Page 160 of Wish

Max said nothing at all, just blasted the entire room with frigid silence. It was so compelling that I started to get cold.

“Need I remind you?”Hespoke, acting as though he were superior to it all. “We have an agreement. Six o’clock. Bring your mother flowers.”

An agreement? What the hell was he talking about? Max wouldneveragree to anything with this man.

“That bitch is not my mother.” Max spoke low, but still, I made out the words.

There was a heartbeat of deafening silence, and then there was a shout, a scuffle, and the sound of a fist meeting skin. Without hesitation, I flew down the stairs and into the living room just in time to see Max pull his hand from his lip and pull his arm back.

Even thoughhewas facing me, the rage he exploded with seemed to give him tunnel vision. Splotches of red covered his face, and his eyes shone a crazy type of hungry that drew me up short.

It was like he craved violence. Like he enjoyed punching his only son.

Max’s fist drew back, but the man laughed. Cackled really. “Oh, bring it on, little boy. You will never beat me.”

With a yell, I threw myself into the room, sliding between Max and his abuser, using my body as a battering ram and knocking the older man against the door.

He grunted with surprise, eyes wide.

“Don’t ever put your hands on him again.” I snarled and drew back my fist, adrenaline pumping through me, and I knew my punch would pack more power because of it. I’d always wanted to hit this asshole, and now was my chance.

Seeing what I was about to do, he smirked, and a slither of apprehension slid over me. The man moved fast, pushing off the door to bring up his own fist.

Max’s shout filled the room, and he grabbed me, wrapping his body around mine and spinning. I felt the punch bounce off his back, felt the force of it vibrate through him and into me.

He didn’t even grunt, just took the blow and then pulled me back, hands so tight on me I knew I’d have bruises. “You okay?”

“Watch out,” I called, seeing movement behind him as I fought to wrench away and fight again.

Max whirled, catching his father’s fist in his, squeezing so hard that the old man grimaced. Still holding his fist in a punishing grip, Max walked forward, which forced the asshole back. “You just made a big fucking mistake.”

The man brought his leg up in a kick, and I made a strangled sound. Max twisted away, releasing the sperm donor’s hand and shoving him back.

His back hit the door, and he pushed up immediately, flushed with ire. His eyes went beyond Max to me, and they narrowed.

Slam!Max’s fist snapped the man’s head to the side, blood spurting out of his nose like a faucet. He reached up in shock, and when his hand came away, it was red.

Rage and shock warred as he straightened, simmering eyes landing solely on Max.

Max’s shoulders rose and fell heavily under the jacket he was still wearing. “Wes is off-limits. Full stop. If you don’t want a set of black eyes and some broken ribs to go with that nose, then I suggest you leave. Now. And don’t ever fucking come here again. Ever.”

“Our agreement—”

“Is over.”

Max had said many times that his biologic had more anger than brains, and for the first time, I saw what he meant because he charged Max again.

Clearly expecting the attack, Max was ready and swung. The sperm donor landed with a hard grunt when he hit his ass, his busted lip matching his nose. Incredulous, he dabbed his mouth, looking between me and Max until Max stepped sideways, blocking his line of sight.

“Is that what this is?” the man rasped. “Are you fucking him?”

“You better get out while you can still walk.” Max’s voice was deadly.

The old man actually paused like he was genuinely afraid. “You’re sicker than even I knew,” he said at last, getting up off the floor, eyes never once leaving Max. “I should have beat you harder when you were a boy.”

I gave a shout and rushed forward. Max caught me around the waist, but I kept going, my feet running over the floor. “You asshole!” I roared.

“Where’d you get those stitches, Wesley?” the man taunted. The second my name passed his lips, Max started to vibrate. “Maybe the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree after all.”

---