Chapter 43

**Zac**

It’s about an hour later when Alyssia finally stops crying. Currently asleep along my bed do I move to crack the door open slightly. Annabel and Sam both still within the kitchen as they continue to wait patiently for me.

“Is she going to be okay? God, I’m so fucking stupid” whispers Annabel. Her arms now wrapped around her stomach in an attempt to calm her down. Sam currently holding her as she does.

My eyes on them upon my return. “Yeah, she’ll be fine Anna. But I think it’s best for now if I move to keep her here with me. At least for now. As there’s no telling just how far Hendricks will go to get Alyssia.”

Nodding her head does Annabel move to sniffle. Her eyes red from the tears she had shed for her one and only friend. Her voice broken as she moves to speak again. “God. I really am sorry Zac. I shouldn’t have left her unattended like that. I’m so, so sorry.”

My chest now tightening at Annabel’s words. “Look. Anna. I don’t blame you for what happened. But I do blame Hendricks and Lane.”

Annabel now gazing at me upon hearing Lane. A piece of me cursing at the tiny little slip up. Shit. I bet she doesn’t know. Christ. A sigh rising in an attempt to put her mind at ease.

“Look, you weren’t supposed to know that. But Alyssia was also assaulted by Lane as well.”

“You mean Lyra’s father, that Mr. Lane?”

Quick to nod my head do I move to answer her back. “Yeah.” Annabel now pretending to gag upon hearing his name.

“Eww… gross”

My eyes now serious as I move to look at her once more. “Look. I know your worried about Alyssia. But I promise you that she’ll be safe here with me. Sam can even vouch for me. But for now, I think it’s best if you went home with Sam tonight and I’ll text you if anything changes, okay?”

Sniffling again does Sam move to help Annabel. “Okay, thanks Zac.”

“Of course. Good night Annabel. Good night Sam. And thanks for your help man.”

“No problem dude. It’s what friends do. Besides if it was my girl I’m sure you’d do the same for her” counters Sam, his eyes now on Annabel.

“Of course I would. Don’t ever doubt that for a second.”

Nodding his head does Sam finally move to lead Annabel out. A sigh rising within me as I move to close the door before locking it. A piece of me wanting to go back to the room and lay down with Alyssia and our child but quick to decide against it.

Not wanting to risk scaring her after her brief rape incident. Another part of me thinking of ways to get even with both Hendricks and Lane. For no one, and I mean no one would ever be safe from me until justice was served.

My mind now on that of Ariele.

*Hmm… I wonder if he’d be able to help me?* My mind now thinking of the many different ways to take care of both men as I move to sit down along the couch. The clock now reading 8pm which meant we had all been frantically worried about Alyssia as I move to finally relax. Deciding on letting her come to me.

My eyes soon closing as I try to get comfortable along the couch. Now mentally preparing for the long night ahead of me until I could finally have a second to talk to her properly.

\~~~~~~~~~~
**Alyssia**

“No… Please…. Stop…”

Now tossing and turning along a soft and comfortable mattress does my body instantly jump into that of a sitting position. My eyes quick to scan the room I was in. My heart racing at thinking I was still within my room but wasn’t. The room shrouded in darkness as I try to remember where I was.

My mind suddenly remembering. Daddy. Turning towards my left do I find the bed empty. A piece of me saddened that he wasn’t there next to me. My eyes now looking for a clock.

10:30 pm. Crap. Looks like I’ve been sleeping for a while now.

Deciding that I’ve slept more than enough do I carefully move to stand up. My feet soon heading for that of the door. My hand soon reaching for the handle as I move to open it up. The apartment eerily quiet, which makes me wonder if Zac was still there or if he had suddenly left. My feet now carrying me from the room as I begin to notice just how dark the place was except for one light.

My eyes quick to see him. Zac currently asleep along the couch. His blonde hair slightly tousled and his shirt slightly wrinkled from him being on the couch. My heart clenching at the sight.

Zac.

My need to be close. To be next to him rising. Zac my official lifeline for I knew he would always protect me. To assure me that everything would be fine. To hold me protectively and kiss away my fears.

My voice soft upon speaking. “Daddy?” My hand quick to touch his arm. The same arm he now had laying above his head. My touch gentle as I try not to startle him.

“Daddy?”

Suddenly aware of his surroundings does Zac move to open his sexy hazel blue eyes. Eyes that I’ve fallen in love with since the very beginning. Zac quick to notice my presence as he moves to sit up slowly.

“Baby? What’s wrong, is everything okay?”

Quick to nod my head does Zac move to pull me into his lap. My body now straddling his legs as he moved to wrap his arms around my waist.

“What’s wrong then? You should be sleeping.”

“I couldn’t sleep”

“How come?”

“Bad dream”

Upon hearing that does Zac move to frown. His hold over me a little firmer as he continued to hold me against him. His voice gentle when speaking. “I’m sorry baby. I should have protected you. I should have made you come to me once done with your classes. Yet I didn’t. I’m such a fool.”

“No your not. I am. I didn’t pay any attention to my surroundings. Because I knew Mr. Hendricks wanted me, I just didn’t know how badly till now.”

Suddenly feeling a hand move to cup my chin does Zac move to turn my face towards his. His eyes full of love.

“Your not stupid. Nor are you an idiot. Your my girl. My woman. And a wonderful mother to our child someday. So never say that again, you hear me?” Nodding my head does Zac move to kiss me upon my lips. My body quick to melt into his as his hand moves to caress my belly. A belly that now held a tiny little being deep inside of it.