My father, Justin Cocker, strolls into the Dunwoody police station in a tux with a firm set to his square jaw.

His and my stepmother’s social life is riddled with fancy events where the elite rub elbows to make decisions that change people’s lives, decisions you don’t even know are being made for you.

Luckily my Dad is one of the good guys, the former Senator of Georgia who during his eighteen years in Washington managed to get an amendment passed where Congressmen and Senators could be elected no more than three terms before they had to step down and make room for new blood and fresh ideas.

After he served his three, he happily joined the ranks of politicians who work behind the scenes, consulting and using their power to open and close doors, start and end conversations.

I can’t imagine him retiring. It’s in his blood to look out for the people of Georgia.

Dad’s shark-like, pale green eyes scan the crowded station. He nods to one officer and subtly waves to another before he rakes an irritated glare over the five of us.

Sofia mumbles under her breath, “See any resemblance to your bruised up boy toy?”

“Shut up,” I tell her before I rise and say in a normal volume, “Hi Daddy!”

“I’m sick of having to call favors in for all of you! You’re worse than my brothers and I were, a feat I didn’t think possible.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Ethan mutters. We’ve all heard the stories.

Dad shoots him a look and grits his teeth. “Let’s go!”

“Guess we don’t have to sign anything?” Emma says.

“It’s been taken care of,” Dad growls, staring ahead as we all follow him outside.

Ben touches my shoulder. Sofia flips around and waves to the station. “Thank you all for your service.”

Dad growls, “Sofia Sol!”

She lowers her head and loses the smile. “Sorry.”

When we get a private distance from outside the entrance, Dad locks onto me. “You wanna tell me what happened?”

Ben starts to talk but Dad holds up his hand and jerks his chin at me — he won’t have anyone else telling this story.

“Dad, it’s kind of hard to explain.”

To my father.

Who I idolize and yet sometimes want to hit.

Rebellious Sofia blurts, “The jerk she was dating called Hannah a slut.”

Dad’s eyebrows furrow even deeper as he cocks his head. “He what?”

I don’t think I could be more embarrassed than I am right now.

Ethan and Ben start explaining that they had no choice, they had to kick the guy’s ass. I swear to God it’s like we’re kids again only now their voices are so much deeper as they speak over one another.

Dad growls, “What’s his name, first and last, and where does he live? I’m taking my car. You all go with Ethan and lead me there. I have some calls to make and I want to be alone for that.”

Okay, things just got weird.

Eleven minutes later we’re all outside Joe’s door, Dad knocking on it with the heel of his shoe so hard he cracks the wood. Joe and his buddies appear, all bruised up. The one who pulled a gun on us is gaping at my famous father.

“It’s this one, isn’t it?” Dad demands, jogging a thumb at Joe.

Sofia mutters, “Wonder how he knew.”

Appalled I shout at her, “Because he’s the one who isn’t ugly!”

My cousins snort.

Joe’s friends glare at me.

But Joe? He’s fucking terrified.

“Mr. Cocker.”

“Call me Senator Cocker you piece of shit. Let me get something straight. Did you have sex with my daughter?”

“No, sir, I would never touch your daughter.”

Dad sneers at Joe’s lying face and asks me. “Did you have sex with this kid? This guy is beneath you.”

Bulldog’s pissed I called him ugly so he grunts, “He was on top of her.” Dad punches him, sending the guy flying back into the house. Just one clean punch that happened so fast we’re all reminded where we get our tempers.

Joe has daddy issues, too. My daddy.

He’s backed up against the wall with fear in his eyes.

“So you are honored that someone as incredible as my daughter takes you to bed, and you call her a slut? What the fuck is wrong with you? What year is this? I thought slut-shaming died a decade ago? How ‘bout you apologize to her.”

The gnat pulls out his phone and starts recording.

Ben warns a deep and rumbly, “Uh, Uncle Justin…”

Dad glances over. He snatches the phone and tosses it to Ben. “Smash it.” Then he cocks his head at Joe and waits while my cousin crushes the cell with a couple heavy foot stomps.

Joe blinks toward me. “I’m sorry, Hannah.”

I stop chewing my lips to say, “Thank you.”

He nods. Funny thing is, he means it.

My father just hit a chord in Joe.

Which feels pretty fucking good.

Dad inhales and goes to leave. But then his torso twists around and he knocks Joe to the ground with one punch, too. Only Joe’s still conscious and groaning in pain. This hasn’t been his day.

“You ever see her in public, hide. Watch yourself, Joe Laroby, because I called some people and your social media accounts are being watched. You try a smear campaign against my daughter and your reputation will be ashes before you even check for likes. I also found out your names.” He points to Bulldog who’s still out cold, and Gnat. “Dale Hooper and Leonard Feodor. Your accounts are being watched, too. Anything comes up about my daughter or my family, you will regret it.”

“Jeezus, he just threatened us,” Gnat mutters, shocked. “Like the mafia.”

Ethan growls, “You’re high. Go back inside, fool.”

We can all smell the pot. They must have lit up as soon as the cops left from asking them questions.

Dad grabs my elbow, my cousins following us away from the house.

Emma glances back. “Uncle Justin, I think you just made Joe wish he had you for a father.”

“Joe can go fuck himself from now on,” Dad mutters. “Hannah, choose better. Look at this place. Do they even mow the lawn?”

He motions for Emma and me to get into his Tesla. He’s wordlessly saying playtime with our cousins is over, and I feel ridiculous.

She and I mumble goodbyes to Ben and Ethan, and Sofia waves at me like I might not see her again for a long time. She’s about to go back on the road where she belongs. I’ll miss her so much, I run over and give her a big hug.

“I love you, Soph!”

“Love you too, Hann! Bye Uncle Justin.”

“Tell your father what happened today,” he smirks. “Tell him I said he wouldn’t have done a better job.”

She grins at him. “Oh, I will.”

Emma’s in the backseat waving to everyone. She and Sofia blow kisses to each other while I’m in awe of my father because today, despite the fact that I’m a grown woman, I don’t mind being treated like daddy’s little girl.

Deep in our hearts we girls all need our fathers to protect us.

This same night, when Emma’s asleep in her room and I’m trying to sleep but can’t, a text comes through. At first I’m afraid it’s from Joe, that he might be that sadistic, but when I see Sofia’s name I sit upright and read:

I’m outside. Be quiet and let me in.

After tiptoeing through the apartment I slowly open the door and whisper, “Hi!”

That mischievous smile we all have appears, and her grey eyes glimmer as she whispers, “I have a proposition for you. Come with me on the road.” She holds up a wallet.

“What’s that?”

“I picked Joe’s pocket after I kicked him.”

My eyes widen. “How did none of us see that?”

“You need to get out of Atlanta. You’re a caged wild child, Hannah Cocker. I say, no more.” She hands me a shiny, black helmet. “Bought this for you today. It’s your key to freedom.”