“It’s not your job to save her.” Reid frowns. “She’s the parent. It was her job to protect you.”
I shoot him a dark look. “She did the best she could.”
And I won’t sit here and listen to anyone talk shit about my mom.
“I didn’t mean to imply otherwise,” he says, throwing up his hands in self-defense. “But she’s an adult. She has to make her own choices. Just like you and Quinn.”
My temple throbs at the mention of her name.
“Leave Quinn out of this. She has nothing to do with my family situation.”
“Bullshit.” Reid scoffs. “Based on what I saw yesterday, she has everything to do with it.”
No. I won’t allow her to get tangled up in my father’s web. Inmyweb.
Like father, like son.
The only thing yesterday proved is that DeLaurentis men are only good for one thing: destruction.
I got lucky yesterday. If anyone else had witnessed the fight with my father, I’d have been benched and it would’ve been a matter of time until the media picked up the story.
Hitting my father was reckless. That loss of control could’ve cost me everything.
Then again, maybe it did.
It sure as hell feels that way right now.
Reid leans back in the chair, studying me like he’s trying to break down a defensive play. “If Quinn has nothing to do with your family situation, then why did you break up with her?”
Shame scorches a blistering trail up my spine at the memory of our heated exchange.
“You were there. You saw what happened.”
“What I saw was you breaking up with a woman who clearly cares about you. And even though you cut her off at the knees, she still showed up when you needed her.”
That’s not how it was. I wasn’t trying to cut her down. I was trying to protect her.
“She could’ve been hurt,” I bite out. “I don’t need that shit on my conscience.”
If I hurt Quinn… Just the prospect has my throat closing up again.
You think words don’t hurt? She was wrecked yesterday.
Better my words than my fists.
“I grew up with a man who hit first and asked questions later,” I rasp, rubbing the back of my neck, which is hot and clammy. “When I was a kid, I never knew when the next beating would come or how severe it would be, only that it was inevitable. Just like I knew my mom would use her body as a shield, taking the brunt of my father’s rage.”
I pause, taking a sip of water to soothe my parched throat.
“It was fucking terrifying. I used to lie in bed at night wondering why no one else could see the monster behind the politician’s smile. Why only my mom and I had to face it. And when I was finally big enough to put a stop to it, when I could feel the rage boiling under my skin, I swore I’d never give in to the anger. I’d rather be alone than terrorize the people closest to me.”
It was a solid plan, too. I was perfectly content with one-night stands until I met Quinn.
She’d changed everything.
Made me think that just maybe I could be a better man than my father. Made me think I was capable of feelings other than misplaced anger.
Yesterday had shown me just how wrong I was.
