Chapter 1

The air in the old warehouse district was thick, heavy with the scent of roasted nuts, frying oil, and the damp, earthy musk of approaching autumn. It was a sensory overload, a chaotic tapestry woven from the hum of the crowd and the flickering glow of a thousand Edison bulbs strung haphazardly across the rafters of the converted textile factory. I adjusted the strap of my canvas tote bag, feeling the weight of the vintage glassware I’d already picked out, but my eyes weren’t on the stalls. They were locked on him. Daddy stood near the center of the main thoroughfare, a solitary figure amidst the swirling tide of hipsters, tourists, and local couples. He wore his usual armor—a crisp, cream-colored linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal the sturdy forearms I knew so well, paired with dark trousers that hugged his hips. A dark blazer, unbuttoned, draped over his shoulders like a cape, gave him the air of a man who owned the place, which, in a way, he often felt he did. I hadn’t planned to come here tonight. I had told him I was going out with friends, that I needed space, needed to breathe