Protect Me Daddy

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

The van screeched to a stop, jolting me against the cold metal wall. My princess dress was torn, glitter smeared across my tear-stained cheeks. As the doors swung open, Earl's mocking laughter pierced the air.

"Welcome to your new palace, princesses," he sneered, roughly yanking me out. "Hope you like the oceanfront view."

I stumbled, clutching Lily close as I took in our surroundings. Rusted metal walls loomed around us, broken windows haphazardly patched with plywood. The constant drip-drip-drip of water echoed ominously.

"Where are we?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Earl's calloused hand gripped my arm. "Shut it. You'll find out soon enough."

The reek of diesel fuel and rotting fish assaulted my senses as he shoved us forward. In the distance, foghorns wailed like mournful whales. My heart pounded as we approached a makeshift cell.

"No . . ." I breathed, digging in my heels.

"Move it!" Earl barked, pushing us inside. The door clanged shut behind us.

I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light. We weren't alone. Huddled in the corners were other young women, some barely older than teens. Their vacant stares sent a chill down my spine—I recognized that look from my bartending days at O'Malley's.

"Oh god," I murmured, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. These were trafficking victims. And now, so were we.

My mind raced, remembering snippets of hushed conversations I'd overheard at the bar. Girls disappearing, whispers of overseas "buyers." I pulled Lily closer, bile rising in my throat.

"Tilly," Lily whimpered, "I'm scared."

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain steady. "It's okay, sweetie. We're gonna be alright." But even as I said the words, doubt gnawed at me. How could I protect her when I couldn't even protect myself?

One of the other girls looked up, her hollow eyes meeting mine. "There's no point fighting," she said flatly. "They always win in the end."

I felt Lily tremble against me, and something fierce ignited in my chest. Maybe they usually won, but not this time. Not with us.

"We're getting out of here," I said, my voice low but firm. "All of us."

The girl just shook her head, turning away. But I clung to that spark of defiance, refusing to let it die. I had to stay strong - for Lily, for these other girls, for myself.

As another foghorn sounded in the distance, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Somewhere out there, Daddy was looking for us. I had to believe that. And until he found us, I'd do whatever it took to keep us safe.

I wish I could say I was prepared for what came next, but nothing could have readied me for Viktor Petrov.

The cell door creaked open, and in he strode like some twisted parody of a CEO. His Italian suit was crisp enough to cut paper, silver hair gleaming under the harsh fluorescents. When his eyes swept over us, I felt naked, exposed—like he was assessing livestock at auction.

"Good evening, ladies," he purred, his accent cultured but chilling. "I am Viktor. Consider me your . . . new manager. Or agent, if you prefer."

I clutched Lily tighter, my skin crawling as his gaze lingered on me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Earl shrink back slightly. The sight was jarring—I'd never seen our captor look so small.

Viktor's phone buzzed, and he answered in rapid-fire Russian. As he spoke, I caught Earl's eye. The man who had terrorized me for months now looked like a scolded child. Even monsters fear bigger monsters, I realized with a sickening lurch.

When Viktor finished his call, he turned that icy stare back to me. "You," he said, tilting his head. "You're different from the others. Special cargo, perhaps?"

I wanted to spit in his face, to scream that I wasn't cargo at all. But Lily's trembling form against me kept me silent. I wouldn't risk her safety for the sake of my pride.

I kept my mouth shut.

"Now then," Viktor continued, clapping his hands together. "Let's discuss your new... arrangements."

As he droned on about schedules and rules, my mind drifted.

Oh, Daddy, where are you now?

I imagined him tearing the city apart looking for me, his face a mask of righteous fury. The thought was both comforting and terrifying. What if he got hurt trying to save me? What if he found us too late? What if he never found us at all?

No. I couldn't think like that. I had to stay strong, had to believe he was coming. It was the only way I'd make it through this nightmare.

Viktor's voice snapped me back to the present. ". . .and remember, ladies. Cooperation will make your time here much more . . . pleasant."

As he turned to leave, his eyes locked with mine one final time. The predatory gleam there made my blood run cold. This was so much bigger than Earl's petty revenge, I realized. We were pawns in a game I didn't understand, and I had a sinking feeling we were already running out of moves.

The cell grew colder as night fell, seeping into my bones. I huddled closer to Lily, wrapping my arms around her trembling form. Other girls—some barely more than children—pressed in around us, seeking warmth and comfort.

"Tell us a story," Lily whispered, her voice small and scared.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "Once upon a time," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "there was a princess who didn't need rescuing."

As I wove tales of brave girls outwitting dragons and escaping towers, I tried to ignore the frantic pounding of my heart. Finally, I finished the story. “Sometimes princesses need to slay their own dragons.”

But my words sounded hollow.

In the distance, I could hear ships being loaded. The steady rhythm of cranes and forklifts became a countdown in my mind.

"They're moving us at dawn," a hollow-eyed woman murmured. "I've seen it before. With other shipments."

My stomach twisted. "We'll be okay," I lied, stroking Lily's hair. "We just have to be brave, like the princesses."

But I had a feeling that it didn’t matter how brave we were, bad things were going to happen to us.

Soon, the others were asleep. I was the only one still up, still huddled in the corner, arms wrapped tight around my knees.

That’s when I heard it. Far off, a series of faint pops echoed in the distance. Guards muttered urgently, their phones glowing in the dim light.

I peered through a gap in the boarded window, breath catching at the sight of dark figures moving across the warehouse yard. Their movements were precise, coordinated.

"There are people outside," I whispered to myself. "Something’s happening."

A deafening bang shook the walls. Blinding light flooded the room, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. Smoke stung my eyes and throat. A few girls—included Lily, shot up, instantly awake.

"Get down!" I screamed, pulling Lily to the floor.

Chaos erupted. Shouts and gunfire filled the air. Through the haze, I caught glimpses of tactical gear, weapons raised. And then . . . I saw him.

Dwight burst through the door, a force of nature in black body armor. Gone was my gentle Daddy, replaced by a warrior I barely recognized. He moved with lethal grace, each strike precise and devastating.

The guards, caught off guard by Dwight's sudden and powerful presence, fumbled for their weapons as he closed the distance with lightning speed. In a blur of motion, Dwight expertly disarmed the first guard with a swift kick to the knee, sending him crashing to the ground with a pained grunt. The second guard lunged forward, aiming a desperate punch at Dwight's jaw, but he smoothly dodged the attack and retaliated with a well-placed elbow strike to the solar plexus.

The guard staggered back, gasping for breath, as Dwight seized the opportunity to incapacitate him further. With calculated precision, Dwight delivered a series of quick and efficient blows, each one landing with resounding impact. The room reverberated with the sound of fists meeting flesh and grunts of pain.

As the first guard struggled to rise, Dwight swiftly subdued him with a deft chokehold, rendering him unconscious within seconds. With both guards now incapacitated at his feet, Dwight’s eyes scanned the room.

"Tilly!" he roared.

"Here!" I cried, struggling to my feet. "We're here!"

He turned, and for a moment, I saw my Daddy again in the relief that flooded his face. But then his expression hardened as another guard rushed him.

The third guard was bigger and more heavily armed than the others. He lunged at Dwight with a ferocious snarl, a large knife glinting in his hand.

Without hesitation, Dwight met the attack head on, deflecting the blade with a swift parry. The two men circled each other warily, sizing each other up like two predators in a deadly dance.

But Dwight was no ordinary man. With astonishing speed and strength, he launched himself at the guard, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks that left him reeling. The guard fought back, his knife flashing dangerously as he tried to find an opening in Dwight's defense.

I held my breath as they continued to exchange blows, each one more brutal than the last. But it was clear that Dwight had the upper hand. His movements were fluid and effortless, while the guard's were becoming slower and more desperate.

Finally, with one final powerful strike, Dwight sent the guard crashing to the ground. The knife skittered away from his grasp as he lay there gasping for air.

Dwight stood over him triumphantly, chest heaving with exertion. Then he turned to me, his eyes softening as he saw how shaken I was by the violent display.

"We need to get out of here," he said grimly. “All of you.”

But before he could take a step toward me, a rough hand clamped around my arm, yanking me backward. I stumbled, nearly losing my grip on Lily.

"Not so fast, princess," Earl's hot breath hit my ear, his voice dripping with venom. "You're my ticket outta here."

Time slowed. My heart pounded, but beneath the fear, I felt something else. Determination. My own words echoed in my mind: "Sometimes princesses need to slay their own dragons."

I took a deep breath, remembering our practice sessions. The gentle firmness of Daddy's hands as he guided me through the motions. The pride in his eyes when I got it right.

"Now, baby girl," I whispered to myself.

I crushed Earl's instep with all my might, driving my heel down. He grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough. In that split second, I drove my elbow back, just as we'd practiced.

"You little bi—" Earl's curse was cut short as I wrenched free, stumbling forward.

"Daddy!" I cried out, my voice raw with emotion.

Dwight's head snapped towards us, his eyes blazing with a fury I'd never seen before. He moved like a force of nature, closing the distance in seconds.

"Get away from her," he growled, low and dangerous.

Earl sneered, reaching for me again. "What're you gonna do about it, cop?"

The first punch landed with a sickening crunch. I watched, heart pounding, as Dwight unleashed tons of pent-up rage. Each blow seemed to carry the weight of every threat, every moment of fear Earl had inflicted on me.

"This is for stalking her," Dwight snarled, landing a vicious uppercut. "For ruining our night." A knee to the stomach. "For every nightmare you've given her."

I should have looked away, but I couldn't. This was personal, visceral. Dwight wasn't just fighting Earl—he was systematically dismantling the monster who'd haunted my dreams.

"Tilly," Lily whimpered, burying her face against me.

I held her close, whispering, "It's okay, sweetie. Daddy's here now. We're safe."

And as I watched Dwight deliver the final, devastating blow that sent Earl crumpling to the ground, I knew it was true. We were safe. My Daddy had come for me, just like he promised.

Suddenly, the air filled with shouts and the thunder of boots. SWAT teams poured in from every entrance.

Finally, Dwight was there with me. He wrapped me up in his strong arms and I felt myself melting into him. "Baby girl,” he said, tenderly, “are you hurt?"

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "Daddy," I whimpered, collapsing into his arms. He held me and Lily close, his body shielding us from the chaos around us.

"I've got you, baby girl," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Daddy's here. You're safe now."

I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent—gunpowder, sweat, and that underlying warmth that was uniquely Dwight. We were safe. We were together.

Around us, the warehouse buzzed with activity. Female officers gently led other girls out, draping blankets over thin shoulders. Their vacant eyes haunted me. How close had I come to that fate?

A commotion drew my attention. Earl, broken and bloody, was being hauled towards a police van. His eyes found mine, filled with impotent rage.

"This ain't over!" he roared. "You hear me, you little—"

The van door slammed shut, cutting off his tirade. I shuddered, pressing closer to Dwight.

"It's over for him," Dwight murmured, stroking my hair. "He can't hurt you anymore."

He held me tight.

The stark white hospital room felt both comforting and alien. I sat on the edge of the bed, my legs dangling like a child's, as a nurse finished checking my vitals. Dwight stood nearby, his presence a constant anchor.

When we were finally alone, the walls I'd built crumbled. I broke down, ugly sobs wracking my body. Dwight was there in an instant, strong arms enveloping me.

"Let it out, baby girl," he murmured, rocking me gently. "I've got you."

"I was so scared," I hiccupped between sobs. "But I kept thinking of you. It gave me hope."

Dwight's voice was thick with emotion. "Those hours searching for you . . . I've never felt so helpless. The thought of losing you nearly drove me mad."

I looked up at him, seeing the anguish etched on his face. "How did you find us?"

"I already knew the location of the warehouse, thank god. We’d been planning to raid it in a few months, but I used every resource, and every favor owed me to get the force to push it to last night. I would have torn the city apart to get you back. I had to break a few rules . . ." he trailed off. “But I’d do anything for you.”

We talked for hours, the words pouring out of us both. I told him about the stories I'd whispered to the other girls, trying to keep their spirits up.

"You were so brave," Dwight said, kissing my forehead. "My strong little princess."

"I don't feel brave," I admitted. "I feel... broken."

Dwight cupped my face in his hands. "We'll put you back together, piece by piece. I promise."

It turns out that Viktor got away from the warehouse. They hadn’t tracked him down yet, but Daddy was confident that they would.

“I’ve been on his trail for years. If I hadn’t rushed to raid the place tonight, I could have planned it better, made sure we caught him. But I didn’t have a choice.”

“I’m sorry Daddy, it was my fault.”

“No,” he said, deadly serious. “None of this is your fault. You were a victim, Tilly. You have no blame.”

I nodded and he kissed my forehead.

“I can’t believe I nearly lost you,” he said. “So soon after I found you.”

As dawn broke, we left the hospital. The world felt different – sharper, more dangerous. But Dwight's hand in mine was a lifeline.

At home, he ran a bath scented with my lavender bubbles. "Let's wash away the pain," he whispered, helping me into the warm water.

I closed my eyes, letting the familiar scents soothe me. Dwight's gentle hands washed my hair, his touch erasing the memory of rougher hands.

It was so good to back with him.

Later, warm and dry and very safe, I curled into Dwight's protective warmth on the couch, my body still aching but my heart finally at peace. The familiar scents of Dwight’s place—vanilla candles, old leather, Daddy's cologne—washed over me, erasing the last traces of that horrible warehouse.

"How are you feeling, princess?" Dwight murmured, his fingers tracing soothing patterns on my arm.

"Safe," I whispered.

“I never want you to feel in danger again.”

He shifted, pulling away slightly. Before I could protest, he slid off the couch and knelt before me. My breath caught as I took in his earnest expression.

"Tilly, I . . ." He paused, swallowing hard. "I know this might seem sudden, especially after what you've been through. But losing you, even for those few hours . . . it made me realize I never want to be without you again."

My heart raced as I began to understand what was happening. Was he really . . . ?

"I don't have a ring," Dwight continued, his voice thick with emotion. "But I can't wait another moment. Be my princess forever, Tilly. Not just to protect, but to cherish. Marry me?"

Tears spilled down my cheeks as a tidal wave of emotion crashed over me. Fear, love, hope—they all swirled together until only one truth remained.

"Yes," I choked out. "Yes, Daddy. Forever."

Dwight gathered me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe. But I didn't care. In that moment, wrapped in his embrace, I felt invincible. No darkness could touch us here.

"I love you so much, baby girl," he whispered fiercely. "I'll spend every day making sure you know how precious you are to me."

As we clung to each other, I allowed myself to imagine our future—a lifetime of love, protection, and cherishing.

I’d finally found my home. I'd broken out of the loop, and I knew that the future was going to be brand new.