Page 114 of Dark Knight

Dad takes a breath and releases it slowly. “I am going to let that go for now. You’re upset and confused.”

“You’re damn right, I’m upset. Since when do you walk into my room, anyway?”

“Your room is in my house.”

“This is my room. Mine. It’s the only thing in this house that is mine. It’s the only thing in my entire life that belongs to me. Me!” I tap my palm to my chest, where my heart pounds furiously. “It’s the only thing you’ve ever really let me have to myself.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t turn this around on me.”

“That is what this is about, Dad. You don’t get it, but then I’ve spent my whole life trying to bewho you want me to be, so I understand how you wouldn’t have the first clue what I need.”

The laugh he blurts out might as well be a fist flying my way. It hurts that much to hear his disdain. “You’re not saying you need him, are you?”

“So what if I do?” With my hands on my hips, I lift my chin and look him in the eye. I’m shaking like a leaf, but I won’t back down. Not now.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Dad, I’m a grown woman. I know what I want. And I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but not everything can be exactly how you want it. I’m sorry. You know I love you, but I must draw the line at you making all my decisions for me. I don’t want you to do that.”

I look at Romero, who hasn’t said a word since murmuring my name. He looks like he’s wondering whether this is all a dream – either that or he wishes it was.

“So, what?” Dad throws his hands into the air. “I’m supposed to stand back and let this happen? Sure, Tatum, get involved with someone like him.”

“Someone like him? What does that mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t. Why don’t you explain it to me? Because up until now, you treated him like a son. You’ve trusted him.”

“And look where it got me.”

“Where did it get you? He’s protected your life. He’s protected my life. How hypocritical can you be?”

“Watch it,” he growls. Bianca makes a strained sort of noise–he glances her way and she shakes her head, but he’s too far gone at this point. He refuses to listen to reason.

“No. You need to hear this. Dad, I love you, but I’m not going to stand here and let you act like Romero isn’t good enough for me when all he’s ever done is what you have told him to do. You shaped him into who he is. You don’t get to turn around and say he’s not good enough for me now.”

“You’re twisting my words around, dammit.” He rakes a hand through his hair and curses under his breath before glaring at Romero again. “This is all your fault.”

Romero doesn’t even flinch – he hardly reacts at all, only bearing Dad’s anger with the same stoic silence. Say something. Anything. Stand up for yourself.

But no, that’s too much to ask, isn’t it. It always has been. When it comes to Dad, he’ll never stand up for himself. Deep down inside, he doesn’t think he deserves anything besides this. Being constantly blamed, insulted, all of it.

Finally, he draws a breath, and I hold mine. This is it. This is his chance. My whole future might rest on this. It could all come down to what he does now.

Romero says only two words. “You’re right.”

I should’ve known better. My heart plummets, and all the breath leaves my lungs. He might as well hit me – it hurts that much, the way Dad’s dismissal does.

“Don’t do that,“ I whisper. “Don’t. You don’t have to.”

“I do.” He won’t look at me. Why won’t he look at me? No, he would prefer to stare at Dad, his head held high, his jaw tight. “If you’re going to blame this on anyone, it should be me.”

“No! There’s nothing to blame anybody for. There is nothing wrong with this.“ I glimpse at Bianca, silently pleading, though I know she is as helpless as I am right now. What could she say?

Dad takes a menacing step toward him, and panic explodes in my head. Before I can think, I throw myself between them. “No. Enough of this. That is not how this is going to end tonight.”

“Tatum, get out of the way,” Dad mutters.

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