Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
"Hmm," he says and spits blood at my feet. "Did someone grow some balls while I was away?"
I know this game all too well. He’s baiting me, trying to draw me out, like he always does. My father waves the guards back and walks toward me, each step bringing him deeper into my space. "You might be the big man on campus, but I rule here, in the real world."
Before he can say anything else, I slug him again, this time right across the cheek. I feel the deep ache in my knuckles, letting me know I’ve probably fractured something, but I don’t even care. It feels good to see that flash of anguish overtake his face, even if it’s for a mere second. That anguish morphed into fear that soon becomes anger, that’s red hot matching my own.
He strikes back, planting his fist right in my gut, and I double over, trying to hold myself upright. Damn. I always forget how fucking fast he is. Just once, I want to be stronger, smarter, better than him.
Once I can draw breath into my lungs again, I stand fully, my fists curled. "What do you want? Or is this just you proving a point, beating on me because you can?"
He grasps the bottom of his jacket and jerks it straight. "Maybe a little of both. Maybe you piss me the fuck off when you open your mouth, Drew. If I want to hear your opinion, it'll be with my gun on your tongue. Are we clear?"
Something in me wants to dare him to do it. End this little back-and-forth between us once and for all. Seb, even if he hates me, would make sure my father sees justice if he kills me. At least, I think he would. Bel certainly would.
I don't answer, and my father steps closer, getting in my face. "Are we clear?"
"If you want me dead, then fucking kill me, but we aren't doing this anymore."
His eyes are slits, and his spittle hits my face as he whispers low and fierce, "We will do anything I damn well want to do. I'll lay you down right here, shoot you in the head, and put you in a bed just like your mother. Keep you alive with absolutely no control, no care except my mercy. How would you like that?"
I shrug, even as my heart hammers into my ribs. "I'd rather be dead if it's all the same to you."
His arm pulls back, and his fist comes flying through the air. This time, I block it with my palm, catching it midair. Air stirs at my back, the guards rushing forward, but my father waves them away. We stare each other down, and he must see something on my face because for the first time I can remember, he takes a step back from me.
There’s so much power in that one single move. I can barely keep my breathing in check while I wait to see if he's going to try to fuck with me again.
"Get the fuck off the grounds. You can come back for the meeting, as required, but I don't want to see you again. You're also banned from seeing your mother. If you show up here, security will toss you out. You have no business seeing to her care when I'm here. You want to be the big man and make the choices, you’ll do it over my dead body."
I chuckle. "I guess we'll see how long it is until you decide to up and leave again, chasing another little piece of tail."
His eyes are dark and malicious as he waves to the guards. "Get him the fuck out of my house." He pins me with another glare. "Let's see how your mother fares under this new spine of yours, shall we?"
The guards seize me, and I thrash, but there are two, then four, as they pretty much carry me out of the medical suite and outside to the driveway. The cool air hits my skin, and I fly through the air, landing on my ass on the pavement. I'm back up in seconds, watching as they retreat into the mansion.
I try to make sense of everything that just happened, but I can’t wrap my head around it. Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life, leaving my mother’s already fragile life in his hands entirely? I have no idea, but I do know that my time to kill him is dwindling. I need a plan, but I have few allies and even fewer people willing to go against my father. All I need is one person, though, and I have an idea of who I should ask. I just hope he says yes.
18
BEL
Since I was little, the library is the one place that had the power to calm me. All my worries and fears vanished when I thought of visiting. We never had a lot of money, but the library didn’t cost anything, and there was no price to be put on the distraction and enjoyment I’d get from falling into a new book.