stopping it from closing. He then pushed, trying to open it wider.

“You’re making a big mistake,” he snarled, with a violent rage molding his face.

I knew a threat when I heard one. Fear surged through my veins as I struggled to hold the door.

“I could arrest you right now. I would tell everyone you attacked me when all I tried to do was apologize. My daughter's charges will be thrown out by Monday,” he said in a low voice.

“I'm so glad you just said that,” I forced out through the strain of holding the door.

“Why’s that?”

“Because I just got that on camera,” I said.

He froze.

I risked pointing a finger at the corner of my porch. “If you look over your shoulder, you’ll see it.”

He glanced over his shoulder and saw it. When he looked back at me, I knew I was in trouble. He shoved my front door open, making me stumble back a step. I barely saw the back of his hand before he struck me and I fell to the floor. Blood coated my tongue and spots speckled behind my eyes.

I was grabbed by my hair. “Get up,” he ordered, yanking me by my hair. My training kicked in then. Grabbing his hand, I spun around on my butt so that I was facing him. I threw my foot up into his groin and he released me. I scrambled to my coffee table and felt around underneath for my gun. The moment my hand touched it, I could see him coming for me in my peripheral vision. I ripped the gun free and pointed it at him when his hand was inches from touching me.

I stared him down, my hands steady and my finger hovering over the trigger. I’d never shot anyone before. I hoped I never would. However, if he tried to touch me again, I wouldn’t hesitate.

He stood straight. “You don’t know what you’ve just done, little girl,” he seethed down at me. “You show anyone that camera footage, I will hang you from the nearest tree and make it look like a suicide.”

“Get out of my house,” I bit out. My lip hurt with every word.

He smoothed down his uniform before he walked out, leaving the door open. I didn’t move as I listened to his car start and drive away. Slowly, I stood on shaky legs and shut and locked the door. Leaning against it, I just breathed. In and out.

It’s going to be okay. You are okay.

I needed to figure out what to do. It didn’t take long. It was time to call my uncle.

I went and got my burner cell phone from my room. I need you to call me, I texted him. Apart from my check-ins, we hadn’t talked on the phone since I’d gotten out of the hospital. Five minutes passed and my burner started ringing. Seeing as he wasn’t calling me on my personal phone, he didn’t have access to an untraceable and secure line.

“Hello,” I said, answering.

“Are you safe?” There was no beating around the bush. He got straight to the point.

I whimpered as I tried to hold it together. “I don’t think I am.”

“Tell me what’s going on.”

I told him about all the bullying happening at school. How Cassy and her friends had destroyed my car. I told him how her father, the sheriff, had showed up and attacked and threatened me.

“Fucking Christ, you have the worst fucking luck,” he cursed. “How badly did he hit you? Did you lose consciousness at all?”

“No. He just backhanded me. All I can tell is that I have a split lip. I haven’t looked in the mirror yet.”

“He just backhanded you? Really, Shi?” He let out a slew of curses that would have made a sailor blush. “You should have shot the bastard.”

Maybe I should have. Not much I could do about it now. Fingers crossed, I hadn’t just made a huge mistake.