Page 103 of Jerk
Now my father chuckles. “You’re Calvin Rowen’s son after all.” My father’s hand moves, but Rye’s quick to stop him.
“Unh, unh, don’t be stupid, Mister Alfonso,” he teases. “I have this shard in a spot that can change everything for you. I’m not like you or my father. I’m not messy. I’m precise. One wrong move is all it takes.” My father tests him, and that makes Rye laugh, pushing the shard further into his skin.
“Rye," I call. Will he really do it?
My father sighs as if he’s annoyed with this all. “Tell me what you want, Rowen. Is it my daughter? Is that all?"
“Good question.” Rye turns to me, and that pound in my chest returns. Is this really happening? I’ve never seen anyone get the upper hand on my father. “What do you want, Hannah?”
THIRTY-FOUR
HANNAH
Holy shit.
Holyfuck.
I’m frozen in place, trying to make sense of what the fuck is happening.
Rye hovers over my father, a shard of porcelain to my father's skin.
Okay, don't judge me, but this is kind of hot. Casually psychotic in the best way, and it’s doing it for me.
Something swells in my chest as I push myself off the floor. He’s helping me do the thing I’ve been dying to do my entire life: take my father’s power.
My knees wobble as I stand over him, this time, without a threat to me or my safety. Not when Rye’s here.
“Le-let—” My voice comes out hoarse, so I clear my throat. I need that confidence to come through. “Let mom leave.”
“I’m not leaving.” My mother pipes up from her spot in the solarium. “I didn’t ask for that.”
Turning to her, my head aches. “Ma, c’mon, you can’t?—”
“I will.”
“You want to stay withhim?” My father chuckles as I try to wrap my head around what she’s saying. “Is it the mansion? Is it The Hill? You can make your own way.Wecan make our own way. There’s alimony. There’s spousal support. I’ll be back in school making a career for myself. You’ll be?—”
“Hannah, enough!” she yells. “This is ridiculous. Look what you’ve done!” A tear rolls down her face when she looks at my father.
Was all this for nothing?
“What now, son?” My father asks, his attention back on Rye. “You think you’ll get away with what you’ve done? I’ll ruin you.” His eyes move to me. “And I’m not done with you, you selfish, privileged brat.”
“Too late for that.” Rye taps on his phone, a slow smirk creeping across his face. “I’ve been a disgrace. But you? Your downfall only starts now.” He turns his screen to my father, the features in my father’s face tightening. That scowl grows before my father swipes for the shard in Rye’s hand, twisting it around on him.
“Don’t!” I scream, my hand reaching out to him.
Rye takes enough steps back to put distance between them as my father starts to rise from the floor.
“Wait a minute.”
A familiar voice comes from he doorway and all our heads whip to it.
Krystal.
She stands by the door, matching me in her dirty white tank and shorts. Phone in her hand, she points it around the room.
“I’m live,” she says. “And I don’t think you want everyone to see you hurt my brother. Or your family.”
