I know what I need to do, so I nod at Les, and she picks up her phone, dialing Micah. “We’re getting ready, and then we’ll be there. Make sure he doesn’t leave.” She flicks the phone over to the speakerphone, and you can hear yelling in the background.
“Will you shut the fuck up?!” Micah yells. “Jesus Christ, you crazy bastard! He’s on his way.” He takes a breath. “Make it quick. He’s drunk as hell.”
“Got it,” Les disconnects the call and looks at me again. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” I answer, running my fingers through my hair. “Let’s go.”
We all splitto take showers and get dressed then meet back in the garage fifteen minutes later. Sliding into Ryder’s Explorer, Les sits between Leo and me, squeezing my thigh in support. Zane got up front with Ryder, with Dex sliding in behind us. Holden deciding to stay home.
When we pull in front of Maximus, my heart is thumping, and I feel like I’m going to puke. Ihatemy dad, and I don’t like that he chose now to blow back into town.
“We can drive right back home,” Ryder offers, looking at me in the rearview mirror. “Micah will gladly kick his ass back to wherever he came from.”
I almost take him up on his offer. “Nah. I need to do this.”
“We’re here for you,” Les reminds me. I get out of the car with my family at my back.
Tucking her hand into mine, I push open the door and can already hear my dad yelling.
“Where is he?” Dad slurs. “You said he was on his way.”
“He is, you piece of shit,” Micah grits out. “Sit down.”
My dad catches sight of me. “Look who decided to show,” he sneers.
“What do you want, Dad?”
He waves his hand behind me, pointing out my family. “What’s with the backup? Still scared of dear old dad?” He laughs obnoxiously, making me grit my teeth. Once upon a time, I was scared ofhim. Les squeezes my hand, reminding me I’m not scared of him anymore.
“Answer my question. What do you want?”
Ryder, Zane, and Dex spread out behind us, pushing in closer to Dad in case this goes sideways like it always does. Dad watches them with narrowed eyes, then down at my hand in Les’. “Does that mean you don’t take dick up the ass anymore?” I feel Leo’s hand slide against my back subtly, reminding me he’s also here for me.
“What. Do. You. Want?” I grind out.
“I need money.” He waves his hand around, making him stagger. “You owe me.”
“For fucking what?” Les asks.
“For dealing with his shit!” Dad yells, making Les stand up even straighter.
“He’s your son,” Les hisses.
“Not by my choice. If it were up to me, I would have aborted his dumbass,” Dad cackles again.
I roll my eyes. “I’m not giving you shit, so you might as well fucking leave.”
Dad ignores me and asks Les, “What’s a girl like you doing with a guy like him? It won’t take long until you get tired of his shit too.”
My heart sinks; he just spoke about the very insecurity I’ve always had. Eventually, everyone will leave, unable to deal with my fucked up brain and constant mood swings, just like he beat into my head foryears.
Les drops my hand, stepping forward. “Because, unlike you, I love Gage. You have no fucking clue what you missed out on while he was growing up. How fucking smart he is. How much he loves.Mydad and Rocco raised him; he’smyfamily. Nothing will ever change that, so go spill your hateful bullshit somewhere else.” She steps back to me. “In short. Get fucked, Connor.” Dad’s face turns an unhealthy shade of purple, and I have to choke back a laugh.
His eyes swing to Leo, standing close behind me. I know Dad’s figured out who Leo is to me. “Save it,” Leo snorts. “I don’t give a fuck what you say about me, but you won’t say them about Gage. He’s ten times the man you’ll ever fucking be.”
I don’t think they will ever realize how much I needed to hear that.
“Dad. Leave town and stay away. I’m not giving you money,” I laugh. “I don’t even know why the fuck you thought I would.”
