We stare each other down for a few seconds before he finally erupts in a sigh.
“Let me help you, Sunny.”
“Oh my God.” I laugh. “Why does everyone suddenly want to help me?”
“Because you’re obviously hurting to be lashing out like this,” he points out.
“Why do you care?” I spit. “No one has ever cared what happens to women like me.”
“That’s not true. We’ve always cared about everyone in the entire family.”
“Oh, so that’s why you lot all decided to try to kill each other last year,” I rebuke.
He bites his bottom lip, clearly annoyed. “That was a different dispute.”
“I was there,” I say. “I should know.”
“We both know the violence that runs through our veins,” he says. “But to kill and leave bodies strewn about the entire city is a one-way ticket to jail.”
“Is that a threat?”
He slams his hand down on the desk. “Dammit, Sunny, why do you think everyone is constantly trying to fight you? We are not your enemy.”
My jaw tightens, and I feel an inkling of a tear forming in my eye, but I push it away.
I do not fucking cry, not for anyone, let alone my uncle.
“Then why does it feel like that?”
His face softens, and he leans back to rub his forehead. “Sometimes I feel like I’m no better than any of the previous deans. Or a good uncle.”
Wow. I did not ask for a therapy session, but I guess we’re going with it now.
“I do notwantto be stern. I fucking hate it,” he continues. “But I have to protect people, and that includes you, even from yourself.”
“And what about me? When do I get what I want?” I ask.
He focuses on me again. “What do you want, Sunny? Does killing all these people solve your problems?”
“I didn’t say I was the killer.”
“Hypothetically then.”
I keep my mouth shut.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me.”
“It could be anyone,” I reply.
“I already spoke with everyone, including Silas. He swears it wasn’t him.”
I keep staring at him. I don’t care if he wants to play this game. I’m not going to admit to it out loud. Not yet, anyway.
“And like I said, you believe him, not me,” I say. “Because he’s your son.”
“Because he knows lying to me will only get him into more trouble.”
“We’re not fucking kids,” I spit back.
