Page 104 of Bitter Arrangement

“Just stay here.” I pat his hand and lean across the car. I kiss him quickly. “I’ll be fine.”

He clearly doesn’t like that, but I don’t give him the chance to argue.

For the past two days, we’ve done nothing but plan. We’ve gone over every inch of that house, from photos taken by Alexan’s crew to the actual blueprints he managed to steal from the city registry. He’s picked a dozen different kinds of locks, and he’s at the point where I’m confident he can handle anything he comes across.

Now it’s just a matter of giving him the right tools.

I head into the house. “Hello? Anyone home?” I hesitate, listening, and my stomach sinks when my father answers.

“Is that you, Riley?” He appears at the top of the steps, frowning down at me. “When you got married, I assumed you wouldn’t show up here much anymore.”

“Nice to see you too.” I head up toward him. “Just need to grab some things.”

He lets me pass without comment. I head into Brenden’s room and gather clothes into a bag. He stands in the doorway and watches, face impassive.

“You know where he is,” Dad finally says.

I pause, hand shoved in the bag, and look over. “Yeah, I know.”

“Tell me.”

“I can’t do that.” I shake my head and finish packing up. When I’m done, I head to the door, but Dad blocks my way. “Excuse me, please.”

“Tell me where my son is, Riley.”

“Brenden’s okay. He’s just hiding out. The less you know, the better.”

Dad’s face cracks. His mask slips, and a contemptuous snarl flits across his expression. “God, you’re so worthless.”

“Excuse me.” I stare at him, heart pattering. “Please.”

He moves aside. I hurry across the hall into my room, locate the picks under my mattress, and put them into the bag.

“I always knew this about you,” Dad continues, following me. “Always just a leech living under my roof. You never did provide a damn thing, did you?”

I take a deep breath. I feel myself withering under his hateful stare. It’s been like this all my life. No matter what I do, this man is able to break me without even having to try.

“You never let me,” I say quietly, staring down at the floor.

“I neverwhat?” He steps closer, his tone sharpening. “What did you just say?”

“You never let me contribute.” I look up at him, hands curled into fists. “I wasn’t allowed to work. I wasn’t allowed to go to college. You neverlet mecontribute.”

He looks like he can’t believe I’m even responding. And honestly, I don’t blame him. I’ve been letting him stomp on my face since the day I was born, and I don’t even know where this is coming from.

But I keep seeing Alexan in my mind. I keep seeing him struggling with that lock but never giving up. And for some reason, a strange, iron strength fills me.

I broke into a Mantis facility. I was nearly killed in the process, but I survived. I’ve done things lately that I never imagined I would, and it’s all because Alexan believes in me.

And if Alexan thinks I’m worthy, then I shouldn’t let a man like my father push me around anymore.

“I gave you everything,” he says, hissing at me. “A roof over your head. Food on your plate. And all you’ve ever done is complain.”

“That isn’t true. I cooked all that food, and I cleaned this stinking place top to bottom. Dad, I was a good gymnast. I was really, really good, and you made me quit so I could sit around here and do nothing. God, you know what’s sick? I thought you were selling me to the Armenians, but now I realize you were freeing me from this fucking prison.”

“Don’t you dare use that tone with me,” he says.

I shove past him before he has a chance to block my exit. I hurry into the hall, heart hammering in my ears as I rush down the steps. He storms after me, his heavy footsteps stomping behind me.

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