The Vipers won only because of Kane and Jude. Preston had one of his worst performances of the season. Yes, I watched a replay.
Not that my performance was top-notch, but I at least used the opportunity to blow off steam.
And now, I have to deal with Dad on top of everything that prick Preston has done.
“Hey.” Mom snaps her fingers in his face. “Don’t speak to him in that tone or threaten him under my roof, you hear me?”
“I’m only setting his expectations correctly.” Dad cocks his head to the side. “The only reason you still play hockey and live in this house in this rundown town is because I’m allowing you to finish your last year of college in peace. It’s by no means because I’m backing down due to your and Serena’s ridiculous attempts to outsmart me. I made both of you, remember?”
“You made nothing, asshole!” Mom shouts, pushing at his chest. “Leave him alone or I will strangle you.”
“I’ll walk you out, Dad.” I pull myself from Mom after patting her shoulder, then head toward the door, not waiting for him to follow.
He eventually does, and I close the door of the house and walk to his car.
The driver rushes out and opens the rear door, but Dad doesn’t get in. Instead, he dangles the soulless bike’s keys in front of my eyes.
I shove both hands in my pockets. “Take that bike with you.”
“I won’t use it to force your hand. You don’t have to worry. For now.”
“I’m still not interested.” I jut my chin toward the bike. “If you knew even the tiniest thing about my love for bikes, you’d realize I prefer ones with mechanical advancements that are meant to be ridden. This, on the other hand, is what a rich man thinks his son should want—status over substance.”
His expression is unchanging as he throws the keys on the ground. “Forget it if you don’t want it. You can have it totaled.”
“I’d appreciate it if you don’t show up here again.”
The corner of his lips lifts in that almost smile that he wears like a mask. “You can’t pretend I don’t exist forever.”
“I can try.”
“I’m your father, Marcus.”
“You didn’t seem to care about being my father that much when you had other male heirs.”
“It worked out well for you, no?”
“What?”
“You lived normally—as normally as one can in this ghetto.” He throws a look of distaste at the neighborhood.
All the rich people from godforsaken Graystone Ridge seem to think we’re pests they can just look down their noses at.
Dad.
Serena.
That motherfucker Preston.
“Would you have preferred I snatched you from your mother’s arms? Because I could’ve done that, and June couldn’t have stopped it no matter what she tried. You would’ve been brought up by an army of nannies and teachers and molded into whoever and whatever I wanted.” He stands taller. “The only reason you were raised by your mother is because Iallowedit.”
“Well, thank you for your sacrifice. It must’ve hurt to throw away the kid you never really wanted.”
“You’re welcome. I do expect to be paid back in full.” He steps toward the door, then pauses. “I have one piece of advice for you.”
“Do I have to hear it?”
“Stay away from Preston.”
