Page 123 of The Proposal
Gannon side-eyes me but turns to Dad. “You give Renn hell every day about being an embarrassment to our family. And look at you.It’s you. I’m disgusted to be your son.”
Mom steps toward our father.
“Now, listen, Rory. Before you get all pissed off and jealous—”
Crack!
Her hand connects with the side of his face. He reaches up like he’s going to hit her back, but Ripley is quick to end that.
“How could you do this, Daddy?” Bianca asks.
Dad glares up at Ripley, then at Gannon. “Where is your loyalty, boys?”
“With Renn,” Ripley says, switching his attention to me. “He always has my back.”
I nod his way.
“What do you want to do, Mom?” Jason asks, giving me a look to be patient.
She pauses. “Let your father go, Ripley.”
Ripley releases his arm.
“You little shit,” Dad sneers. “You all get the hell out of my house.”
“Excuse me.” Mom laughs. “I’m not finished.” She looks over her shoulder. “Gannon, Jason, please keep your brother from going to jail. I’d love to see your father writhing in pain, but he’s done enough damage for one evening.”
“No. I’m not leaving here until he pays for what he did,” I say, clenching my fists.
Mom turns to me. “You need to take care of your wife. Let me take out the trash.” She looks at Bianca. “Will you help your father, please?”
“Do what?” she asks.
Mom turns toward the door. “Help him pack his shit.”
“Oh, Rory,” Dad says, blowing her off. “Stop it.”
Mom stops in the doorway and spins around. She takes in her family. Then she nods.
“I want you out of my house in twenty minutes. Take your car and clothes. The rest is mine.”
“Rory—”
“You will not disrespect my children. You will not talk to another woman like you spoke to Blakely, and you will not threaten anyone and expect me to sit back quietly. Did you forget who I am, Reid?”
He trembles with anger.
She smirks. “You came into this marriage with nothing. You’ll leave with nothing. I’ve let you slide by with your bullshit too long. Tonight, you crossed a line you won’t return from.”
“Where are you going?” he asks, as if he has the right to know.Bastard.
“I have a lot of calls to make.” She points at me. “Go home. I know you sent Tate, but …”
Blakely’s face flashes through my mind.
The tears rushing down her cheeks.
Her swollen wrist.
