Page 34 of If You Fight

So I turned and began walking toward the door. “Goodbye, Dad.”

I took two steps before he gave in to my bluff. “I won’t stop him from being with you, but he answers to me. He stays as one of my men.”

The slight shaking in his voice told me he believed he could lose both me and Ryder if he didn’t agree to us together, but I still worried about what he’d do in retaliation to the man I loved. My father didn’t give in easily, so he must have something on his mind that could hurt Ryder.

I slowly turned around and tilted my chin up. “He’s never to be hurt again. If he is, I swear to God my leaving will be the least of your problems.”

The crocodile smile returned, like he’d won something in our test of wills. I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time we faced off like this, but for now, I’d take what I’d gotten.

He took another sip of his drink and folded his arms across his chest. “You’re so much like your mother, Serena. Everything is about love. I’d hate to see your life turn out like hers.”

I knew a threat when I heard one, but Ryder wasn’t like my father and I wasn’t like my mother.

“Janelle is more like Mom, to be honest. I think I’m more like you, Daddy. In fact, if I were you, I’d worry about that.”

His smile faded away, and I left him sitting behind his desk as he opened up his laptop again. Ryder and I had won. For now. But I wasn’t a fool. Good rarely won out over evil in Robert Erickson’s world.

I knew that all too well.

But as I walked back to Ryder’s apartment, my hands shaking after all that had happened, I swore my father wouldn’t do to me what he’d done to my mother and sister.

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