Chapter 33

Kipp

Ollie- Bre is being arrested. We were at the mall in Macy's and Barbi was here. Things got heated and Bre assaulted her.

Ollie- I rode with her and didn't know who else to message and come get me. I know Grady and Van had things they needed to do today.

Me- What the hell is she thinking? I'm on my way.

I don't waste any time. Grabbing my wallet and keys from the dish, I rush out the door.

I still don't know how Jessica managed to get Barbi out on bail. The only thing I can figure is she put the house I bought up as collateral. Regret courses through my veins that I didn't push to have the house sold and the profits split between us, versus letting her keep it since Barbi was staying with her.

At the time, Barbi was always my first thought, not to mention that I felt guilty about continuing a relationship when I knew I wasn't in love with Jessica. My therapist told me staying together for the benefit of the child isn't the best thing to do, and she was right. I just wish I had listened to her sooner.

I get in my car, turn it on, and back out of the driveway, speeding to the mall. Right now, Barbi and Jessica aren't my problem. The only thing I'm concerned about is making sure Ollie is okay and getting Bre out of this shitshow that my daughter has caused.

My first thought as I drive is to message my husband, but I know I don't need to be texting and driving, so instead I call him. He needs to know what's going on. The phone rings once before he picks up and his voice fills the interior of the car through the speakers.

"Hey baby, missing me already?"

God, he sounds delicious.

"I am, but that's not why I'm calling. Ollie just texted me. She and Bre were at the mall and my wonderful daughter showed up and started harassing them. I guess Bre had enough and put hands on her. Now she's being arrested and Ollie's stranded."

"I just finished my meeting. I can head there now."

"No, baby, you don't need to. I'll get Ollie and see what's going on. Can you call Van? I know he's meeting with the DA this morning and this might help with getting him a restraining order. It's clear my daughter is unhinged."

"I can do that and I'll call our attorney and have him head to the police station and help Bre."

"Fuck, I didn't even think of that. I should've called him first."

I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white. Not only has my daughter committed a heinous sex crime, she hurt Ollie, the sweetest soul I've ever met, and now she's affected Bre's life. An assault charge could impact her life greatly. But not once did contacting our attorney cross my mind.

"It's okay. Barbi has you so messed up, and your mind was on our girl. I would've forgotten too."

"When you talk to Van, can you reassure him this isn't his fault? He's going to panic, and he doesn't need to. This is just another case of my daughter being an entitled, spoiled brat. But she's my daughter, so hearing she's caused more trouble may be better coming from you than me."

"I will. Go take care of our girl and I'll see you at home."

We hang up and my fingers anxiously tap the steering wheel as I hit another red light. It seems the world is trying to keep me from getting to my woman.

I finally get to the mall and pull into the first empty spot I find, not even caring how far I have to walk to get inside. It's on the side of the mall Macy's is on and that's good enough.

I head straight inside Macy's, going to the first cash register I find and asking for the manager. The young girl at the register picks up her phone and places a call. She's only on it a moment before hanging up and letting me know he's on his way.

An older, overweight man heads our way, a determined look on his face.

"How can I help you, sir?" He places his hands on his hips as he stops in front of me.

"Yes, my daughter was assaulted, and I wanted to make sure she's okay."

Yeah, it's a bit of a lie. Barbi was assaulted, but I'm not here for her. Somehow, I don't think telling him that my girlfriend's best friend is being detained for assaulting my daughter would get me back there to her. If anything, it would get me a side eye and maybe even an escort right out of the front door. Even I think it sounds like some shit you'd find on an episode of Jerry Springer.

"Yes, sir, she's in the back. Please, follow me." He turns and heads back in the direction he came from and I fall in step behind him.

He opens a door that takes us from the store floor to a long hallway. At the end, I see another door that has a security guard and a police officer standing outside of it. The manager nods his head in a greeting as their voices halt from the conversation they are having.

"This is the father of the young woman who was assaulted."

The officer grips his radio and says something. A garbled voice responds, but I can't make out what was said. The officer opens the door to the room and we step inside.

Barbi's back is to me, and she's vividly flailing her arms in the air as she screams at the security guard and the two ladies. Bre sits in a chair with her hands cuffed and has a smug look on her face. Ollie is bent over, whispering in her ear. The only one so far to catch sight of me is Bre.

I clear my throat, and Barbi stops her squawking long enough to turn and notice me.

"Daddy!" she wails. "How did you know?" She's holding an ice pack to her face, moving as she puts on the performance of her life, sobbing, now that she has me as an audience. Her eye is turning an awful shade of black and blue and there is some dried blood around her nose.

My sweet Ollie has a look of concern on her face as Barbi rushes toward me, her arms open as if she wants a hug. Does Ollie think I'm going to change who I'm here for now that I've seen my daughter's face? Fat chance in hell.

I ignore Barbi, taking hold of her shoulders and pushing her to the side, heading straight to Ollie, cupping her face in my hands.

"Are you okay?" I place a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I'm fine, just shaken up and worried about what's going to happen to Bre for standing up for me." I pull her close to me, slipping my arms around her. "But I'm not going to lie. I'm glad Bre got some hits on her," she whispers, her voice muffled by my chest as I let a soft chuckle escape my lips.

I release Ollie, needing to deal with my spoiled brat of a daughter. Stepping over to her, I try to contain my anger. "What have you done?" I scold her.

"Me! What are you doing? I'm your daughter and you rush in here and kiss that… that… that… toad! What would Grady think about you being with someone else, especially a woman?"

"First of all, watch your mouth, young lady, when you speak to me or about the woman I'm with. Second, Grady is happy I'm here taking care and making sure our girlfriend is okay. You, on the other hand, Barbi, are out of control. What are you doing shopping at the mall when you are out on bond? You should be at home thinking about what you did."

"And what did I do? Oh, that's right. I had sex with her boyfriend because she wasn't satisfying him. Then when she finds out, he goes and cries rape. Like a woman could ever rape a man. So, I'm here because I need to get a damn suit to wear to court."

"You know as well as I do that the story you are trying to spin is not how it happened. And instead of getting an outfit and thinking about the error in your actions, you decide to provoke a fight."

"I didn't do anything, Daddy. They started it. Olivia's jealous that Van wanted me and not her. She's always been jealous of me. Look how easily she wormed her way into your bed. She's nothing but a whore."

"I'd watch how you talk about her. I won't tolerate it any longer. And how do you have money for a new outfit after your bail was paid?"

"Mom paid my bail and I'm paying for it with my credit card." She smiles wickedly.

"Oh, did you get one on your own? Because I had your card canceled weeks ago, after our meal together. Time to grow up, Barbi." The smile fades from her face, replaced with one of shock.

She starts screaming, but I ignore her, wrapping my arm around Ollie, and leading her toward the officer.

"Is she free to go?" I ask, nodding at Ollie.

"Yes, we have her statement, so she is free to go. She may be contacted later about the case."

"And what of her friend here, Bre?"

"She's being taken into custody and will be booked at county."

"Bre, I've already talked to Grady, and our lawyer will be meeting you at the jail. We told him to do whatever it takes to get you out and we'll pay for everything."

"You'll pay to get the skank out that assaulted me, but not your own flesh and blood. Mom had to put up the house," Barbi whines, but I tune her out. I'm over her and her childish behavior. I've coddled her for way too long and it's time she grows up.

Bre just smiles and shrugs. "It was worth it." The cops lead her down the hallway and Ollie and I follow, parting ways in the parking lot.