My yell must have called in the reinforcements, as I heard Harper say from behind me. “Phoenix, please.”
“Yes, please. Calm down.” Summers replied, holding up his hands in a gesture to match his words. He did a double-take between Harper and me. “Sorry, who are you?”
I bit back my rude retort. “I’m Harper. You need to lower your voices,” she explained as she came further into the room. “You’re upsetting Alex.”
“Whose Alex?” Summers bit out, jamming a hand through his hair.
My mother’s shoulders stiffened, “My son—myotherson.”
“And nothing to do with you,” I spitefully added. My father’s eyes were hard on mine, pinning me to the spot, like I wasn’t the injured party there. The tension rippled in the room as Harper came to my side, placing a hand on my arm. This caused me to drop my hands to my sides.
“Are you OK?” she whispered, and I glanced down. I was far from OK, but I didn’t want to take out my black mood on her.
Swallowing, I dashed a hand down my face and nodded.
Forever the diplomat, Summers held up his hands again and said, “Look, I think we all need to calm down. I’m as shocked as you are, but could I suggest that we discuss this like civilized human beings?”
“Oh, I’m far from feeling civilized.” I reared back and then turned my venom on my mother.
“So, it’s true. This is thedangerousman who fathered me?”
“Dangerous?” I heard the mayor echo, but I wasn’t listening to him.
Luna took a step towards me. “Yes. He’s your father, Phoenix.” Her eyes took in every feature on my face, and my cheeks felt warm.
“What?” I snapped, feeling self-conscious.
Her eyes widened. “Now that you’re here together, I can’t believe how similar you are. You both have the same eyes.”
“Well, at least he gave me something.”
I noticed how pale my father’s good-looking face was. Those eyes she mentioned now shuttered, his chest rising and falling as I added. “I don’t care. It doesn’t matter now.”
Dominic Summers’ eyes shot open, and he slid further around the desk, placing a hand on the surface, almost as if to steady himself.
We both jumped as a beeping sound came through the phone, an alarm to state it was off the hook. I watched as my father leaned down and picked it up from the floor, carefully placing it back on the desk before he said. “I understand why you’re upset, and I’m sorry, but I am still processing the news myself. There are reasons why I did what I did back then, and I can explain them. But for now, could I suggest that we call a timeout? Sleep on it, calm down, and get our heads straight? You should come by the house tomorrow, both of you.”
“What’s the point?” I sniped.
“Please, Phoenix. At least give me a chance to explain.” At those words, he made a move to get into my space. Not a good idea. “Please, son,” his voice was distorted as he saidthatword again.
Thankfully, living with Ma and my brothers had taught me some self-restraint. The woman I called mother embodied those values in me that helped me to fight without using my fists. However, kicking the shit out of someone who deserved italwayshit the spot. “I suggest you stay away from me.” The man stopped, the desk bumping the backs of his thighs. I twisted my head towards Luna and emphasized. “Bothof you. Or who knows what could happen.”
My father blanched, his cheeks turning red. “What do you mean?”
I held his gaze, wanting to draw his agony out. My threat may have been silent, but it was there in the way I watched him with a slight smirk on my lips. If news of my parentage were to get out, the mayor could probably kiss his next campaign goodbye. I imagine his elected officials wouldn’t embrace the news that the man they held in such high regard was a cheating scumbag. And one that embraced abortion, too!
“We’re done here.”
“Phoenix!”
“Let him go, Dominic,” I heard my mother whisper. Her use of his first name added fuel to my fire, and I made sure she knew that as her comment snatched my focus. Luna swallowed, torn between confusion and despair. Her eyes were burning right through me, but I didn’t care. Neither she nor the man who sired me could hurt me now. At least, that’s what I told myself. As I turned away, there was a flicker inside me, like a match being struck in a darkened room, but I kept going.
I knew I needed to keep a cool head, and the only way to do that was to get out of there. Spinning on my heel, I grabbed Harper’s hand and tugged her from the room, slamming the door and not looking back. Her palm was so small in mine, but the amount of support I felt zapping through it was calming. She was shakenup but wasn’t scared for herself. I knew that straight away as she motioned towards my little brother.
Alex had tears in his eyes as he stood nervously bouncing from foot to foot, and I knew I needed to rein it the fuck in.
“What’s happening?” he asked, taking a step forward.
