Page 72 of Cruel Vows

He smirks and gets in my face, the stench of stale beer on his breath. “Don’t pretend that you did that for me. You crave darkness as much as the rest of us. You like being in power.”

“When have I been in power my entire life?” Snorting, I turn and stride down the hall to the front door. “I’ve done nothing but what you’ve asked and look at where it’s gotten me.”

Dad’s heavy footsteps follow me down the hall. “You’re right about that. You’ve always been weak, no matter how strong I tried to make you. You’re never going to be the kind of man who can lead this family, and I’ve known that for a long time.”

“Maybe if you had tried acting like a father instead of beating the hell out of me every chance you got, I would have been a better son.”

“A better son?” He grabs my arm and throws me into the wall, his other hand planting in the center of my chest. “You wouldn’t have the first idea what to do.”

“I’ve been on my own forever, even living in this hell house. You turned your back on me, and you decided that I was nothing but a prop.”

“That’s all anybody is.” He pulls the knife from his pocket, holding it to my throat. “Your heart is racing. I bet Ellie’s was when she was attacked the first time. You didn’t even know there was something you could have done then.”

I wrap my hand around his, wrenching the knife away from my throat. “You can’t threaten me like you used to.”

“No, but I could threaten Ellie, couldn’t I?”

“Do it.” I push him back a step and he stumbles, his foot catching the edge of the carpet and his knee knocking into the hallway table.

He catches himself before he can fall over. “You think that you’re a big man for pushing your father?”

I bark out a bitter laugh. “Please, save the fucking theatrics.”

“You’re right. You always have loved fighting back. You know, you could have been a great assassin, but you let your sense of right and wrong get in the way.”

“Better than keeping a wall of trophies in my office.” I cross my arms, fuming as I look at him.

I never should have come over here.

Even though I knew this was only going to result in a fight, I did, I wanted to know the truth, and just like every other time we’re around each other in this house, we explode.

Dad stands up straight, adjusting the knife in his hand. “Get the fuck out of my house. You’re no longer welcome here.”

“Happily.” I storm through the rest of the hall, flinging open the front door so hard that it leaves an indent of the handle in the plaster wall.

He comes flying after me, shoving me off the porch. My foot catches on one of the steps and I sprawl on the ground, the cement not breaking my fall at all. A sharp pain radiates through my shoulder.

“Feel like a man now?” I ask as I get to my feet and roll my shoulder, easing some of the ache.

“You’re not to set foot on this property again. If you do, I’ll have you shot where you stand.” He crosses his arms, looking down his nose at me.

“Well, that would be one less problem for you to deal with.”

As much as I want to throw him to the ground and teach him that I can’t be pushed around anymore, I know that his men are lining the edges of his property. They wouldn’t think twice about killing me if I attacked him.

He needs to be one to throw the first punch.

After that, all bets are off.

“Stop!” Rebecca flies out of the house as Dad charges down the stairs toward me. “The two of you are going to kill each other one of these days.”

I smirk as Dad stops in front of me, his chest heaving and his hands balled into fists. “Rebecca, you should go inside. This isn’t going to be pretty.”

Dad’s nostrils flare. “Tough words coming from a man who allowed his little whore to be branded by someone.”

Rebecca’s hand flies to her mouth as I hold back, teeth grinding, my entire body coiled tight.

He laughs and shoves me. “I knew that you wouldn’t do anything. You’ve always been pathetic.”

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