shut behind me so Brady will be safe, and then grab hold of Dad’s shoulder. “Let go of her.”
Dad swings around, and the slap to my ear stuns me for a moment. “Oh, you think you’re man enough to take me on?”
I glance at Mom. “Go to your bedroom.”
There’s a pained look mixing with the fear in her eyes, and she hesitates.
“Go, Mom!” I shout.
Dad lets out a bark of laughter. He shakes his head, a shit-eating grin on his face as he watches Mom do as I say, then he turns his crazed eyes back on me. “Let’s see if you actually have a set of balls on you because right now, I’m sure all I’ll find is a pussy.”
I clench my jaw while holding his gaze.
He lets out another bark of laughter. “See, all talk and no action. You’re a fucking disgrace.” He waves a fist in the air. “All of you are. I fucking bust my ass at the office for this family, and what thanks do I get?” He takes a threatening step closer to me. “Fucking disrespect. That’s what.”
In the past, I used to be scared shitless whenever he was like this, but after growing used to it, I hardly feel any emotion now.
The impassive expression I give Dad turns his face red with rage, and he lunges at me. Grabbing hold of my shirt, he shoves me against the wall while spitting, “Don’t give me that look. You’re nothing but human waste.”
I bite my tongue, not giving him any reaction, and it only enrages him more.
“Colton.” Hearing my name snaps me out of the past, and my eyes shoot up. Mr. Donati gives me a concerned look as he places a hand on my shoulder. He keeps his voice low as he asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sir,” I mutter, shifting uneasily in my chair.
He nods, giving my shoulder a squeeze before he continues with class.
Shit, it’s the first time something like that happened. I’ve never had flashbacks before.
I clear my throat, and picking up a pen, I scribble on a page to keep my hand busy, but when I notice I’m trembling, I shove both my hands under the desk and clasp them tightly together. My heart is still beating like crazy as if it just happened.
That was the first time my father beat me so severely I couldn’t go to school for two weeks. We used meningitis as an excuse.
The bell rings, and while I’m gathering my stuff, Mr. Donati walks to me and places a piece of paper on my desk. “That’s my number. If you need to talk, just call. It doesn’t matter what the time is.”
Taking hold of the paper, I glance up at him.
None of my previous teachers cared. I was more off sick than at school toward the end of last year, and that’s part of the reason I have to repeat my senior year.
I begin to say, “I’m fi –” but Mr. Donati shakes his head.
“You’re not, Colton. I’d like to help but if you can’t talk to me, then go meet with the counselor. You need to talk to someone about what happened.”
I rise to my feet and shrug my bag’s strap over my shoulder. Shoving the paper with his number into the inside pocket of my jacket, I mutter, “Talking won’t change the past.” I walk to the door but then guilt creeps into my chest, and I pause. Glancing back at the teacher, I say, “Mr. Donati.”
“Yes.” His eyes lock on mine.
“Thanks for caring, though.”
Mr. Donati’s lips curve into a compassionate smile before I walk out of the classroom.
After the day from hell, I just want to go home, but I only make it to the lockers when I hear a loud bang, and my eyes dart toward the sound.
Michael has Brie pushed up against the lockers, and not thinking twice, I stalk toward them.
“No,” Brie whimpers while trying to free herself from his hold.
“No?” he sneers. “I thought you needed the money.”
I slide an arm between them and shove Michael away from Brie. Glancing at her, I snap, “Finish up so we can leave.”
I turn my gaze back to Michael, who’s glaring darkly at me. Then a smirk forms on his face. “Oh, brother, you’re really begging for a beating.”
“I’m not your brother.” I take a step closer to him. “Leave her alone.”
“Don’t tell me you’re into the weirdo,” he chuckles.
I give him a look of warning before glancing back to Brie. I