Page 148 of Faithful

She looks thin and older but graceful in her simple black dress and with natural makeup.

Gavin appears to be collected but I can tell by the depth of his frown he’s rattled.

There’s a trail of people (I call them suck-ups) following him as he moves between the clusters of other guests, greeting them, shaking their hands, praising God, and smiling for the cameras.

I have to admit that one thing my father is really good at is putting on a show. I wonder if he could have done less damage if he’d taken up acting instead.

“Dylan!” One of the PR reps who works for my father’s office approaches out of the blue and nudges me in the direction of my parents. “You should all take a photo together.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” I say in protest but to no avail.

Two seconds later, I’m sandwiched between my father and mother. A dozen photographers lurch forward with their cameras going off so fast you’d think we’re the Kardashians. Or the royal family.

“You look great, baby.” My mother gives me an air-kiss once we’re done posing for the photos. She fumbles with the lapels of my tux, pretending to fix them although they don’t need any fixing.

“Thanks, Mom. You look great too,” I tell her, noting that people continue to take pictures of us with their cell phones.

“Dylan,” my father says sternly. “A word?”

A cold shiver runs down my spine.

“You know what, Dad?” I force a smile because everyone is watching. “I really need to get back to–”

“This won’t take long, son.”

In an instant, I find myself being escorted out of the lobby by two of the guys on his PR team, who I suspect are an undercover security detail. We walk down a busy hallway until we reach some sort of room. I’m shoved inside, then cornered. There’s a hand wrapped around my throat and all I can think about is how my father is going to mess up my bow tie.

“You stupid little shit,” Gavin says, his shrewd eyes narrowing to angry slits. “You never, ever give any leverage over you to powerful people.”

“I don’t care about leverage, Dad,” I say, my lips forming a smile, and that only infuriates my father more. “I’m not going into politics.” I push at his chest with both palms, knowing that he could end me right here and now if he wants to and then cover it up. Turn it into an accident.

I still remember the force of his blows, even though it’s been a while since we engaged in a physical altercation.

Surprisingly, he gives in. His grasp loosens and his hand drops to his side. “You had everything. Everything one could only wish for. You ruined it for a piece of ass.”

There’s so much venom in his words that I feel it deep in my gut.

“Don’t you talk about him like that.” My voice is shaking but I recover quickly. “If you ever try to interfere with Kai’s career or threaten him or his mother with exposing those photos of him and Heller, I will send that video to every fucking publication on the planet. I’ve already been laughed at. What’s another scandal? Right? For you, another scandal is the end of the road and jail, Dad. You abused me all my life and that abuse stops now. You hear me? You don’t get to decide what I do or how I live. And be grateful I’m not involving the cops.”

Gavin is speechless and slack-jawed when I step to the side and around him and rush for the door.

My heartbeat stutters, my face heating up.

I all but run down the corridor that takes me back to the emptying lobby where I find Leigh by the bar. She’s sipping on a cocktail and scanning the crowd.

“There you are, Watson. You okay? You look out of sorts.”

“I’m fine. Just had an unpleasant conversation with my father.”

Leigh rolls her eyes. “Want me to get you one of these?” She gestures at her drink.

“Nah. I’m working.”

She hooks her arm around mine and pulls me into the banquet hall where the unknown country band is about to hit the stage.

The table we’re occupying is toward the back of the room. The front is reserved for VIP guests and other notable donors like Lena Kalchin and Charles Heller. My father is up there too in the very first row along with my mother.

The lights have been dimmed and the atmosphere inside is quite intimate with soft chatter and the clink of glasses and silverware filling the space.

---