Caleb POV
"What the fuck is wrong with you? I thought I raised you better," my father angrily expels as his voice deepens with a loud boom, his body pacing back and forth through the living room with his head held down and his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants.
I stay silent, I know I fucked up. He's beyond angry now that I have told him everything that has been going on.
"You got Juliet killed and now you're about to get Sutton killed? No woman deserves to die from your mistakes and from what your mother tells me, Sutton isn't just any woman. She's the one woman who has gotten you out of that miserable slump you've been in these last few years since Juliet's death."
My dad doesn't bother looking at me continuing his repetitive pacing behind the sofa that I'm seated on too ashamed of my actions. Embarrassed and disturbed by what I've done, I also avoid looking up to meet his grilling stare.
I remain silent letting my father lecture me, "You know I changed our last name from Jackson to McIntyre to help avoid any associations with my former life. To help give you and Miranda a better chance to grow in this world without my previous indiscretions to come back and haunt you both but none of that seems to matter. Maybe I'm to blame, maybe somehow you inherited my ability to stupidly head down a road of crime. That's the only excuse I can think of when me and your mother worked so hard to give you everything and steer you down the right path." He sighs, the pattering of his feet slowing against the hardwood floors. I can tell he's stopped moving, confrontation only seconds away because I've been quiet for too long. Dad wants answers, I don't really have a good one.
"I fucked up, I thought I could handle Estabon. I'm an idiot, I have no other excuse for being so dumb. I'm so sorry dad. I just want Sutton back, I want her safe." I take a hand to the back of my neck tugging harshly against the skin aggravated with myself, distressed with concern for Sutton's return unharmed.
"Stay right here. I'm going to my office to make some calls." My father grunts still very displeased with me.
He begins to exist the room," Does this mean you can get her back?" My head flings up quickly asking in desperation.
Dad stops, turns with a cringe, his entire face wrinkling in anger, his hands removing from his pockets tightly knotting into balled fists, "Just sit and wait for me!" Assertively his words come out letting me know I should just shut up and listen to his demands.
I nod in agreement, my right knee starting to bob up and down nervously like when I was meeting with Estabon last as dad turns the corner and disappears down the hall.
Impatiently I await his return, seconds turning into minutes, minutes turning into an hour.
.............................
It's now been an hour and a half and he hasn't come back. I can't take it any longer, defying my father is something I know better to do but I can't keep sitting here not knowing, not doing anything.
I stand from the couch and just as I'm about to walk off to my father's office I hear the sounds of his footsteps making their way back to me so quickly I return to my seated position like a scared child in fear of getting scolded for their disobedience.
My father may be Carter McIntyre now but I never forget that he use to be Carter Jackson, a criminal with a reputation that should always be remembered no matter how much time has passed. I don't know of the details of his former life but I know enough to know he was an extremely powerful and dangerous drug dealer years before he met my mother and had me and Miranda. He's always been a great father but he has the ability of putting the fear of God in any man, especially me.
"I've found her. You're to stay here at the house until I get back. I don't want you involved in any of this anymore. I'm going to take care of this."
"But Dad..." I fly up on my feet getting interrupted before I can complete my sentence. I want to go with him regardless of the consequences it might have on me.
"But nothing Caleb. You're just as stubborn as you're mother but you know my word is always final. Now sit and wait!" He orders sternly with an expression that says don't test me. If it were anyone else I would ignore the commands but it's not, it's my dad.
"Yes." I comply and let him leave. The next few hours become the most grueling, longest hours of my life.
I've chewed off almost all of my nails, I'm moments away from ripping my hair out of my scalp and then I hear the front door swing open. It's then do I realize if he has rescued Sutton will she even want to see me? Does she hate me for what I've done, does she even know the whole truth now? If she hates me for the rest of my life it's something I'm going to have to live with as long as she's still alive.
"Sutton?" I call out longing to hear her voice as I stand up.
"Caleb!" She replies in a crying whimper. A sense of relief washes over me at the sounds of her sweet voice.
Sutton enters the living room, her clothing torn her cheek slightly blueish with bruising. She leaps into my arms with tears streaming down her face.
I embrace her tightly, my arms wrapping around her small frame that has gone through a torturous abuse, an abuse that was brought about because of me. I'm consumed by a warmth rejoicing feeling yet at the same time consumed with guilt. She must not know my deepest secrets and I don't want to tell her but I know I'm going to have to. I'm just not going to tell her now because I know when I do I have lost her forever.