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shut. She froze. She knew that saying or doing anything only made things worse.
    Her stepfather circled around her until he came to a stop in front of her. He'd been drinking so heavily she could smell it even before he spoke. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was breathing heavily.
    â€œYou've been hanging out with that Jap family again, haven't you? Whassamatter, our German heritage isn't good enough for you anymore? You wanna be Asian, or somethin’? Ha!”
    Leigh fought to avoid cringing from the spittle coming at her. Slowly, she backed up toward the door. If she could just get to it…
    â€œDon’t even think about leaving,” he warned.
    His face got closer to hers. His lips twisted in a sneer, and his eyes shone with anger. She closed her eyes and forced herself to stand still.
    â€œSo now that you know what he’s like, maybe I should show you what it’s like with a real man,” he growled.
    Her eyes opened wide. “Dad, no!”
    The acrid smell of whiskey assailed her as dad's mouth came toward her. She turned her face away and his lips nested in her hair. His arms entrapped her like steel bands. He'd forgotten who she was again, crooning Kirsten’s name over and over. “I'll show you what you've been missing. You think I don't know how to be a good lover. I'll show you, I'll show you...”
    One hand was at the hem of her blouse now, stroking her skin. She tried to push him away, but he was stronger, and determined.
    The knocking jolted them both. The steel bands loosened, and she turned toward the door.
    â€œLeigh? You left your cell phone in the car.”
    Leigh turned to her father. “I have to answer it,” she told him. “He knows I'm not asleep yet, because he just dropped me off.”
    Without waiting for an answer, she pulled the door open. She would have stepped outside, but a sharp tug on her belt from behind kept her in place. She had to get help without alerting her stepfather.
    â€œHi Andy,” she greeted him. Her eyes pleaded with him for help. “Thanks for bringing my phone back.” She brought her hand to her mouth. “I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't told me where I left it!”
    Andy stared at her a moment, and his eyes widened. He nodded. “Sure, Leigh. No problem. I would have been worried too.”
    He backed up slowly. “I'll—I’ll see you soon.”
    Leigh was yanked back into the house, and the door started to close, but Andy wedged himself in the opening. With a roar, Frank swung his fist, connecting with Andy’s cheek with a sickening crunch. Leigh tried to reach him, But Frank lifted the younger man and bodily and tossed him outside, slamming the door and locking it.
    He spun around and grabbed Leigh’s arms. Large, beefy hands enclosed her wrists like shackles.
    â€œStupid, obnoxious kid,” he growled. "First the father ruins my life, and then his rotten kid has to shack up with my daughter!”
    Leigh bit down on her lower lip. She wanted desperately to ask what James Tanaka had done to ruin Frank’s life, but there was a better chance of finding out if she kept quiet and listened. She wasn’t disappointed.
    â€œI worked my tail off to build a business that would support your mother’s lifestyle. How was I supposed to know the bottom was going to fall out of the automotive industry? But everybody buys flowers. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings. All those things made Jim Tanaka rich. So rich that my own wife preferred him over me.”
    Leigh wanted to cover her ears, but Frank held both her hands in an iron grip, and she couldn’t move them. Her mother and James Tanaka? It couldn’t be. It had to be the alcohol talking, putting ridiculous notions in his head.
    Leigh closed her eyes. There was no way she could overpower him, but she had to try. Her jacket was torn from her body and she shivered, not because of the cool