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“She’s a pretty girl,” my father offered “But presented with this evidence, I’ve coenda, and it would be hard to convince me otherwise”

It was so unfair, and exactly what I deserved, that the first real relationship I’d gotten to choose would end up being full of deceit I’d fallen for it, and she hadn’t just made me feel like a fool—she’d made me look weak in front of my family

Fire bubbled inher, too”

His eyebrow arrowed up “For what?”

I wished I hadn’t said anything I wasn’t about to tell him how Lambert had threatened me, and I especially didn’t want to explain what Lambert planned to use for blackmail I had no choice but to lie

I said it in a casual, careless tone “Sex”

I expected him to bristle, but he was too s people and their lies “I don’t believe you You care about this girl, Vance”

Up until one ray, overcast sky, with a stor on the horizon Despite that, I couldn’t just shut my emotions off

He’d had this information on Friday, he’d planned this dinner, and h

My voice was dark “You were going to, what? Humiliate her with all this in front of everyone?”

“That was my initial plan, yes When I see a threat, I choose to confront it”

Was he kidding? “What threat?”

“The threat she poses to you, Vance I do not want to see you get hurt, and there’s no way this doesn’t end badly”

I shot a dubious glance over to Royce, checking to see his reaction The idea that our father orried aboutmy heart broken was so utterly ridiculous, I expected my brother to call him out on it

Our father hadn’t cared about anyone else’s feelings before—especially not his eldest son’s The shit he’d put Royce through, the things he’d done to MaristHe’d nearly succeeded in crushing both their hearts

My brother didn’t look outraged, though Fuck, if anything, it looked like he felt the same way as our father

I sed harshly, gnashing my teeth, and my tone was frosty “While I appreciate the concern, it’s not needed I’ll be fine”