Page 54 of Daddy Issues

I ignored her jab, though David released her hand and scowled.

I tossed my hand at the table. “The blow was a tip from a customer I forgot to flush.”

“And the ecstasy?” David sighed like he already knew the answer. He’d heard the rumors about the frat party, how I’d screwed that all up.

“It’s been in there for more than a year, easily. I forgot about it.” That was completely honest. I couldn’t even remember where I got it. Just that I was never taking that shit again.

Unable to look at him any longer, I rounded back to Nadine. Furious for the pain her drama was causing my family. Because that’s what David was, the only family I had.

“Why were you in my room, in my things? What gives you the right?”

She stood, affronted. “Because my favorite earrings were missing from my dresser and cash missing from my purse.”

“I don’t steal, and I damn sure wouldn’t wear any of your gaudy shit.” For the first time in years, I trembled with rage. I wanted to rip her fried, bleach blond hair out of her fucking head.

She sneered, a nasty, cruel turn of her Pepto-pink lips. “I know where andwhatyou come from, little girl. Don’t you lie to us.”

David stood, shocked.

I snatched the box from the table, shook it in her face. “This is my property, money I earned.”

She glanced at David. “I told you. She’s just going to rip your heart out like her mom did.”

“Are you fucking serious?” She was completely insane.

“Oh, I’m serious. And I want the six hundred dollars you took from me.”

There was more than that in the box. Money I’d worked hard for.

“You’re crazy. This is mine.”

She lunged for the box. I jerked it to my chest and stumbled back. But didn’t move quite quick enough. She grabbed the box while David stood and shouted for us to knock it off.

The box, made of thick cardboard, ripped, and money flew everywhere between us, raining ones and tens and twenties.

“You bitch,” I spat the words.

Angry, her eyes wild, she made an enraged sound in her throat before throwing herself at my face, Pepto-pink claws aiming straight for my eyes.

The front door slammed against the wall beside me as I turned my head and flinched, trying to save my face. But she never touched me. Puck stood there, clutching her up by the back of the shirt. Only her toes scraped the floor.

He wedged his big body between us and dropped her.

“Get out of my house!” she shrieked, jerking away from Puck and panting like a rabid dog. “You’re just like her. Just like your mother. Out! Whore! Lying thief!”

Puck’s entire body vibrated once, like it took everything for him not to hit her. “I’ll say thisone time.” When she turned her attention to his booming voice, he full on hollered. “Shut thefuckup.”

She back peddled, nearly tripping over the coffee table. David collapsed onto the couch, head in his hands, and wouldn’t look at me.

“Go get your things, Kenna. Enough for a few days.” Puck’s voice softened, but he didn’t look at me, instead he glowered at Nadine and held up two long fingers. “Second strike. You speak to her like that again, it’ll be the last thing you’ll do in this town.”

I was gifted a brief moment of her being not just shocked but downright scared as she scurried onto the couch next to my stepfather. Puck’s anger was a real, living thing in that moment.

In my room, I grabbed several bags from beneath my bed, fighting back tears and trying to figure what I’d need to fit on the back of a bike.

“Bring two. I can carry one for you.”

“Okay.” I nodded, hiding the tears that burned in my eyes.

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