Page 28 of Seduced By Two Alphas

“My dad?” I gaped at Ken. This had to be a joke. Please let it be a joke. I wanted to see Fred as much as I wanted to see Nezat or Albert. “My dad is lurking around? But why? You two ran him out of town.”

I glanced around, wondering what bizarre dream I’d stumbled into and wondering how I could get out of it.

“And he told you he’d be back,” Jack reminded me. “I guess he kept his word.”

“The only time he’s kept his word,” I grumbled. “A promise I didn’t want him to keep.”

“Let Jack handle him.” Ken took my hand and tried to guide me away from the door.

I snatched my hand away, my anger mounting. Fred was a piece-of-shit father who’d tried to use me for my savings. The last time he’d shown up, he’d strutted around the café as if he owned the place, and no matter what I said, he wouldn’t leave.

Not until Jackson and Kendrick Michaels had blown into town. Not until I asked them to do me a huge favor, which had been a risk since I hadn’t even known them. They’d appeared fierce, yet friendly, and I’d taken a chance that had paid off.

In ways I’d never imagined.

“No, I’m not running away.” I crossed my arms in a huff. I would have gone outside, but Jack was blocking the door. “He’s back to see if he can get money out of me. He thinks since we’re family I owe him something. I don’t owe him a damn thing, and I’m going to tell him that.”

“Are you sure?” Jack’s dark brows were drawn together. “I don’t have a problem handling this, Casey.”

But I saw pride in his eyes, and I wanted that look to stay there. I wanted Jack and Ken to look at me as a grown man who could stand up to his own deadbeat father and let him know he wasn’t welcome here.

A knock sounded on the door. My father had never raised a hand to me. Not that he’d had time to show that side of himself if he was so inclined to do so. He’d been in town only a week before Jack and Ken had shown up. Before that, he hadn't been in my life. So why on earth was I so afraid of him?

Damn good question, which I probably wouldn’t get an answer to, because he wasn’t sticking around.

“I got this.” I waited for Jack to move aside. He did, and I flung the door open. The slimy toad might have been my father, but he was a stranger to me. “What do you want, Fred?”

My dad smiled like a con man would smile at his mark. I felt dirty just looking at him. “Son, I’ve told you to call me dad.”

Yeah, he’d told me that when he’d blown into town, and I still refused to use a title he didn’t deserve. It might’ve seemed callus, but I wished he’d drop off the face of the earth. “Not happening. Now why are you here?”

I realized Jack and Ken had moved aside and Fred couldn’t see them. They were giving me the space I’d asked for, but honestly, I wished they’d put the fear of god into Fred. Too many nights my mom had struggled to put food on the table, struggled to pay bills. There were times when I was certain we would be homeless. Somehow, we’d survived those tough times, despite my dad being too much of a coward to stick by my mom’s side and raise a child he’d helped create.

“Why so hostile?” Fred crossed his arms. He had a disarming smile, a handsome man who probably talked his way out of things or charmed his way into things. It wasn't working on me. He couldn’t charm me, not after he’d knocked my mom up and then split town. I’d gone twenty-eight years without needing him in my life, and I wasn’t going to let him in.

I also hated the fact that we looked so much alike.

“Because the last time you were here you borrowed over a grand from me, which you haven’t paid back. You had no interest in your son, especially when you found out I was gay. Not once did you ask me about me, my hobbies, dreams, what my life was like growing up. All you did was brag about your goals, how you were going to make it big.” I shrugged. “I have no use for you, Fred, just like you had no use for me.”

I wasn't going to deny that it hurt. This was my father, after all. I should have had a close relationship with him. If he hadn't acted the way he had when he’d shown up, I would have given him a chance. But he was all about himself. I was done loaning him money. I was done being an idiot, giving in so he would like me. Why on earth should I have to work to gain my father’s favor? It should have been the other way around.

“Come on now, Casey.” Fred spread his hands. “Why don’t you let me inside so we can talk?”

“Oh my god. You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said.” I felt like I was going to throw up. God, I hated nausea. I should have scarfed down those crackers Ken had gone into town for. Blah. This feeling sucked.

“I heard you,” Fred said with a touch of hostility. “I’m trying to make things up to you.”

“No, you’re here to see if you can drain more of my savings.” I placed my hand on the door, ready to slam it in his face. “Don’t darken my doorstep again and don’t come to my café. There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

When I tried to close the door, Fred stuck his foot in, stopping me. He used his hand to push it back open. My anger shot forward like a freight train. Before I knew what I was doing, I slapped him across the face.

My jaw dropped. I’d never hit anyone before. My handprint was now on my father’s face, red and glaring, and I was shocked I’d done that. Who in the hell was I? I’d never raised my hand to anyone. Ever.

“I’m pressing charges against you,” Fred snarled. “I’ll take you for everything you have.”

“Prove I did anything to you,” I shot back as I stepped onto my porch, Fred taking a few steps back. “I’m friends with all the cops. They know you blew out of here twenty-eight years ago, leaving my mother to raise me on my own. They know what a piece of shit you are, Fred.”

I knew the cops, but none of them were my friends. Fred didn’t have to know that.

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