Page 19 of Hate Me Like You Do

“Knox,” he answers. The word is all formal greeting not an ounce of joy carries through as he says my name. Did I expect it to?

No. Not anymore.

“The girl has settled fine.” That’s what he wants to know, isn’t it? Has Violet Demure been a welcomed guest of the Reyes house? Well she was.

“Good, good. First day of school?”

“Same old stuff. Though I did actually get placed in an advanced science class this year and I think the teacher may actually know his shit.”

Silence. The quiet tension is drawn out for nearly two minutes before he clears his throat and speaks again.

“No, not your day. The girl's.”

How fucking stupid of me.

Again.

“She came home happy as a spoiled rich bitch.” I try to keep the disappointment out of my voice but it’s still there in the annoying way that lets him know he still has some sort of power over me. I hate myself for that.

He is never going to approve of you. Stop trying. It's embarrassing.

“Great.”

“Great,” I repeat.

“Knox?” My father drawls.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t let me catch you cursing again. I’m raising a gentleman with the keys to a very wealthy kingdom and a name that I won’t let you destroy by sounding like a low life.”

I’m anything but a gentleman. My father isn’t one either, but he would never let on that he is anything other than a successful lawyer. That’s laughable to me considering I know the violent truth.

“Yes, sir.” I manage to grind out.

“If her mother calls from jail, let me know,” he says oddly.

“Okay...” My eyes narrow as I wait for him to explain something when I know he definitely won't.

He gives me a stiff goodbye and hangs up.

Raising a gentleman. Yeah, okay. Gentleman don’t have to cover their scars with endless tattoos to hide what kind of monster dear old dad is from the world.

Keys to a very wealthy kingdom. I don’t want any part of his blood money. I just haven’t figured out how to get away yet without repercussions.

Ronan Reyes knows everyone. He’s represented the deadliest men. And those men are always happy to return a favor to him.

Always.

Shoving my phone deep into my pocket I take the stairs two at a time. A fresh feeling of resentment and a bit of stiff fear charges through me building into nerves and frustration.

It’s a shitty cycle that constantly lives inside of me.

At the top of the stairs I reach for my door and pause. Violet’s talking to someone on the other side. Landon and Reed aren’t here yet.

I swear if I open this door to find Damon or some other dick troll I’ll kill him. Growling under my breath, I press my ear up to the door, chilled wood meeting me with the muffled sound of Dee’s soft voice.

“Hey, yeah school was… different. I was kind of hoping you could talk for a minute about it.”

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