All Yours Daddies (by Mirabella) novel Chapter 2

SARAH

The sharp crack echoes through the silence.

Aaron’s head jerks to the side.

The girl gasps with wide eyes, and I turn to her.

“If you don’t want to be next, I highly suggest you get the hell out of my house.”

For a second, she hesitates. I take one step forward to let her know that I will drag her across the floor with her cute brown hair if I have to.

Then, with a nervous glance at Aaron, she scurries toward the door, slipping out without another word.

I slam the door shut behind her.

Aaron barely reacts. He just stands there, rubbing his jaw like the slap was nothing but a mild inconvenience.

If one slap didn’t do the job, I can always make it two.

Rage churns inside me, bubbling dangerously close to the surface.

“You are nothing, you hear me?” I point at him. “If you think you are going to ruin everything we’ve worked so hard to build, you’ve got another thing coming.”

I can’t hold my tears back anymore.

“Why, Aaron? Why do you insist on bringing me down with you?”

Aaron lets out a low, bitter laugh.

“You’re a pathetic, insecure, jealous bitch, Sarah. Has anyone ever told you that?”

I blink. Is he fucking for real?

I’m done. Oh. I’m so done.

I shake my head, and a sour chuckle follows.

“That’s it, Aaron Connor. I’m done with you. I’m calling the lawyers.” I say it with a firm unwavering tone, so that he knows I’m not bluffing.

Aaron cocks his head. Then, slowly, he smirks.

“Go ahead. I dare you.”

I flinch. Not because of the words, but because of the way he says them.

He takes a step forward. I step back.

“But that’s not the worst part,” he laughs, stepping even closer.

“No, the worst part is that you’re terrified, Sarah.” He leans in, and his warm breath grazes my cheek.

“Terrified of admitting that life didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to. Terrified of starting over. Terrified of losing the only thing that’s really yours: Wellspring.”

I stagger, his words slamming into me like a punch to the gut.

“I dare you to take me to court, Sarah. Call your superhero brother and cry to him like the helpless bitch you are. Face it, Sarah. You’ll always need someone. You can’t stand on your own.”

Aaron shakes his head and finally moves backward, giving me ample space to breathe.

“When your brother got tired of looking after you, he handed you over to me. He knows what you and I know. You can’t make it on your own, Sarah. Don’t try to.”

With those words, Aaron walks up the stairs, leaving me behind.

And I crumble to the ground.

The sob rips through me before I can stop it.

Because he’s right.

Everything he said is right.