The problem was, he always brought that home. Happy to be judge, jury and executioner for his three biological sons.
Sons he ignored unless he had something negative to say to us. We were taking the wrong classes in school. Our grades weren't high enough. Why weren't we first string? Never a word of praise. Not one.
"I left her. I didn't leave you," Forrest argued.
"You left all four of us and we were better off for it," I snarled. "Now you're here to do what? Make amends? Try to be a father for a change? It's too late for that. I don't want anything to do with you. Neither does Cassius."
Forrest's expression hardened. "You don't get to decide that on his behalf."
"The hell I don't," I said. "I'm his older brother, it's my job to protect him from people like you. For the first time in his life, he's actually happy. If you go anywhere near him, I'll personally rip your fucking head off."
If I didn't, I knew a few people who would.
Forrest scoffed. "Cassius is my son. If I want to see him, and communicate with him, I will."
I scoffed back. "He doesn't want anything to do with you. What part about that do you not understand? It's very simple." In case he didn't get it through his thick skull, I laid it out for him.
"When you left, life was better. We don't want anything to do with you. Whatever you have to say, whatever you asked me to come here for, the answer is no."
I took a couple of harsh breaths, forcing oxygen in and out, trying to keep a level head. What would Boner say? He'd be cracking jokes right now. I didn't have that in me. Not today. Not sitting across the table from this asshole. I shouldn't have come. I should have deleted his message and moved on with my life.
The only problem with that? He would have found a way to see me. Men like him didn't take no for an answer. He'd even attended Harlow's special dinner last night. I'd watched him enter. I wanted to confront him. Tell him to stay away.
I knew Harlow was making sure Cass stayed in the kitchen or I would have. I'd kept my mouth shut. Last night wasn't the time to make a scene. I kept my peace and hoped like hell they didn't see each other.
As far as I could tell, they hadn't. Cass would have said something.
Shame Forrest wasn't gassed along with them. Hypnos would have done us a favor, tossing him into the vat.
Was it too late to tell Boner he should get himself the vat he was talking about? Maybe we could borrow the one Hypnos threw Harlow into?
What was I thinking? I'd seen them kill people. I'd killed one person in self-defense. Thinking about killing my father in cold blood?
It shouldn't have felt as right as it did.
I scrubbed a hand over my face.
"You haven't heard what I have to say yet," Forrest pointed out.
I should have told him to fuck all the way off, but something in his expression made me hesitate.
He saw it too. Bastard knew me too well.
"You may not find it as unsavory as you think," he said smoothly.
"Let me guess, you're here to offer me money?" I asked. "It doesn't matter how many zeros there are."
"I'm not here to offer you money. I know you won't take it. No, I'm here to offer you something much better. I'm going to give you an opportunity to help me."
I stared at him for a moment before laughing. "That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. How gracious of you toallowme to help you."
Was this dickhead smoking some wacky weed? What sort of offer was this?
"Always so ready to jump to conclusions." He rolled his eyes. "I should have enrolled you in gymnastics classes when you were a boy. You excel at twisting things inside out."
"You excel at being a shithead," I said, sounding petulant even to my own ears.
I would have enjoyed gymnastics. If he knew that, he wouldn't have enrolled me in it.
