Page 150 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part One

But I can tell it’s not and she’s spinning in a space where she’s composed and wounded all at once.

Everyone goes silent, except for Lakeland, who hums. Against my better judgment, I look at him, and his smile unfurls slow, sharp. Like a knife being drawn.

“Not there…withBambi. Are you there with someone else?”

Before I can even think of opening my mouth, Dad is out of his chair, clapping a hand on my shoulder to silence me.

“Storm, come with me for a second.”

My jaw tightens. “Now?”

“Now.”

His grip tightens. I nod once and rise, letting him lead me toward the private lounge just off the dining room. With each step, the impact of the last few weeks begins to pile on, growing exponentially into a ball of anger and frustration and—goddamn it, fear—so by the time the door shuts behind us, I’m in another stratosphere of rage.

But Dad? He seems to be there, too. His whole demeanor shifts, and the CEO mask drops.

“What thefuckare you doing, Storm?”

I cross my arms. “What areyoudoing? Marrying me off like we’re inThe Godfather?”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re about to fuck everything up, Storm.”

“With whom? You mean Lakeland?” I snap. “You mean the Feds? Oh wait, that’s been ‘handled.’”

His head snaps toward me, his eyes stormy and panic causes those new wrinkles to appear deeper.

“What does Lakeland have on you, Dad? What have you gotten yourself into? Tell me. Let me fucking help!”

Dad shakes his head so sharply I fear he might snap a tendon in his neck.

“Help? I don’t want your fucking help!” he rages.

“Dad,” I start, but he cuts me off with a quick slice of his palm in the air.

“No,” he grinds out. Final.

I gape at him, unbelieving that he’s just rolling over and playing dead.

“Then why notfightthem? Why not fighthim?” I ask, voice low. “Why give him Stratos? Why let him fuck you?”

Dad laughs.

Loud. Harsh. A little cracked around the edges.

“Because, Storm, I wasn’tletting him fuck meas you so crudely put it. I was trying toprotect you.You and your mother. You think this is about stocks and press releases? You think Lakeland plays by the same rules as the rest of us?”

The air gets tighter.

“I know he doesn’t,” I grind out.

“If you know, you know what he’s capable of, you know what depraved shit he’s gotten into.”

“Oh, are you talking about your parties on that billionaire island in the Caribbean?”

My father’s face seems to lose all color.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, son.”

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