"Almost nineteen." I muttered, even though my birthday wasn't for another five months.
"—and I expect you to start behaving like a mature adult if you're to live under my roof." He continued on like I hadn't said anything, and I ground my teeth together in anger.
One of the boys—probably Kody—made a small scoffing sound at that, though, which sent a flicker of amusement through my fury.
"First of all," I snapped back, balling my hands into fists under the table, "I didn't ask to come home from Cambodia. Aunt Marie died and I had nowhere to live because I don't get access to my trust fund until I'm twenty-one."
"Believe me, Madison Kate, I'd change that if I could." My father's words sounded a hell of a lot more threatening than reassuring, and I suppressed a shiver of dread.
"And secondly," I carried on, ignoring the anxiety he'd just sparked in me, "maybe if you hadn't literally moved the pricks who framed me for Riot Night into the same house, I wouldn't feel the need to lash out. Furthermore," I sucked in a quick breath, "the rest of the so-called trouble is thanks to the goddamn stalker that you never felt the need to inform me about. So the explosion on campus today? That's on you. My getting stabbed and almost dying two weeks ago? On. You. Mom's murder? You, as well."
My father didn't even flinch. The only reaction he had was a twitch to his brow.
"If you're done with your tantrum, Madison Kate, we are going to discuss some new rules."
I was speechless. Had he heard a single word I'd just said?
"Archer, Kody, and Steele are very concerned that you're acting out and that this so-called stalker is just your newest cry for attention." His voice was so bland he might as well be talking about the damn weather. This got better and fucking better. "I personally would like to see you checked into Riverview Heights for a thorough medical assessment"—I gasped aloud—that was a psychiatric hospital—"but Archer seems to think that you simply require stricter rules and boundaries here at home."
I swung my furious gaze around to my stepbrother and glared absolute death at him. I was under no illusions that this wasn’t his bullshit at play. Kody and Steele were just being dragged down with the sinking ship.
"How very altruistic of Archer," I snarled. He didn't look guilty or remorseful in the least. Standard fucking D'Ath.
"This is what's going to happen, Madison Kate," my father continued. "You're not to leave this house without one of the boys to accompany you. You will go to class and come straight home again. You won't be running around with Bree getting up to god knows what mischief, and you certainly won't be seeing that predatory delinquent Dallas Moore."
"This must be a fucking joke," I whispered, horrified. "I must be imagining this. Maybe that concussion was worse than they told me."
"Sit down," Archer hissed at me, yanking sharply on my hand. I hadn't even noticed I'd stood up from my chair. As such, I dropped back into my seat like a sack of bricks.
My father gave me a cold, unkind smile. "Consider yourself under house arrest until these stupid pranks and fake stalker stunts stop happening."
I was stunned to the point of speechlessness. But then... Nope. No way. I was a grown-ass woman, whether I lived in my father's house or not. And no one was forcing me to stay.
Taking a calming breath, I shoved my anger and outrage and sheer disbelief aside. My father didn't respond well to emotions, only facts and logic.
"I understand the rules you're laying out, Dad," I responded with my very best calm voice, given the circumstances. "And, respectfully, go fuck yourself."
Whoops.
But the damage was done, so I backed myself. "If those are the rules to living under your roof, then it's an easy fix. I won't." I shoved my chair back from the table and yanked my fingers out of Archer's grip—not until then realizing he hadn't let go. "Cherise, it was lovely to meet you, but your taste in men is, frankly, appalling. I recommend making some life changes."
With a tight smile to my father's girlfriend, I spun on my heel and started out of the dining room. My spine was ramrod straight and my chin high. Fuck them all. I'd survive on my own.
"Madison Kate Danvers," my father's voice boomed, and I flinched. As badly as I wanted to stand on my