Page 73 of Control Us (Next Generation 1)

My back stiffened. My dad told her that she shouldn’t say anything to him.

“I don’t want him with my daughter.”

My stomach twisted. Although I knew he didn’t want me with Luna, it still hurt to hear him say it.

“Yeah. Well, you have no control over that, sweetheart.”

“Actually, I do. Zach’s going to run this business and be too busy for her. Luna will move on.”

“You can’t honestly believe that’s what will happen?” Mom laughed. “You’re smarter than that. Look at what happened to the rest of us. You know how it works. You fall in love, you fight, you make up but no matter what, you will always be together because that’s how this works. That’s how all of this works.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Stone grumbled.

“What issue is it that you have with my son? You know Zach’s turned into a wonderful man even after all the shit he went through as a kid.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets, not enjoying the nightmares of my past being brought to light. Although only my parents knew the full extent of what I went through, everyone had an idea on what happened. I was abused by my stepmother. Nothing really to hide there but my parents wanted it to remain hush-hush until I was ready to tell people.

“Doesn’t matter. He’s not good enough for my daughter. No one is.”

“Stone, I love you like a brother but right now, you’re lucky I don’t kick your ass.”

My heart warmed, knowing my mom had my back.

“You’re retired, Brogan,” Stone pointed out.

“Fine, I’ll just go to the one person, probably the only person, who can put you in your place.”

He hesitated. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

“Brogan, I—”

“Stone.”

I opened the door a little more, peeking out in the hallway.

My mom was staring up at Stone with her hands on her hips. “You tell my husband that we had this conversation and I’ll come out of retirement just for you.” And with that, she spun on her heel and walked away.

“Fuck.” Stone rubbed the back of his thick neck and followed her.

This couldn’t happen.

You’re worthless.

This could never happen.

You don’t deserve happiness.

What I did with Luna shouldn’t have happened at all.

You’re nothing. Absolutely nothing.

My stepmother was right.

Luna should never have fallen in love with me. She was getting too close. This just proved what I had known all along. What had been ingrained in my head since I was a kid.

I deserved to be alone.

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