Jared and I lock troubled eyes as he moves to his mom’s side and tries to comfort her. Gladys sobs into her son’s neck, clinging to him with a desperation that is not usual for the woman who has been a surrogate mother to me since my mother—her best friend—died ten years ago.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Dad’s cold tone sends chills creeping up my spine. “Now get out before I have you thrown out.”
Dirk and two other bodyguards come bounding into the room, positioning themselves in front of us and blocking my view of my boyfriend. Panic is doing a number on me, and I’m borderline hysterical wondering what this means for my relationship. This doesn’t seem like some spur-of-the-moment argument that will pass once everyone has calmed down.
This is serious.
Some real shit has happened, and I don’t think either man is going to back down.
“Escort the Kings off my property, and make it known to the full security detail that no King is allowed to ever step foot in here again.”
“But, Dad—”
“Quiet, Sydney,” he roars.
“Don’t you dare speak to her like that,” Jared says as I try to push past my father and the bodyguards to get to my boyfriend.
Dad tightens his grip on my arm, pinning me firmly to his side.
“Dad, ow. You’re hurting me.”
“Let her go!” Jared yells, shoving at the bodyguards as he tries to get through to me.
“Jared, no!” Gladys shouts. “Don’t make things worse.”
“This ends now,” Dad says in a clinical tone, staring coldly in my boyfriend’s direction. “You and my daughter are done.”
“What? No!” I cry, fighting to get out of his hold.
“Fuck you!” Jared shouts amid sounds of commotion as the bodyguards grab the Kings and start ushering them out of the room.
“Jared!” I call out, sobbing and thrashing around as my father slings his meaty arm around my waist and holds me tight.
“Syd!” Jared calls back as he’s dragged shouting from the room. “It’s not over! I love you!”
That’s the last thing I hear before they are physically removed from our house. My body sags against my father as all the fight leaves me.
“I mean it, Sydney,” my father says, spinning me around. “You are not to see that boy anymore. He’s no good for you. He never has been and especially not now.”
“Why, Daddy? What’s happened?”
“It’s grown-up business. Nothing to concern yourself with,” he says, ruffling my hair like I’m five years old again.
My anger spikes. “Itismy business if you’re keeping me away from the boy I love!”
His features soften as he loosens his tight grip on me. “It’s puppy love, Sydney, and you’ll get over it. You’ll have other boyfriends and other loves.”
“No.” I bite down hard on my lower lip, throwing every ounce of hate I’m feeling into the look I give my father. “I won’t have other loves. Jared is the love of my life, and you can’t do this to me.”
“You’re fifteen, Sydney! You have the rest of your life to find the love of your life,” he yells, letting me go to grab handfuls of his salt-and-pepper hair. “But mark my words, that man will not be Jared King. Over my dead body will my little girl get shackled to that family.”
“What have they done? At least let me try to understand it!” I holler. It’s a lie. I will never understand or accept it. If he does this, if he keeps Jared away from me, I will hate him for life. The second I’m eighteen, I’ll be out of here.
“It doesn’t concern you. All you need to know is they are dead to us.” Removing a handkerchief from his pocket, he dabs at the blood dripping from his nose and his lip. “I mean it, Sydney. Do not try to run around with him behind my back because I will know. I don’t want to punish you, but I will if I have to.”
Tears leak out of my eyes and pour down my face. “I hate you!” I yell. “I hate you so much, and I’ll never forgive you!” Running from the room, I vow to do everything in my power to fix this because I can’t live without Jared, and no one is going to make me.
* * *
