Page 6 of More Than A Feeling

I looked my father in the eye. "I'm upset too, Daddy."

"As you should be since you caused this. First, you should've stayed away from Callum, which you didn't do, and now you're trying to cause trouble between him and Sabine. She's his family. He has every right to take care of her," Dad thundered.

"As he should." I stood and walked to the front door. Enough was enough—it was time to let them all go. Callum. Dad. Mom. Sabine. None of them were good for me.

“I have a meeting in five minutes, Dad. So….” I held the door open.

My father looked shocked. I always just sat and took it, but I was tired of being beaten down by the people who were supposed to love me.

"We're not done talking." He made no effort to move, and I knew he was pulling the Alpha male move that Callum liked so much as well. He wanted to show me he was in control, and he'd decide when he'd leave.

"We are done." I kept my voice low and clear. "Now, leave. And don't come back."

That did get his back up, and he rose, his face a mask of rage. "What did you say?" He stalked up to me, his height, his demeanor, all of it threatening.

Daddy was a bully. He was famous for being that in court and with his adversaries. He never hit me—but he raised his voice plenty, and as a child, I'd been afraid of him. Now, I was out of fucks.

"I said, leave and don't come back," I repeated, not bothering to look away from his contorted face.

"Young lady, if you think you can treat your father—"

"Get. Out." I looked at my watch to let him know that this conversation was indeed over.

"You're not my daughter any longer," he shouted.

"I never was, Daddy," I murmured.

He sneered. "You think you can survive without us?"

How dare he!

"I've been living my life without y'all for years now," I snapped. "I don't need you at all. None of you. So, maybe it's time we stay the fuck away from each other."

Dad took a step toward me, his hand raised, and I held my ground. If this was the first time he'd hit me, it was the last he'd ever lay his eyes on me.

"Brian," Callum's calm voice filtered through.

Dad lowered his hand and stared at the man he thought of as a son, confusion in his eyes. He couldn’t believe he’d let himself be goaded;oh yes, he’d blame me for his behavior.

"Fleur is no longer my daughter," he spat out and stormed away.

Callum looked at me and then at my father's retreating figure.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his face expressionless.

My heart was still pounding in my chest. "Yes."

No, I'm not fine. But I'm going to be without y'all. I think my life will be better once y'all stop eroding my confidence and heart with your callousness.

"I better check on Brian."

I scoffed and slammed the door shut. My father almost struck me, and the man I loved wanted to make sure my almost-abuser was alright.

I wasn't surprised. Callum would always choose everyone else but me. My family would do the same. Unfortunately, I had also been doing that—choosing others over myself. It was time to stop. It was time to start prioritizing me.

I locked my office door behind me, used my thumbprint, and did a retina scan to get into my computer.

I was working on a project for the DOD, and it was proving to be a right bastard. It was hard work, but my team and I had done more complicated projects. Since we were spread out around the world, my company, BRT Systems, had helped to create secure home offices for us.

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