Page 41 of Forbidden Bond

My dad waits to see my reaction to the story. I don’t give him a good one.

“He’s not that person anymore, Daddy,” I say slowly.

“Oh, really? And since when have you known Christopher well enough to determine what type of person he is?”

“We met a few months ago. When I was still in college,” I answer truthfully.

My dad’s voice grows sharper. “And you decided to keep it from me?”

“There wasn’t anything to tell.”

“And now? The two of you seem pretty close in this,” he notes, staring at the picture.

“We’re friends, Dad. Just friends.”

He gets to his feet, pacing the length of my room. I watch him quietly, scared to say something that’ll set him off.

“I don’t believe I need to remind you about everything that family of criminals has done, Katherine. You know, I made sure you and your sister knew so you would be smart enough to stay the hell away!”

I open my mouth to defend myself but he continues speaking.

“Christopher D’Angelo might not be a made man, but he belongs to a family chock full of them. How could you have forgotten all the horrible things they’ve done—and still continue to do?”

I swallow softly. “I haven’t forgotten. But Topher didn’t do anything wrong. He may have been in a bad situation or two but he was just a kid in college dad, trying to be better.”

“And now you’re defending him.”

“He’s my friend,” I say.

“So you keep saying. Anyway, I’m glad I found out about this ‘relationship’ before it became something uncontrollable. Listen to me, and listen well, young lady. You’ll stay away from Christopher D’Angelo and everything that has to do with the D’Angelo name. Right now, everyone we know is talking about you, probably wondering why you would be around someone like him. You’re royalty in these parts, Katherine, and he’s practically dirt.”

That’s funny because Topher’s always calling me princess. But I don’t think he’d be amused to be compared to dirt. He’s the farthest thing from that.

“You can’t control everything I do, Dad. Especially not this. Especially when I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” he yells.

We both hear footsteps coming up the steps leading to my room. My mom’s face appears in the doorway moments later. She looks from me to Dad worriedly.

“Calm down, James,” she murmurs.

I look back at my dad. “Topher and I are friends. This isn’t something to freak out over.”

He gives my mom an exasperated look. “Are you listening to her? First, she chooses to waste her time by not getting a real job, and now she’s consorting with criminals. What is wrong with you, Katherine? What happened to my little girl?”

“I’m still here,” I say on a shaky breath.

“No! Because the Katherine I know would have never dared to defy me like this. I’m not sure what this is—a phase, a rebellion—but it ends now. You’ll stay right here in this room until you learn to see things my way.”

I almost laugh. “I’m not twelve years old, Dad. You can’t keep me in here.”

His eyes narrow in challenge. “Alright, then I forbid you from seeing the D’Angelo boy. Make the right choice, Katherine. Before you lose your family forever.”

He walks out of my room after that declaration. I fall down onto the bed, twirling a snow globe and watching the flakes fall. I turn over what my dad said over and over again. He’s right. I have changed. I’m not his little girl anymore. I grew up, and he still can’t fathom that I have the ability to make my own decisions. He doesn’t trust me at all. He still believes he can order me around like I’m a servant and I’ll do his bidding. But I’m capable of dealing with my own problems.

Which is why a few minutes later, I’m getting dressed and leaving the house, finding myself heading to Topher’s.

I’m in the mood for self-destruction.

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