Page 163 of Vile Boys

My father chuckles awkwardly.

“I’m sure,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“Excuse me, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,” the man says, holding out his hand to me. “Wayne Ferry.”

I glance at his hand and then his face.

“No, thanks. I don’t shake the hands of murderers.”

His face contorts into complete and utter shock, and to my delight, I find myself laughing.

“Ares!” my father barks.

“Are we done here?” I ask as I get up from my seat. “I have things to do.”

“Yes, I am,” Wayne says, shaking his head. “I’m done here. I’ll see myself out.”

“Apologies, Wayne,” Father says as he follows him out the door. “I am trying to involve my son in the business side of things. It’s notgoing as smoothly as I’d hoped. I do hope you’ll forgive his brazenness.”

“I’ll think about it,” Wayne says, throwing me a snooty look.

“You’ve done it now,” Kai whispers to me.

“Shut the fuck up,” I growl back.

He shrugs as Dad closes the door again.

“Ares … That was uncalled for.”

“I don’t know why you keep wanting me at these meetings when you have him,” I say, nodding at Kai.

“Because you’re my son, and I’m the man who owns this company that provides the wealth you indulge yourself in,” he says, still holding the doorknob. “You’d do well to remember that.”

“You should try not to piss off his clients,” Kai whispers. “Even the fucked-up ones.”

“They aren’t fucking clients. They’re drug-dealing murderers who are using Dad’s customers to earn blood money.”

“Ares,” my father hisses.

“No, I’m not gonna sit here and pretend they’re esteemed businessmen when all they are is petty criminals.”

My father slams the light switch. “ARES! How many times do I have to tell you to fucking behave?” His nostrils flare. “One fucking day in the week. You couldn’t give me one day of your obedience.”

“I am not your fucking pet,” I growl back.

“You’re my fucking son, and I expect you to act like it.”

“Right …” I scoff. “The same way you’ve been behaving as a proper dad, you mean?”

“Fuck,” Kai grits. “For fuck’s sake, just apologize and be done with it.”

“No.”

I’m not going to sit here and pretend we’re holy when we’re not.

“You already made up your mind,” I tell my dad. “You don’t need me here.”

When I get up, he growls, “Sit. Down.”

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