Princess (American Princess #1)(39)
Author: Courtney Cole

Sydney hated pleading with her mother, but there was no way around it.  Seeing the gloating expression on her mother’s face was torturous.

“I told you that you would be back.  But remember what I also told you… you aren’t welcome now.  You made your bed.  Now go lie in it.”

Jillian started to close the door, but Stephen’s hand flew out and firmly stopped it.

“Mrs. Ross, we really need to see your husband.  I know that you are angry, but I also know that somewhere in your icy heart, you must love your daughter in your own way.  This is a matter of life or death.  Do you really want to risk your daughter’s life?  I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.”

Jillian’s mouth had formed a perfect O as Stephen spoke and as he finished, she snapped it closed.

“What do you mean life or death?” Stephen’s dramatic statement had given her pause.

“I mean that we need to see Senator Ross.  Right now.”

Jillian silently gestured for them to come in and then led them through the house to the big mahogany doors of the senator’s study.  She knocked quickly before she entered. She didn’t wait for him to answer.

“Rand, Sydney’s here.  With some…er, friends.  They have something important to discuss with you, apparently.”

She waved her thin hand toward them dismissively, her bored tone suggesting that she wasn’t overly concerned or interested by their visit.  Nonetheless, she remained to hear what they had to say.

Sydney pushed through the doors and stood in front of everyone else as her father rose from behind his desk and made his way across the room to them.

She had forgotten what a commanding person he was.  A person could feel it, just standing near him.  It emanated from him in an almost tangible way.  Everything about him screamed Powerful.

Randall’s face was instantly concerned as he took in the group in front of him, including his daughter’s bedraggled state.  Sydney knew that he was probably well aware that it took something earth shattering to get her back home. When he absorbed Deidre’s bedraggled condition, the look on his face immediately changed to alarm as he turned to face his daughter.

“Sydney, what’s wrong? What’s going on here?”

At the concern in her father’s voice, Sydney suddenly felt all of the emotions that she had been repressing over the last few weeks come rushing back to her at once. Her face crumpled and she began crying softly, her shoulders shaking.

Before Stephen could step forward to embrace her, her father had already moved.  He pulled his daughter into his arms in the comforting way that only a father can.  Sydney cried against his chest, soaking his Armani shirt as her father gently patted her back.

Stephen quickly explained the situation to her father.  When he had finished, the look on Randall Ross’ face was nothing short of murderous.   He stepped away from Sydney and paced back toward his desk.

“That sick animal thought he could use you to get to me?”  he thundered from across the room.

Sydney flinched.  She had never seen her father lose his temper, not even once.  He was usually too busy trying to pacify Jillian and being politically correct.  But now, his face was distorted in anger and a vein throbbed visibly at his temple.

“Not you so much, Daddy, as Paul Hayes.” Sydney’s voice seemed small in the cavernous room and she slipped right back into her familiar pattern of addressing her father as “daddy” without even realizing it.

“Apparently, Paul molested Harrison from the time he was small.  I can tell you… Harrison is twisted now.  He’s crazy.  And he’s out to bring Paul down.  You are just collateral damage to him because of your…involvement with Paul.”   

“My involvement with Paul?” Randall’s face flickered with confusion before he was distracted by Danny.

“You haven’t told me the significance of this boy, yet.” He motioned toward Danny, who was trying to hide behind Tom in the doorway.

“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s all.  He tried to help me and now he’s in danger, too.  And maybe his parents are too.  Maybe you should send someone to let them know the situation.  And we definitely need to let them know that Danny’s okay. I was afraid to do it while we were there because his parents don’t realize that they can’t trust Detective Daniels.  I didn’t know how to convince them of that.  His parents don’t even know he’s safe yet.  And Deidre.  Deidre needs help, dad.  She doesn’t know exactly how long Harrison kept her in that house, but he did horrible things to her.   And she hasn’t eaten in weeks.”

As Sydney spoke, Deidre appeared to get even weaker, leaning into Stephen for support.  Her dirty face was pale and she closed her eyes.  Her knees shook and Randall’s dark eyes scanned the girl’s face before answering.

“Yes, I can see she needs help.  I’m going to make some calls.  Why don’t you take little Danny upstairs so that you can get him cleaned up and maybe he would like a nap, as well.  He looks dead on his feet.” The senator smiled engagingly at the boy before returning his attention to Sydney.

“Stephen and Tom can stay down here with me and Deidre can go with your mother to the kitchen to get something to eat, before she cleans up. I think getting some nutrients in her is the most important thing. Also, I don’t think it’s a good idea for Tom to go back into that neighborhood just yet, do you?”

Tom broke in with his easy-going, country way.

“No, sir, I think you are probably right.  I think I can rest here a spell while you folks figure things out.” He grinned and squeezed Danny’s shoulder.  “Go on upstairs with Sydney, son.  I think everything’s going to be okay now.”

Everyone began to file out of the study, but Randall grabbed Sydney’s arm gently and pulled her back.

“Princess?  I’m really sorry about…. well, everything.  You’re my only daughter and I haven’t expressed it as much as I should have, but you are everything to me.  I’m really glad that you came to me. And that you’re safe.  I feel horribly that I didn’t even know you were in trouble. I’m sorry that I let you down. It won’t happen again.”

His face was sincere, his eyes misty. Sydney studied him for a moment before she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.