Perfect.
My mother’s face drains of color. My father shows nothing at all. And Patrick Callahan looks ready to choke on his own tongue.
I smile wider.
Fuck them.
Henneman’s hand is shaking in mine. I let go, moving mine to the small of his back, steering him away from the podium as the press conference resumes. He looks like he might collapse, but I won’t let him.
When the conference ends, my parents storm out. A moment later, the security guard who nodded earlier walks up to me. “If you would come with me, sir.”
Henneman shifts his weight, rubbing the back of his neck. “I need to, uh, use the restroom.”
“Mr. Walsh wants to speak to his son only. You can meet him here when they’re done,” the security agent says, voice flat.
The man walks me down the hallway to a small conference room, blinds half-closed. My parents wait inside, looking murderous. I enter the room, hands in my pockets.
“Mr. Blake, see that we’re not disturbed,” my father says.
“Yes, sir.”
The door closes, and my father drops all pretense. “What the hell do you think you're doing?”
I straighten to my full height, meeting his glare. “Taking control of my life.”
My mother sneers, crossing her arms. “So you married that nobody?”
“Is that what bothers you so much,Mother?”
She cringes, hating the term, which is why I used it.
“You put this business in jeopardy. For what, a silly tantrum?” My father’s voice booms. “You agreed to marry Veronica.”
“I lied.”
The muscle near my father’s eye tics, then he closes the distance between us, the back of his hand cracking acrossmy face. My head snaps sideways, teeth cutting into my lip. Blood fills my mouth, a sharp ache spreading across my cheek and jaw.
Through the partially open blinds, I see Henneman in the hallway. He’s staring at me, eyes wide and mouth agape.
He saw.
Fuck.
He moves toward the door. But Blake cuts him off, standing too close. Way too close.
My nostrils flare, fists clenching. That security fuck better move.
Now.
But Henneman falters, retreating slowly until he’s out of sight.
I spit blood onto the expensive carpet and shift my attention back to my father. “Nice hit. Been a while.”
My mother clicks her tongue, eyes narrowed. “You're an embarrassment to this family.”
“Maybe you should’ve swallowed.”
Her eyes narrow even further. “Trust me, that’s exactly what I would’ve preferred.”
