Page 31 of The Revenge Plan (Forbidden Descendants 1)

With a depressed mutter, I admitted, “I wish I had.”

“Dammit,” he growled before giving a resolute nod. “Alright. Let’s go kill that cheating son of a bitch who ruined my little girl. I mean—” He shook his head as if to clear it. “Let’s go pick up your shit from your old dorm.”

“I can call Mason to come help,” Mom added, talking to Dad.

He nodded. “Okay. Good. He can hold the prick down while I punch him in the—”

“Honestly, Dad.” I rolled my eyes. “You know you’re not going to physically hurt Topher.” Then I turned to Mom. “And please don’t bother Uncle Mason.”

“Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?”

Dad scowled at me while Mom blinked and asked, “Why can’t I call my own brother?”

I sighed.

Ignoring Dad’s relentless joking, I answered Mom. “It’s already so late. Besides, by the time they got here, Dad and I would probably be done packing and moving my things, anyway.”

Not to mention the fact that I didn’t want anyone else cooing and fussing over me or wanting to talk about Topher and what had happened tonight, like I knew Aunt Reese would, because she would definitely show up, right alongside Uncle Mason if he were called in, and she would definitely have plenty to say. Plus, I was still rocking the stubborn, independent, I’ll-do-it-myself vibe. The less help I got, the better I’d feel.

Mom opened her mouth to argue, but the ringing of Dad’s phone cut her off.

“Well, speak of the devil,” Dad murmured, making me think it was Uncle Mason or Aunt Reese on the other end of the line, except there was a bit too much evil relish in his voice. Grinning big, he answered with a cheerful, “Hey there, buddy. I’m so glad you called back.” With a pause, he lifted his eyebrows. “What’s that? Oh. Yes, as a matter of fact, we did finally get a hold of Haven. Yeah. And we heard all about what you did to her, you lying, cheating little sack of shit. But you know what? I’m actually relieved about this. I’m relieved I can finally tell you what I really think of you, because I never liked you, you worthless dirtbag.”

As Wick’s sister blurted out a laugh and slapped her hands ov

er her mouth, I gasped, gaping at my father.

“From the moment we met,” Dad went on gleefully, “you seemed like a smug, brownnosing, fake, bragging wannabe to me. And I am so damn happy my daughter is finally done with you. I’m so happy, in fact, that I might not track you down and kill you for hurting her after all. I mean, unless you’re still at Dandridge Hall when I show up there in about five minutes. Because if I see you tonight… I don’t know, bud. I’m still kind of emotional and upset, you see, I might not be able to help myself. I might have to slaughter you after all. So don’t let me catch you within a block of that building. Alright? Huh…”

Dad frowned and pulled the phone from his ear to blink at it. “He hung up on me.” Shrugging, he glanced my way. “Oh well. I have a feeling he won’t be at your dormitory when we show up to get your things.”

I shook my head in shock. “I can’t believe you never liked Topher. Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t like him?”

“Oh, shit,” Dad uttered, his face freezing with guilt. Then he turned to Mom. “I probably shouldn’t have let her know we hated him, huh?”

“We?” I yelped, whirling toward her as well. “Mom?”

“Oh, honey,” she stared sympathetically. “You know I always thought Topher was a perfectly nice…” Unable to finish the sentiment, she winced and swallowed before trying again. “He…” But yeah, she couldn’t think up anything complimentary to say, so she sighed and gave in. “Yeah, I didn’t care for him either. But now I really dislike him.”

“Wow,” I murmured. How had I never known this? Had I really been so blind and naïve, not just to Topher’s true nature, but also to what my family thought about him as well? I suddenly felt incredibly stupid and gullible.

“He was your choice, dear. We didn’t want to put any unnecessary strains on your relationship just because we didn’t—”

“No, it’s okay,” I broke in, though it didn’t feel okay at all. If I’d known they didn’t like him, maybe I would’ve looked at him in a different light. Maybe I would’ve noticed things about him I should’ve noticed long ago. Maybe I could’ve avoided walking in on him in the middle of fucking my roommate.

“I get it,” I mumbled, glancing away, only to make eye contact with Wick.

I’m not sure why I paused to focus on him. Maybe I just needed something that felt steady and real to help me center myself. Or maybe those freakily pale eyes of his just knew how to hold me captive.

I don’t know but I stared at him long enough that he said, “Hey, don’t look at me. I never hid the fact I hated him.”

I huffed out a laugh, and the pity party I was about to throw for myself jostled loose.

Successfully diverted from falling into any doldrums, I glanced at Dad and nodded with resolute determination. “Okay,” I said, “let’s go get my things.”

8

Haven

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