My father stares at me from the doorway. “Get up,” he grits out as calmly as he can.
I lift my hands up from the table and jangle my chained wrists as loudly as possible. “No can do, Maxwell,” I say, biting out his name. “Cops cuffed me. It was real embarrassing. Pretty sure someone might have caught it on camera too. Sorry about that. Hope no one shows Grandma.” I fake grimace, knowing how much shit he’ll get from the old witch.
He tries to hide it, but I see the spark of anger behind his eyes as he turns to the female officer next to him. “Get those goddamn cuffs off him now!” he bellows.
“I’d watch your tone, Mr. Gunner. I’m not one of your employees you can just order about,” she snaps before stepping away from him.
“No? Because I’m certain the healthy contribution the Gunner Foundation makes to this precinct every year means I get to do just about anything I want. Now, get those cuffs off him.” As usual, even though his tone is sharp and dangerous, he’s calm and composed.
The officer is calm and composed, and probably would have been pretty if it weren’t for the uptight look that graces her face every time she glances at me. She comes toward me quickly, pulling out the key and leaning over so she can uncuff me from the table. She’s close to me, and I make a point of taking a deep breath as she gets even closer.
“Well, don’t you smell fucking delicious, officer,” I say into her ear. Her hands still momentarily before continuing. “I’d love to have you across my knee,” I say as she finally unlocks the cuffs and stands back up, her cheeks burning bright red.
“Iwilltaser you,” she says through clenched teeth. “In the balls.”
The comment makes me bark out a laugh. “Promises, promises.”
“Samuel,” Maxwell warns.
I’m still only wearing my thin gym shorts and sneakers, my chest bare and bloody. My hands are still bandaged from the fight and blood is splattered across both of them. I look like shit, no doubt smell even worse, yet there’s no denying the look in her eyes right now.
I stand up, pushing my chair back, and move around her toward my father. He has his cell in his hand, tapping away at it impatiently, and glances up as I get closer to him.
“Look at the state of you, Samuel,” he bites out. “Have you no pride in yourself?”
I put a bloody hand to my chest. “Sorry, Maxwell, I didn’t quite hear that,” I mock, knowing how much he hates me calling him by his name, but I sure as shit am not about to call him father, and there isn’t a chance in hell I’m calling him sir.
The young police officer moves to my left. “There’s some paperwork left to fill out, then you’re free to go. I’ll meet you both by the front desk.”
Maxwell moves to one side as she leaves the room, but his eyes stay glued to me, his furious gaze burning into mine. I sigh and stretch my arms above my head.
“Come on. Let’s get going. I need a fucking shower before I head out tonight. I have a party to go to.”
Max grabs me, catching me by surprise, and slams me up against the wall so hard, the air gusts from my lungs. His fingers dig into the hard muscles of my shoulder as he stares darkly into my face, his rage matching my own.
“That’s the last fight you willeverbe in. Do you hear me now, son?”
“Not your son,” I grunt out.
“Oh, how I wish you weren’t my son, Samuel. If I could go back in time and choose her over you, I would. Be that as it may, it looks like, at least for now, we’re stuck with each other, so let me make something clear to you.”
The world blurs as my anger descends over me in a red mist.
I’m going to kill him.
I’m going to cut his fucking head off and shove it up his ass if he doesn’t get the fuck off me in about five seconds.
“You break my rules one more time and you’re done. I’m through with you,” he continues, oblivious to the fact that I’m an inferno ready to erupt and destroy him. “Your grandfather and grandmother are already through with you. In fact, let’s just say the entire family is through with you. All you have left is Sabella, and she just pities you.”
I glare back equally as hard, and he smirks at me before letting me go.
“You think you’re so smart, that you have everything under control.”
I shake my head. “I just don’t give a shit about your threats.”
“No?” he goads.
I shake my head. “No.”
