Page 12 of Reign of Psychos

“Double whiskey, no ice.”

“Anything for you, sir?” she asked, turning to my father with a hopeful smile, her avaricious little eyes fluttering over hisexpensive suit and designer watch. She was probably hoping he was in the market for a sugar baby.

“My father’s not staying. He needs to get back to hiswife,” I told her, ignoring his angry glare. She wilted with disappointment.

“Thank you, my dear, but my son is correct. I do need to depart shortly. Government business waits for no man.”

“Ooh, are you important, sir?”

Dad smiled; a practiced move designed to reel in impressionable young women. “Very.”

I rolled my eyes in disgust. Well, I’d tried. If the dumb bitch chose to get involved with him, it was her lookout.

“My drink, please,” I reminded Moira, and with one last giggle, she hurried away.

“Sweet girl,” Dad commented. “I do like the Irish accent. Reminds me of the nuns from my school days.”Ugh.

“She’s barely old enough to serve alcohol,” I replied, my voice laced with disgust.

But he ignored my jibe.

“I need you back on board, Cassian. You’re a part of the family business, whether you like it or not. This little…” He waved his hand dismissively. “…rebellionis over now. You had your fun. Now it’s time to return to the real world.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No. I’m an adult. I’ll do what I want.”

“Really? You’re willing to say goodbye to your sweet mother and never see her again? How sad for her. She’ll be so disappointed.”

“She was the one who told me to leave. Begged me to get the fuck away from you, actually.”

From the furious look on his face, he was unaware of that fact.

“She told me about grandma’s trust and gave me access to it.” I smiled. “So I’m not financially dependent on you anymore,old man.”

“Why you little shit!” He lunged at me and before I could react, his first was wrapped around my throat tight enough to cut off my oxygen. Younger me would have panicked. He’d done this many times over the years. Throttled me to within an inch of my life, beaten the shit out of me, and more.

But I was older, wiser, and more importantly, stronger.

One of his men rushed over to calm him down before he caused a scene, while the other ripped Moira’s phone from her hand and snapped it in half.

I broke my father’s chokehold and shoved him away, forcing a smile. “Careful, old man. Your popularity ratings would suffer if the press learned you were a domestic abuser. The Prime Minister wouldn’t be happy if that came out.”

He growled and kicked the small table between us. Our drinks tumbled off and smashed on the flagstone floor, sending splinters of glass flying everywhere.

“Sir,” his man said in a low voice. “We should leave. A group of people have just arrived for lunch.”

Dad inhaled and closed his eyes, trying to rein in his temper as I watched with amusement.

“Yes, you’re right. Have Collins bring the car around immediately and then call the pilot. I need to get back to London.” He turned to me and sneered. “I think I’ve wasted enough time on you already. You’re obviously too blind to see the opportunities you’re throwing away. What a pity it’s your mother who will suffer for your poor decision-making. Oh well.”

I made a move to punch him, but his man grabbed my wrist and shook his head in warning. It gave Dad enough time to move out of reach.

“Watch your back, Daddy dearest,” I warned in a low voice. “You might like to think you’re bulletproof, but trust me, you’re not.”

“You dare to threaten me?” His jaw dropped in surprise, but before I could respond, a group of chattering seniors swarmed through the double doors and headed our way, most likely to take up positions around the fireplace, where it was warmest.

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