Page 73 of The Heir

I slipped past her and Oak, who refused to look at me, but shifted, giving me a large path to pass by him. Easy put his back to the wall and turned sideways to make way for me at the end of the hallway. When I reached the living room, my father was sprawled out on the couch with a smirk.

“Morning, pumpkin.” He winked, unmoved by Blaze’s announcement, or my choice of morning attire.

When the arguing in the back erupted into full-on shouting and screaming, I didn’t bother returning his greeting or waiting to get dressed, I walked my cover-clad ass out onto the porch. The screen door tapped behind me. I had a few breaths of fresh air, before it popped open again and my father ambled out to join me.

He fumbled with his cigarette pack and held it out toward me in a silent offer once he got it opened. I didn’t really care for cigarettes, but I didn’t have anything better to smoke, so I slid one out and stuck it between my lips.

“Are you guys serious or whatever?” he murmured, lighting his own before passing what might as well have been a miniature torch.

I lit my cigarette at an odd angle, trying to make sure his crack lighter didn’t take out my nose hair and exhaled a menthol cloud.

“March, did you really marry him?” he asked, a little quieter.

I gave a slow nod, unsure of how he would react. He didn’t have a chance before Crystal exploded on the other side of the screen door.

“What the fuck is that cocksucker doing here? Get the fuck out!” She charged toward the screen door and threw it open so hard it banged off my new house.

I stepped forward and my dad’s smile met his eyes.

“You okay?” I asked her, trying not to full-on confront her by asking if she had a fucking problem. Clearly, she did!

Her cold, blue eyes locked on me and her face skewed up, “Get that mother fucker out of my face.”

Blaze came storming into the room, grabbed her arm and tugged her backward.

“Hey!” Oak exploded, charging after him.

“No!” Blaze roared, turning on him. “Enough!”

Everybody stood quiet, staring at Blaze.

“Man, that’s her fucking dad!” he barked at Crystal. “How are you going to come to my house and tell my wife’s father he has to leave? Who the fuck are you?”

“You need to stop,” Oak rumbled. “That’s your mom, Blaze. That’s who it is, and you need to show some respect.”

“Fuck that.”

“Karlotti,” Crystal barked at her daughter. “Karlotti, get in the fucking car.”

Karlotti shot out the screen door, making herself as small as possible, drawing her shoulders in as she weaved between everyone and fled toward the vehicles.

“Play house, Blaze,” she clipped, looking him up and down like she was disgusted. “Play house and throw your fucking life away, son. It’s what you were raised to do.”

“Goddamn it,” Oak cursed in that heavy Georgia drawl when Crystal shoved my father out of the way and took off after her daughter.

He stepped outside, his jaw slack and his eyes wild. They landed momentarily on my father who shrugged in silent response.

“Goddamn it,” he simply repeated again before hanging his head and slightly shaking it. He trotted after his wife and daughter, leaving me to tremble while I sucked on my cigarette.

He gave a look over his shoulder to Blaze before hopping in the driver seat.

Blaze stood beside me; disbelief etched on his features as the car pulled away.

“You know, I kind of felt bad that she wasn’t there yesterday–” he started before scoffing and spitting over the ledge. “Fuck her.”

“Blaze,” Easy demanded his attention effortlessly.

When Blaze locked eyes with him something silently passed between them that left Blaze jerking his gaze away and lowering it.

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