Page 62 of Worlds Collide

Wolf and I almost crash against his giant back, and when I look up to ask what the hell is going on, I see a lot of lights are on in the house.

My stomach swoops and feels like it falls into a pit of darkness, and then I get another scare when Rich gets a gun out of... thin air it seems. I didn’t even know he had a gun. I’ve never seen a gun like that, so up close.

I’ve only ever seen hunting rifles and they’ve never seemed as... deadly.

“Quiet. Only take a step when I take a step.” Rich issues instructions. His voice is terrifyingly calm and commanding as fuck, so I don’t even think about questioning him.

It takes us forever because of all the stopping and going, but we finally make it inside only to be met by the worst possible scenario...

My parents.

Pointing their snotty little noses up to the ceiling at the sight of Rich and Wolf, and then practically sneering when their eyes land on me.

What a way to fucking ruin a nice evening.

EIGHTEEN

WOLF

“Honestly,Jerry, you’ve embarrassed us enough, and now this?” the woman who I’m assuming is CJ’s mother says, like CJ’s a little kid who misbehaved.

I feel the need to stand in front of him and snarl at the botched-plastic-surgery walking. But I refrain. These are CJ’s parents. They’re not my problem.

And though I’ve started to feel like maybe I could share my problems with him and the world wouldn’t end, I don’t know what he wants me to do in this situation, so I just ball up my fists and stay silent.

Rich stands stock-still on the other side of CJ—and I’m thrilled he still has the gun he may have smuggled illegally into Italy in his hand—so at least I feel like wecanprotect him. These are his parents though, and they look pretty pissed.

Then again, I know better than anyone that words can hurt more than anything physical, so maybe not.

“We raised you better than to involve yourself with such a...”CJ’s father whisper-shouts with a disgusted look thrown my way. “Disturbing character.”

“You didn’t raise me at all,” CJ says through clenched teeth.

“Don’t talk back to your father,” the woman snaps with venom in her voice.

And that’s enough for me. I take one step forward, and it’s not like I’d ever resort to violence here, but I do take a lot of pleasure in seeing her step back in fear.

“I really don’t like how you’re talking to CJ,” I say, almost conversationally. “So how about you apologize and then get the fuck out?”

“You can’t speak to her like that, you deviant.” CJ’s father steps up and I feel Rich do the same behind me.

“Actually,” CJ pipes in. “He can speak to her however he likes. You’re nothing to me, not anymore, and unlike you, he’s actually welcome here.”

“That’s absurd,” she says, pulling her coat together like this is the eighteen fifties or something. “This is my house.” She tilts her chin up, and I’d really like to snarl and see fear fill her eyes again. She needs to be taken down a peg or two.

“No, it’s not.” CJ’s voice carries through the huge foyer as he steps up to stand next to me. “This ismyhouse and you’re not welcome here, just like you’re also not welcome in any of my other properties.” I can tell he’s enjoying saying all of this to them, but it surprises the fuck out of me. Why are they so hostile? They come in here, insult me, basically dismiss CJ altogether, and CJ doesn’t even bat an eye. Like this is nothing new to him.

I never thought this is what CJ’s parents would be like, never in a million years.

I heard her scream at him over the phone in that hotel room when the pictures came out, but I thought she was just elitist, thatshe was mad because I’m not a socialite like CJ, not that she was criticizing him.

“You sold it all!” his mom explodes suddenly. “You’re givingmythings andmymoney away!” It’s getting damn close to being a temper tantrum. “You can’t kick us out you ungrateful, selfish bastard?—”

“Watch it,” I snap, point-two seconds away from losing my shit on this woman.

“Oh, I’m definitely ungrateful to you.” Now it’s CJ getting all up in her face. “And you bet I’m selfish when it comes to everything I inherited—which, might I add that I only exist because you two concocted this delusional plan so you’d get your greedy little hands on your daddy’s money? You always planned for me to inherit everything, so don’t act like you’re actually suffering, okay?

“If there’s one thing I’m not,Mother,” he says with derision. “Is a bastard. You of all people should know that. You made damn sure I became the perfect heir, didn’t you? Right down to the name. Well you and every Clemson in the world can go straight to hell because I’m not a Clemson. I changed my stupid-ass name,legally, and I really hope dear ol’ Grandpa is rolling in his graveandrotting in Hell!” CJ basically screams the house down. “You should actually go join him.”

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