“SHE WAS FOURTEEN!” I scream. “And you let her get shipped off to a convent on what, that some neighborhood boy knocked her up?”

“It could have been anyone, your mother was—”

“Careful,” James starts and Joe narrows his gaze behind me.

“You really don’t know who you’re talking to, kid.”

“Neither do you, obviously,” I interject. “You’re…you can’t be my father. I can’t have you in me,” I say backing up as the tears run down my face. “A rapist.”

“Trust me, your mother wanted it. The whore got around.”

The words destroy me and I’m about to crumble when I see James moving faster than lightning and he has Joe on the ground with his arm twisted behind his back. “I will break your fucking arm off, if you don’t apologize right the fuck now.”

“For what!” he yells. “Fuck you. You came down here bothering me. What did y’all expect?” He looks at me.

“What did I say?” James yells and I’ve never seen this side of him before. He presses his foot on the side of his face and presses hard. “Apologize.”

He lets out a breath. “You’re making a mistake.”

“No you made the fucking mistake talking to her like that. Your daughter.” He twists his arm harder and Joe grunts in pain. “I’m so glad she’s away from you. Away from this.” James snarls. “Take a look at her, because it’s the last time you’ll ever breathe the same air as her. Now, apologize.” He leans down and talks lower though I can still hear him. “I don’t know what the statute of limitations are for rape of a minor in this podunk town but I can assure you the lawyer at our hotel can have the police here before we’re even in the car. All she has to do is say the word.” He nods at me before turning back. “Now apologize.”

“Sorry.” He grits out and my nostrils flare as more tears start to form.

“Gabrielle, go wait in the car,” James tells me without looking at me or letting up on Joe.

“But…”

His eyes moves to me. “Now.”