Page 12 of The Prom King & The Ice Queen

“Richard,” my mom hisses at him.

This all just makes me want to heave. I hate watching my mom try to keep my dad in line. I hate seeing her put up with his immature crap…for me.

She’s only married to him for my sake. So I’d have a father. And while she’d never ever admit it, I know that to be true.

She’s a million times better than him. Smarter, stronger, kinder.

And yet, he’s the man she claims as a husband.

My mom steps forward too, seemingly ignorant of all the stares and whispers. Sweet and wonderful as ever, she says. “I know this wasn’t you, Vince.” She looks to my grandfather. “And he knows it too, don’t you, Dad?”

My grandfather’s chin comes up. “Yes. Yes, I trust you.”

“You trust him?” My dad, ladies and gentlemen. The loudmouth moron who never knows when to shut his piehole. “You didn’t even let me into your family without a background check, but you trust this little—”

“He said he trusts him,” my grandmother snaps.

My dad’s face is ugly. I mean, he’s a handsome man, but sometimes he’s outright ugly with that cruel sneer of his. “All right, then that means someone else here took it. Let’s keep everyone right where they are and have an officer come and look for it. What do you say, Vincent?” my dad challenges. “You think they’ll give you a pass given your record?”

Vince does have a record and the flash of fear in his eyes makes my insides twist and turn with unease.

He is not a guy who fears anything. Vincent is tougher than tough…or he was when he first moved here. But that was before.

That was back when he had nothing to lose. And he doesn’t need to be my BFF for me to know that that’s not the case now.

Because now he has Addie. And my mom. And maybe even a chance to get to know his real father.

I don’t know if that’s what Vincent wants. But I’d want that if I were him.

My dad’s chuckling. He caught that flicker of fear too. He looks like he’s about to pounce again.

Always hit ‘em when they’re down, that’s my dad’s motto. I look back at Savannah again.

Why did she take it?

She’s not even pale anymore. She’s green. I half expect her to throw up right where she stands.

Probably because of my dad’s lame threat. He’d never actually involve the police, not when that would only lead to gossip about the family. But she doesn’t know that.

For a second I’m torn between shutting my father up before he can make even more of an ass of himself and going to Savannah and reassuring her. Which is ridiculous. The girl hates me. She doesn't want or need my reassurance.

“That’s enough, Dad,” I say.

He turns to me, his face mottled with anger. “Mind your own business, Leo.”

“This is my business.” I cross my arms and meet his gaze head on. I stopped being afraid of this man years ago. He’s a bully and always has been. But one thing I figured out was how to keep him in line. And so I add, “This is my family, which means it’s my business.”

It’s not much, but it’s enough. It’s a reminder of who he is…and who he’ll never be. A true Barons. And thanks to an NDA and a prenup he’d signed before I was born, his whole precious, privileged lifestyle depends on keeping his nose clean and the Barons happy.

“Leo,” my mom says in a warning tone.

But I don’t look over at her. My gaze is drawn back to Savannah like a magnet. She’s staring right back at me, her eyes wide and filled with fear.

I hate that look.

I never want to see her afraid. It’s just…not right. Savannah has always been the strongest person I know. Annoying. Self-righteous. But strong.

To see her fear makes me want to smash anyone and everything that’s ever made her tremble.

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