“I’m not your son.”
Robert’s eyes narrowed as he drew in a breath. “Like it or not, youaremy son, and this is your family. Youdon’t get to live under my roof, eat my food, and enjoy my education, then get up and leave. It doesn’t work like that.” He leaned forward, resting on his arms. “Since I do understand you are officially a man, I am willing to grant you more freedom. I will speak with Trevor about backing off with his silly games, and I will speak with Kim about taking a break from her exhausting parties.” He smiled. “God knows I’m also fed up with those. You may return to your old room, and—”
“This is not a negotiation. I’m leaving.”
“Daniel, you are not leaving this house.”
He reached into his jacket and placed his ankle tracker on the table. He had found a way to deactivate it by watching a tutorial online when Trevor forgot to lock his laptop.
Robert eyed the tracker, the anger in his eyes glowing brighter by the second.
“Before you think of trying anything, I have someone waiting outside to pick me up,” Daniel said, proud of himself for withstanding Robert’s chilling glare. “If I’m not out in five minutes, she’ll call the cops. Even your friends at the sheriff's office won’t be able to help you; kidnapping is kidnapping.”
Robert glanced at the family portrait that hung on the wall. Daniel stood in the middle of it, surrounded by the monsters he was never going to see again.
Robert quietly said, “You are my greatest achievement. I have two failed sons; I can’t haveanother one.”
“You won’t. I never have been, or ever will be, your son.”
“Daniel, please.”
Robert had never seemed more human than he did at that moment. Daniel hardened his heart and tightened the walls protecting it. “You and your family aresick. Every one of you. Don’t ever try to find me.”
He got up and walked out of the office, his heart thumping in his ears. The three other Mitchells were waiting outside. By their intense looks, he assumed that they had heard at least part of the conversation.
Kim took a step toward him. “Daniel, honey, don’t be rushed. It’s a tough world outside, and you have everything here.”
He walked past her, not even wasting a glance. A bag of his things was hidden behind the couch in the living room, but Robert had been right in saying that those didn’t belong to Daniel. He would leave here with nothing but the clothes on his back, and if needed, he’d walk out buck naked. The only thing he would never leave behind was his childhood photos, tucked in his back pocket.
“Stop him!” Robert’s booming voice echoed between the tall walls.
In a heartbeat, Daniel sprinted toward the entrance. He almost made it past the living room when Trevor tackled him down to the ground.
“Let go!”
Andy hurried to pin down his legs.
“Kim, bring the syringe,” Robert said. “Don’t be cheap with the doses.”
“No!”
Kim hurried away, and Robert strode toward the entrance door. “Hold him down, you two. I have a nosy bitch to pay off.”
“Trevor, let go!”
“Not gonna happen, Danny boy. Calm down and let Robert take care of your mess.”
They held him tight enough to bruise. He should have never risked speaking with Robert, but he’d wanted to make him understand that it was over, and that they should never try to find him.
Robert stepped outside and shut the door behind him.
“Trevor, stop. You can’t keep me here!”
“Watch me.”
“Daniel, please don’t leave us,” Andy whined. “I’ll miss you!”
He kept trying to break free and call for help, exhausting himself but unwilling to give up so close to freedom. The sound of Kim’s approaching footsteps froze his blood. He gingerly looked up and almost fainted at the sight of the syringe in her hands.
