FRIDAY WAS COMING to a close, and so far, everything had gone smoothly and without incident as well as without anymore sightings of Miles stalking her. Lainie prayed she’d be able to get out of town without seeing him again. She also hadn’t seen her father, which surprised her. She thought for sure he would try at least once more to convince her to follow his wishes. The fact that he surrendered so easily didn’t seem like her father. He was not one to give up.
Alanna hadn’t made another move toward Lainie sexually, and the subject hadn’t come up again after everyone left that night. Lainie wasn’t sure how she felt about it, worried that the alcohol had spoken when Alanna normally wouldn’t have said anything. While it was true that shifters were more open about matters such as sex and nudity, they still weren’t what other people would call swingers. They didn’t stray from bed to bed anymore than normal humans; they just were more open about having sex, not caring who knew it, saw it, or heard it. The way Alanna spoke, however, made it seem more like she preferred multiple experiences rather than just being tied down to one man. Lainie wondered how Josh would be able to handle such openness or if he would struggle with Alanna’s desires.
The plans tonight were simple; they’d load the cars with most of her possessions, leaving only what she needed for the night and the morning to pack tomorrow. They’d have some dinner, chill out, and then get an early start in the morning. There wasn’t any real rush other than Lainie just wanting to be out of Draven Falls and away from her father and Miles.
She parked her sheriff’s car in the back parking lot at the end of her shift, locking it for the last time. She stared at the door handle, a sudden welling of sadness washing over her as she stared at herself in the window’s reflection. She wanted to be gone, but she also didn’t want to leave. This had been her life. She took a deep breath, touching the door handle one more time before turning and walking toward the back door to the sheriff’s department. It had been her life, but now, a new chapter was about to start, and she was excited about what the future held. Pain and betrayal lay behind her while ahead she only saw brightness and hope.
She endured several slaps on the back and hugs, handshakes and smartass comments as she made her way through the station to turn in her badge and department-issued gun. Quinton said he would miss her, but was excited about her new adventure, knowing she would do great in Bull Creek. Lainie made sure to make the rounds, saying goodbye to everyone who was there, letting them all know how much they meant to her. By the time she walked back out the back door to her own car, she felt melancholy as well as hopeful, excited for the next leg of her journey. Of course, that feeling turned sour when she saw her father leaning back against her car, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at some couple in the Town Center. Well, so much for him giving up. Lainie sighed as she continued toward her car, ready to get the confrontation over with. He wouldn’t have the last word, but she knew her father would damn well try.
Daniel Everest turned his attention toward his daughter when he heard her approaching, his expression stern. Cold. He hadn’t always been this way, and Lainie couldn’t even remember when the change had occurred in him until it affected her directly. Until recently, she only remembered the times he would let her ride on his back like a horse around his study or put her on his shoulders so she could watch the parades during the holidays. She recalled the laughter as they goofed off, playing games and even racing through the woods on their property as their panthers took over. His dark hair started to turn, gaining a little more salt around the edges, and, to her regret, she hadn’t even noticed that happening. This was the man who raised her, tucked her in at night with fairy tales and three trips for water, the man who kissed her boo-boos away and built forts out of blankets for her and her brothers. When had he turned from caring about her and protecting her to wanting to use her for his own ambitions? Why hadn’t she noticed the change in him before it practically slapped her in the face? Why didn’t he love her the way he used to anymore? Where had her father gone? And would she ever get him back?
Lainie took another deep breath to steady her nerves. “Hello, Dad. What can I do for you?” Inwardly, she hoped he was there merely to say goodbye and wish her luck. However, she highly doubted her hopes would come true.
“I’m here to give you another chance to change your mind and do the right thing,” her father said, not moving away from her car door. “Dimitri already sacrificed his future. Don’t be as reckless as him.”
Lainie shook her head, hooking her thumbs into her duty belt. “Not going to happen. Sorry.” She then cocked her head to the side as she stared at her father through narrowed slits. “Did you know Miles has been stalking me? He even threatened me several times. Is that the type of man you want to saddle your daughter to for the rest of her life? He’s an entitled ass.”
Her father shrugged. “He’s a man who knows what he wants and goes for it. You should admire such tenacity, not ridicule it.”
“Bullshit,” Lainie spat. “I should have him locked away. The fact that he isn’t behind bars for threatening an officer is my farewell gift to you. I figure you’ll have enough problems with me not marrying Miles that you didn’t need the added headache of explaining to Mr. Hemingway why his son was also in jail. I’ll be out of here tomorrow, and I don’t intend to return. How you handle that is totally up to you but know that I don’t care either way. You can accept it or cut me off from the family like you did Dimitri. I’ll figure out how to talk to mom and Fitz regardless, but you, I won’t miss.” She pointed to her car. “Now, would you mind moving. I have some packing to do before morning.”
At first, she didn’t think her father would move as he glared at her, but after a few eternal seconds, he glanced off in the distance. “This is a mistake, Lainie. I won’t be able to protect you from the consequences.” He stood, turning his gaze back to her as he moved to the side. “If you leave Draven Falls, you leave the protection of this family.”
Lainie shook her head as she opened her car door. “No. I’ll still have the protection of my family. I just won’t have your protection.” She turned, her head slightly tilted as she stared at her father. “And to be honest, I haven’t been that impressed with the way you’ve protected me so far. I think I’ll do better without it.”
Her father slid his hands into his front pockets. “You have no idea how dangerous the real world is, how much I’ve already protected you. You’re being foolish. Childish, even. You think you’re being brave and independent, but the real world doesn’t work that way. Protection comes with numbers, and those numbers come from a strong family. The Hemingways would garner you even more protection.”
Lainie arched an eyebrow at that but said nothing. She slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the door handle, ready to close it. “Goodbye, Father,” she said, and even she noticed the sadness in her voice. Daniel Everest was a cruel man, but he was still her father. “I wish you luck with things. I really do. I’ll call Mom and say goodbye.” She closed the door and started the car. Her father still stood there staring at her as she drove away. Noticing him in the rearview mirror, she sucked in the sob that wanted to escape her throat but couldn’t stop the tears as they fell.