"Daddy?"

Your eyes widened when he picked up the phone,

sitting against the wall on the carpet

in your bedroom.

"I need you to come home"

"No ya don't doll"

He told you lowly,

sitting at his desk in the club,

loud music audible in the background.

"What is it now hm?"

"I'm scared"

You breathed out.

"Scared of what?"

He scoffed,

tapping his fingers on

his desk impatiently.

"Being alone"

You choked out.

"I keep hearing noises from

out in the hallway"

"They're doing a renovation baby"

He rolled his eyes at your innocence.

"You're gonna hear things for a while.

There's nothing I can do about that.

I gave you a choice to come with me,

You said ya didn't want to"

"Because it's loud there and

I hate the music"

You argued.

"But that doesn't mean that

I should be home on my own.

I keep thinking that some strange man

is going to get in here somehow"

An irritated sigh leaving his mouth,

he lit up a cigarette,

listening to you.

"What strange man?"

"I don't know..."

You trailed off into a short silence.

"And don't say you'll send one of your guys here either because they're weird too"

"Weird?"

He raised an eyebrow,

finally invested in the conversation.

"How?

Did one of them touch you?"

"Why does everything have to be about

somebody touching me?"

You sighed softly.

"Nobody touched me.

They're weird and I don't like them.

I want you to come home"

"Well,

I can't sweetheart so

I don't know what to tell you"

He said carelessly.

"I have a fucking deal in half an hour.

I'm waiting for the guy to show up.

After that,

I have to go down to the docks

to check something out"

"What?"

You cried.

"But you can't leave me here.

I'm in crisis"

"You're not in a fucking crisis"

He chuckled.

"You're paranoid.

Turn on the tv or something.

You wanna order pizza?"

"The delivery guy is weird"

You insisted.

"Oh?"

He sucked his teeth.

"Then who isn't weird huh?"

"You"

You answered him quietly.

The conversation falling silent,

you heard him clear his throat,

running a hand over his face because dealing

with you every day was worse than

dealing with the authorities.

"Look"

He told you firmly.

"Make yourself something to eat.

Sit in front of the television for a few hours.

Relax...

Daddy will be home soon alright?"

"Okay daddy"

You whispered.

"I love you"

"Okay baby.

Goodnight doll"