Page 58 of Scarred Redemption

Mina wrinkled her nose. “Papa. You can’t bake.”

I gasped much louder than was necessary. “I’ll have you know I’m the world’s best baker.”

When Isabel scoffed, Mina broke into laughter, the sound very much like the little girl who’d yet to suffer. “You’re not supposed to lie. Remember?”

When I hung my head, Mina pressed her hand against me, still giggling.

“She’s right,” Isabel agreed. “That doesn’t mean we can’t teach your daddy how to make a cake. Do you think you’d be up for it later?”

She enthusiastically nodded while looking at her guardian angel. All while I mouthed ‘thank you’ to the beautiful woman.

“Now, since I cannot tell a lie, you should know your papa has a meeting I can’t miss. But I won’t be gone long. Okay?”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise. Cross my heart and…”

Mina sighed with her entire body and slipped off my lap. I remained where I was, turning my attention to her drawing. What I could see troubled the hell out of me.

I glanced at Isabel and she became instantly concerned, moving toward the table.

“What are you drawing, Mina?” I asked her.

She didn’t look at me, choosing another colored pencil and concentrating on the face of whoever she was drawing. My breath caught because I noticed a twin bed and a blank room just as Isabel had described.

Isabel moved behind her, tugging her hair from around her face. “Wow. That’s a very detailed picture. Is that where we were staying for a while?”

Mina’s breath skipped and she nodded, her hand no longer moving, but the grip on the pencil was suddenly white knuckled.

“Oh, my goodness,” Isabel continued. “You really did a nice job. Now, who is that?”

I could hear the concern in her voice and why? Because the man Mina was drawing wasn’t wearing a mask like I’d been told had occurred every time one of the guards had entered the room with food and water.

“I don’t know his name, but he told me my papa was dead and I’d never see you again.” Her lip quivered.

Isabel’s breath hitched and she looked away, pressing her hand across her mouth. She leaned further over Mina’s shoulder, studying the picture while blinking several times. “I should have been there.”

Mina’s shoulders heaved. She was holding something back.

“What else, baby girl?” I pressed and Isabel instantly shot me a warning glance.

Mina hiccupped as she did when she was extremely upset. Her face as she peered up at me with her hand trembling was something no father should be forced to see and no child should ever be required to go through. “He said you were a bad man and would pay.”

Isabel was trembling and I could sense she was doing everything in her power to curtail her emotions.

“I’m right here, baby girl, and your papa isn’t planning on going anywhere. He was just trying to scare you, but Izzy was with you.” How could I address that the monster who’d held her captive was right at least in that I was a very bad man?

“Why don’t you draw a picture of Shadow, Mina? He’s grown a lot since the last beautiful picture you sketched before. Right? I think Shadow feels a little neglected.”

I was thankful that the amazing architect had a way of bringing my daughter from the dark path and back into the light. A true gift to be cherished.

“Okay,” Mina whispered, but I sensed she was lost in the daze of fear, something I would fight to keep from ever occurring again. The rage was just below the surface. Isabel could sense the change, shaking her head in another reminder to calm the fuck down.

Once again, I gathered my daughter into my arms, pressing her head against my chest while Isabel pulled the sketch closer to her. There was no chance I could hold back my anger when I found the bastards. None. I would rip them limb from limb for what they’d done.

Without question. Without reservation.

And certainly without any remorse.