Chapter 5 Mrs. Johnson looked startled but stuck out her chin defiantly . " I ... what I say is none of your damn business ! " Jaxon didn't even acknowledge her . He walked straight toward us . His eyes swept over me quickly , then focused on my daughter trembling in my arms . He took in the expulsion notice in my hand and the red marks still visible on her wrists . Whatever warmth had been left in his expression just died . He shrugged off his suit jacket and wrapped it around my daughter , then positioned himself between us and the crowd . He turned slowly back to face Mrs. Johnson . " I'm her husband . That's my daughter . " Mrs. Johnson went pale but kept running her mouth . " So what if you're the father ! If you don't raise your kid right- " Jaxon pulled out his phone , snapped a picture of her , and sent it somewhere . " I need everything you can find on this woman . Now . " His phone started ringing almost immediately . He put it on speaker . " Got it all , Mr. Sullivan . Riverside Gardens , Building C , Unit 402. Tenant Linda Johnson . Her son Danny works for the Public Works Department . Her daughter - in - law teaches at Roosevelt Elementary . " Mrs. Johnson's face went from white to green . The voice on the phone continued respectfully : " Danny Johnson is up for Employee of the Month this cycle - voting ends in three days . His wife Sarah is being considered for department head at her school ... " " That's enough . " Jaxon cut him off and hung up . He took a step closer , towering over Mrs. Johnson who was now shaking like a leaf . " Tell me , " he said , his voice deadly quiet , " what do you think would happen if I sent a video of you verbally abusing and threatening my minor child to the city's HR department and the school district's administrative office ? " He tilted his head slightly . " Employee of the Month ? Department head promotion ? Mrs. Johnson , what do you think is more powerful - your mouth , or my finger hitting ' send ' ? " Ounngoc " -Come Now ! 2.5 % Chapter 5 " No ... please don't ... " Mrs. Johnson's legs gave out and she collapsed onto the pavement . She started crawling toward him , trying to grab at his pants leg . " I was wrong ! Mr. Sullivan , I was completely wrong ! I have a big mouth ! Please , I'm begging you ! " Jaxon stepped back in disgust . He bent down and scooped up our half - asleep daughter , then grabbed my wrist with his free hand . " We're going home . " The black Mercedes pulled away smoothly , leaving all that ugliness far behind us . The car was warm and quiet . My daughter curled up in my lap , her little fingers clutching my shirt . I stared out the window , and six years of pain and frustration finally hit me all at once . " Why ? " Jaxon's voice was rough , barely holding back a storm . " Vanessa , why didn't you call me ? Not once in six years ? " The tears started falling before I could stop them . " I was scared . " My voice came out all choked up . " Jax , I was terrified - of you , of your family , of that whole world you come from . " " I thought if I stayed away , I could give her a normal life . I didn't want her to go through what I did - having people look down on her , treating her like trash ... " " I was so determined to prove I could do it alone , that we'd be fine without you . But I failed . I failed completely . " " Calling you ... it meant admitting that I couldn't protect her ... " The car lurched to a sudden stop . Jaxon spun around , carefully repositioned our daughter so she was secure , then pulled me into his arms so tight I could barely breathe . His chest was burning hot , his heart pounding like a drum . " You didn't fail . " He pressed his chin against the top of my head , and his voice was full of regret and pain . " I'm the one who failed . " 2.70 % Chapter 5 " I'm the asshole here ! I should have protected you both ! I let my wife and daughter get treated like garbage by these . pieces of shit ! " His arms tightened around me . " Vanessa , listen to me . " " From now on , if the world comes crashing down , I'll hold it up . " " Anyone who makes you cry - either of you - is going to pay for it in blood . " The car got quiet again . My daughter was still curled up against me , her little face pressed to my chest , and for the first time in days , she actually had some color in her cheeks . Chapter 6 Chapter 6