Rushing the Goal (Assassins #8)(155)

She told him and then hung up, waiting a few minutes before texting Rick her address. As she waited, she paced. She wanted to call Benji, but he had press and wouldn’t be able to talk. Thankfully, though, her dad arrived quickly. But before they could even really talk about anything, Rick walked in.

Shutting the door behind him, Rick rolled his eyes when he saw her dad sitting in the corner, his arms over his chest. “Why’s he here?”

Her dad shrugged before setting him with a glare. “I’m here to support my daughter.”

She really didn’t like that answer since she wanted him there as her lawyer, but she wouldn’t address that. Her dad’s statement sure didn’t make Rick want to talk either. “I want to talk to her alone.”

“Oh. Well, then, I’m here for my client. No can do, buddy.”

Glaring, Rick looked to Lucy. “I need to talk to you about that lowlife you have around my daughter.”

She scowled at that. “Benji is not a lowlife. He is good to her.”

“Oh, is he? I told you he was a pedophile,” he spat back, doing something to his phone and then holding it out so Lucy could see. Mark came over as he pushed play. In the video, Angie sat fidgeting on the couch. It was clear she wasn’t medicated, her body twitching and her hands moving as she bounced in the seat.

But most of all, she was terrified.

Tears welled up in Lucy’s eyes as her heart started to thump in her chest.

Glancing at Rick, she glared. “What the hell is that?

But he shook his head as his voice came over the video. “Does Benji give you money?”

Angie nodded. “Yeah.”

“What for?”

“For whatever I want. I don’t know. Can I go to my room?”

“No, tell me.”

“Stuff.”

“Has he touched you?”

Lucy’s heart stopped. She looked to her dad, and he was glaring, his neck turning red as he held on to the desk.

“Dad, please. I want to go to my room.”

“Answer me! Does he touch you?”

“Yes!”

“So he kisses you?”

She made an obvious face. “Yeah?”

“Does he make you touch him?”

“I don’t know! Can I go?”

Before he could ask anything else, she got up and ran.

The video went black and Lucy was fuming.

“What the hell are you implying?” she spat out, her eyes burning into his. He had a smug look on his face as he shrugged.

“Pretty obvious.”

But it wasn’t and Mark started yelling. “That doesn’t mean anything. Of course, he touches her. He hugs and kisses her. He lives with her. He is like a father to her.”

“He’s a pedophile, and this is what I need to get custody of my child,” Rick snapped back at him and Lucy just shook her head as she stood, her body shaking with anger.

This was not happening.

“He is not. That video is bogus, and you know it. How dare you?” she roared as Mark laughed.

“That won’t hold up in court, you idiot. Do you know what will happen if you bring that forward? Lots of investigations. Do you want that?”

“I don’t care. They need to happen because my daughter is important,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he sneered at them. “I mean, tell me, what man just automatically takes to someone else’s child? Moves them in in a month? They’ve only been together for three months.”

“Because he is a good guy! Is that what this is about? You’re jealous?”

“Bitch, please. I don’t give two shits about you,” he sneered and Mark shook with anger.

“You are about to cause a big f*cking mess, Rick. Don’t show that in court. It’s a lie and you know it.”

“All I know is that bastard is raping my kid.”

Rage. That’s all Lucy saw.

“You stupid son of a bitch,” she screamed before lunging at him. She slammed her knee into her desk but that didn’t stop her. Jumping onto him, she whaled on him, slamming her fist into his face as he tried to push her away. “Benji would never,” she screamed, her fist coming down against his mouth before her father pulled her away. “How dare you? You are scum. You are worthless. You piece of shit!”

Rick laughed as he slowly got up, wiping his mouth as he shook his head. Mark’s arms held her tightly as she thrashed against him, nowhere near done. There was no way she would let him do that. Accuse Benji of something so horrible.

Not listening to her, though, he yelled, “And now I have an assault to add to the list of reasons my daughter needs to leave you, you stupid bitch.”

“Rick, I swear to God, if you don’t stop this, you will lose her. I promise you,” she warned but Rick just grinned.

“Who has the proof? This guy. Fuck you, and f*ck you, Mark. See you guys in court.”

As he walked out, slamming the door behind him, Mark let Lucy go. It took everything out of her not to crumple to the ground. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. This was a joke. The video was a joke, but the allegation wouldn’t be good. Turning to her father, she pleaded with her eyes as she asked, “Does he have grounds?”

Mark shook his head. “That video is bogus, Lucy, we know that,” he said and she exhaled loudly. Oh, thank God. When he cleared his throat, she looked back at him and knew there was more. Shit.