Page 134 of The Dragon's Mate

Tyler staggered back, his face the colourof old porridge. His own anger a fiery inferno raging through him, Bren stompedforward and shoved his father up against the island. He grabbed him by the collar,shaking him roughly and snarling, “Shut the fuck up!”

“Bren, don’t!” Tyler shouted.

“Don’t you say another fucking word,” Brensaid to his father. His hands still fisted in Robert’s collar, he said, “Tyler,go and pack a suitcase. Right now.”

“Bren…”

“Go, Tyler. Now.”

He could barely hear his younger brother’sfootsteps fading down the hallway over the blood pounding in his ears.

“Let go of me.”

For the first time in his life, Bren heard fearin his father’s voice. He released him, stepping back and taking a deep breathas Robert straightened his shirt. “How dare you speak to me that way. I amstill your father and -”

“I said, shut the fuck up,” Bren’s voicewas low and deliberate. “You’re going to keep your mouth shut and listen to whatI have to say. If you don’t, I will handcuff you to the chair and gag you witha fucking towel.”

His father took a step back. “You’ve lostyour mind.”

“Do you have any idea the impact your wordshave on Tyler?”

“He’s sick!” his father snapped. “He’s sickand he needs help.”

“No, he doesn’t!” Bren roared. “He is a perfectlynormal teenage boy who was just outed in front of the whole goddamn world! Heneeds our support and our love right now, not accusations that he’s sick or thathe’s ruined your career. For once in your miserable life, can you look pastyour own needs and do the right thing? Tyler needs you. He needs you to stepup to the plate as a goddamn father and support him. Tell this fucking city andthe rest of the world, that you love him and support him and his choices, nomatter what that does to your career. He needs you, Dad. Don’t let him downlike you let me and Mom down.”

His father shook his head. “I haven’t let anyonedown. You think I’m a terrible father, but maybe I’m just not willing tosettle for anything less than the best from my children. It isn’t my fault youand Tyler are too weak to meet my expectations. I set the bar low for you andeven lower for Tyler and both of you repeatedly disappoint me. You ask forsupport from me, but neither of you show an ounce of support or respect for whatI’m trying to achieve.”

“Because you’re trying to suppress and controlthe paranormal,” Bren said. “You’re a racist and neither Tyler nor I will -”

“I am doing what’s best for us!” his fathershouted. “The paranormal are a threat to our existence. You’re a cop! Yousee the harm they afflict on humans every day and you still want to give them thesame basic rights as humans. How can you be so naive? So weak?”

“Believing everyone deserves equal treatmentis not a weakness,” Bren said. “Tyler needs you. Can you be there for him ornot?”

His father lifted his chin, the familiar stubbornlook landing on his face. “I love you and your brother, but I will not accept norsupport Tyler’s failings.BecauseI love him.”

“That isn’t love, Dad,” Bren said. “And ifyou think it is, then we have nothing left to say to each other.”

He turned around. Tyler was standing in thedoorway, a small suitcase in one hand and his backpack flung over his shoulder.“Bren?”

“Let’s go, Tyler.”

He and Tyler headed toward the front door,his father trailing behind them. Tyler stopped with his hand on the doorknob whenhis father said, “If you leave now, don’t bother coming back. Either of you.”

Bren stared at the key in his hand beforetossing it at his father’s feet. “Goodbye, Dad.”

* * *

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Bren.” Tylerswiped at the tears on his cheeks as Bren drove away from their father’s apartment.

“Buddy, stop. You have nothing to be sorryabout,” Bren said. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Do you understand?”

“I’ve ruined Dad’s career,” Tyler whispered.

“No, you haven’t. He’ll figure out a wayto spin this whole thing. He’ll come out smelling like a rose, just like healways does.”

“They kicked me and Corey out of school,”Tyler said. “The principal called us into the office and told us we needed totake the rest of the week off. Said that there were too many reporters at the schoolbecause of us. He made us leave. The reporters were everywhere.”

“Yeah, I saw,” Bren said grimly.

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