Page 104 of Indecent Ventures

As if right out of a movie, my father practically snarls and charges at him. He crashes hard into Collin as their bodies together barrel toward the back glass wall. I scream out as they manage to crash straight through it into the backyard and stumble directly into the pool. The wall is completely shattered. There’s glass everywhere.

The whole family back there is in shock at the madness taking place in front of them.

My dad and Collin are trading punches like it’s a boxing match. I’m still yelling for them to stop. Reagan looks up at my tear-soaked eyes. I see her mouth, “Oh shit.”

Everyone starts screaming for them to stop, but they don’t. They’re punching each other, holding the other underwater, elbowing, kicking, everything.

The kids start crying. It’s complete and total mayhem.

Finally, Trevor, Hayden, Lance, and Carter all jump in the pool. Carter and Lance grab my dad’s arms and pull him away. Hayden and Trevor pull Collin’s arms and pull him in the opposite direction.

They’re each snarling at the other. They’re like animals.

Jackson shouts, “What the hell is going on?”

Dad answers, “That fucking pervert was attacking Jade in the bathroom.”

I shout. “Stop it, Dad. No, he wasn’t. It was completely consensual.”

He snaps his head to me. “What was consensual?”

“Umm, the hugging.”

His eyes practically bug out of his head. “Did you…did you…with him? That lowlife?”

I turn my guilty head away, unable to maintain eye contact.

My dad lets out a growl as he breaks free of Lance and Carter and lunges back toward Collin.

Melissa shouts, “Declan, stop!”

He freezes immediately. She’s like the fuckingDeclan whisperer. Her power over him defies the laws of physics.

“Look at me.” He does. “Hear them out. That’s what evolved adults do.”

He barks, “She’s not an adult.”

Melissa nods. “Yes, she is. You may not want to admit it, but Jade is an adult. She’s a woman. A strong, independent woman. A woman who always maintains control. She’s not easily manipulated, and she’s more than earned the right to be heard. Hear her out. Hearthemout.”

I’ve never loved Melissa more than in this moment.

He turns to Collin, who has a mixture of blood and tears on his face. His hair is strewn about all over the place. “What do you have to say for yourself, Fitz? Tell me why your hands were on my daughter in the bathroom. Tell me why she had tears running down her cheeks.”

His terrified eyes find me, and then Carter. He looks pained. “Carter, I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you this alone, man-to-man.” He looks back at my father and shocks every single person out here, including myself. “We’re together. We’ve been together for a while. I love her. I’m in love with her.”

What? He’s in love with me?

I have no words for that. I don’t know how to manage myself right now.

All eyes move to me. I do the only thing I can think of doing in this moment. I turn around and leave.

* * *

COLLIN

She just fucking walked out. I told everyone she cares about that I love her, and she left. I proclaimed my love for her in front of Carter, knowing it could end our friendship, and she left. I put it all on the line for her and got nothing in return, not even the courtesy of sticking around.

Before I realize what’s happening, Declan starts charging at me again and gets in a punch. I don’t even feel it anymore. Nothing could possibly hurt more than Jade leaving at this moment.

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