Lone Star Millionaire

“She doesn’t know that. This is all she knows right now. Okay, it’s horrible and she hates it, but at least it’s familiar.” She gazed at her boss. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to get my kid out of here.”

She thought for a moment. “Why don’t you talk with Mrs. Sellis and I’ll collect Anastasia. I think I’m less of an emotional button for her right now. As far as how she was treated, you can call Jack when we’re in Houston and let him take care of it.”

Cal swore, then pulled Sabrina close and rested his chin on her head. “Thanks. I wouldn’t be able to get through this without you. I’d want to tear that old lady apart, limb by limb.”

Sabrina ignored the fluttering in her chest and the heat from Cal’s body. “You wouldn’t like prison, Cal. I don’t think you’d do well there.”

“Probably not.” He took a step back, then shrugged. “She’s going to come around, isn’t she?”

She knew he meant his daughter. “She’s been through a lot and it’s going to take some time, but sure, she’ll come around. You’re going to be a great dad.”

She spoke with more confidence than she felt. While she didn’t doubt Cal’s abilities, she was concerned about Anastasia. She’d suffered tremendously, and she’d had to do it alone. That kind of experience could leave a person scarred for life.

She and Cal went back into the living room. Mrs. Sellis watched them, her dark eyes glowing with greed. Sabrina ignored her and crossed to the closed door. She hesitated, almost afraid of what she would find on the other side, then drew a breath and turned the handle.

The bedroom was tiny, dark and even more dirty than the living room. Sabrina didn’t want to think about what might be living under the bed. Clothes were scattered all over. There were dirty plates, glasses, torn magazines and dirt everywhere. Anastasia lay curled up on the bed, with her back to the door. Her shoulders shook, but she didn’t make a sound.

Sabrina stared at her and tried to decide the best way to handle the situation. Her instinct was to offer the girl comfort, but her gut told her that was wrong. Right now Anastasia was scared and angry. Compassion would be viewed as weakness. She decided to go for logic.

“Boy, were you stupid,” she said, her tone conversational.

That got the hoped-for response. The girl stopped crying.

“Talk about blowing a perfect setup. Look at this place. It’s disgusting. I know you hate it here.”

“No, I don’t” came the defiant response.

“Oh, so that’s why you ran away a couple of times. And now this basically nice guy shows up, a guy who is, by the way, your father. He just found out about you and he wants to take care of you. Instead of saying thanks or even hi, you call him a bastard and run out of the room. Like I said, not really bright. I guess you want to go to that state home, huh?”

Anastasia rolled over and glared at her. “No, I don’t. I won’t go there. I swear, I’ll die first.”

Sabrina shrugged. “You want to stay with Mrs. Sellis?”

Anastasia wiped the tears from her face. The moisture smeared the dirt there. “She hates me. She only wants the money the government sends.” Full lips trembled. “I want to go home.”