“Pestering. I don’t need or want another father. The one I have does the job just fine,” she says.
“Really? Does he know you’re getting high before class? Wonder what Daddy would think about that, P.”
“Go ahead. Call him. Tell him. And I’ll be sure to tell him how much you’re bothering me. I’m certain his pigs could use some more protein.” She smiles at me.
It’s no secret what her father does at his ranch. My family has taken advantage of it over the years. There is no way Mr McKinley is turning me into pig food, though.
“I’m not scared of your dad, Zara.”
“Then you’re a fool,” she says.
“Are you?”
“A fool?” She shakes her head. “No.”
“Scared of your dad?” I’m digging. I want to know what the fuck happened to her, why she’s so fucking depressed all the time.
“Why would I be scared of my dad?” She looks confused.
I shrug. “Some people are afraid of their parents.”
“Right. Well, nice chat. Let’s not do this again,” she says, opening the door.
“Wait.” I reach out and grab hold of her arm. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t cower, nothing. She just looks… unaffected by my touch. But then I see the sharp intake of breath and the blush creeping up her neck. Interesting. “Why are you smoking weed?” I ask her.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s eight in the morning?” I remind her.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” she says.
“That’s not an answer. Why?”
“Why do you care?” She tugs her arm free and gets out of the car. “Leave me alone, Ares,” she says before slamming the door in my face.
I’m out and following her. It doesn’t take long to catch up. I throw my arm around her shoulder and glare at the assholes I notice watching her. A possessiveness washing over me that I’m not going to think too much about right now.
“I care because you’re family, P. And if something is wrong, I can help,” I tell her.
She pauses and looks over at me with her nose scrunched up. “We are not family.”
“Maybe not by blood, but our families are connected and you know it.”
“We’re not that close,” she insists.
“Wanna put a wager on it?” I ask her.
“What kind of wager?”
“I win, you have to tell me something about you no one else knows.”
“And if I win?” She quirks a brow.
“You won’t.” I pull out my phone and put the outgoing call on speaker.
“Ares?” Mum answers.
“Hey, Mum, can I bring Daniel to dinner tonight?” I ask.
