Page 54 of Hollyhocks

I’m lost in the hatred burning in his eyes.

“Get the fuck out of my house,” his father seethes. “And take my whore of a daughter with you.”

“Gladly. I’ll give her the life you never could. I’ll give her a life full of everything you emotionally are unable to give.”

“Wait. Wait! No, let’s…let’s talk about this. There must be an agreement we can all come to.” His mother wipes her palms on her white skirt as she stands. She walks around the coffee table, placing herself between Fitz and his father.

He looks just like her. The same color hair, eyes, and freckles. It’s obvious they are mother and son.

“We can… we can get Heather’s issue taken care of. Then, we can be a family again.”

From the shadows, I watch Fitz’s face turn from hatred to disgust. He steps away.

“Fitsgerald, please—” his mother tries to reach for him, but he shrugs off her attempt.

“You two are monsters. How dare you talk about that without Heather in the room? That isn’t your decision to make.”

“The hell it isn’t my decision,” his father bellows, tucking his hands in his pockets. He turns around, strolling the bar at the other end of the room. The walking dead man pours himself two fingers of scotch, downing it in one swallow beforepouring another glass. “She’s a minor. I’ll find a doctor to do it. Everyone can be bought for the right price.”

“I’m not doing that. I’m not gettingrid of my baby.”

Fitz rushes to Heather’s side, taking her bags. “No, they aren’t. If that’s not what you want, that’s fine, Heather. That’s okay. You aren’t alone. You have me.”

“I want my baby, Fitz.” Heather’s bottom lip trembles as she tries to hold in her emotions. “I know—” she swallows “—I know I messed up. I know I got pregnant too young. I know that. I—”

“—Who is the father? Certainly not that boy who helps his father with the garden,” Their mother asks with a laugh.

Heather doesn’t look away ashamed. She stands tall and proud.

Good for her.

“So what if he is? He is nice. He loves me,” she says.

“What the fuck do you know about love?” his father roars, stomping his way across the living room to confront her. “He got what he wanted stupid girl. He wanted an easy piece of ass, and he got it. Why do you think he hasn’t been around?” He raises his hand to slap her when Fitz steps in front of her, taking the hit.

A tear rolls down my cheek, debating if I should continue to invade such a private dream. I can’t seem to stop when it comes to my mate. I want to know everything. He didn’t deserve any of this and neither did Heather.

There’s a malicious glint in his eye as he takes a swig of scotch.

“What did you do, Dad?” Heather questions in a horrified whisper. “What did you do to him!” She screams, trying to push Fitz out of the way.

“He’ll never be a problem again. You’ll get an abortion. You and your brother will stay here. We will be a family. Fitz you’ll be the heir to the company. That’s the plan.”

“Fuck you and your plan.” Fitz becomes nose-to-nose with his dad. “We’re leaving. You have no heirs. Not anymore.”

His Dad punches Fitz again, the skin-to-skin contact has me gasp when a burst of blood flies from my mate’s mouth through the air. Fitz laughs, spitting blood on the ground.

“Is that all you’ve got? I’ve taken better hits from my girlfriends.”

I growl, not liking that mention. Now isn’t the time or place for jealousy.

His father hits him again.

And again.

“Stop it! Stop, you’re going to kill him!” Heather sobs.

Fitz takes hit after hit until he can no longer stand, falling to his knees only to receive a hard kick in the gut.

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