less than it does Damon, it’s simply that I have better control over how I handle him. Damon’s rage runs far deeper, and I don’t trust him not to act on it in front of everybody here.
“Do you need something, William?”
Anger bleeds into his expression to be called by his first name. I don’t give a fuck about the lack of respect it shows. I’d intended it.
Although we haven’t heard from this jackass since the last time he dragged us off for a weekend when we were still at Yale, he still attempts to make himself known at social functions we attend.
“Just wanted to see how my sons are doing.”
He eyes flick to Damon and back to me.
“Looks like both of you are going soft.”
Chuckling at that, I resist the urge to remind him of exactly what his bullshit created.
I nudge my chin in the direction of Warbucks and Daddy Dearest.
“You might want to return to your friends. Damon and I have nothing to say to you.”
When he attempts to step around me, I move with him, intentionally closing the space between us to remind him that his sons grew up to be bigger than him.
Time is weakening this motherfucker, but it’s making his boys a hell of a lot stronger.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I’m a little surprised he’s even attempting this shit, but when I smell the alcohol rolling off his breath, I understand why he thought he stood a chance of getting close.
His stare holds mine, and I don’t miss the tension over his shoulders.
Stretching my hands out, I resist the urge to react any more than that to the quiet threat of his stare.
“Tell your brother I’ll be in touch,” he says.
I don’t respond. He wants a reaction, and I’m not willing to give it to him. I can’t say the same would be the case with Damon. He has yet to learn to control his temper.
After watching him stroll back to where the rest of our fathers are gathered, the muscles in my shoulders relax only slightly. Memories threaten to invade my thoughts, images I’ll never be able to escape.
My jaw tics once as I turn to walk back to where Mason and the guys wait, but a pair of turquoise eyes catch my attention, Emily’s stare locked on me.
She casts a quick glance at my father and back to me, and even from this distance, I can see the suspicion swirling behind those eyes and the first spark of her fire.
Fuck...
There’s nothing I can do but ignore it. If I give even the slightest indication that my father was responsible for the bruises she used to hate, nobody will be able to stop that woman from confronting him.
I have no doubt Emily would find ways to smash down brick walls to get to the man who caused them.
And knowing that doesn’t make the way I feel about her any easier. If anything, it’s exactly why I still haven’t been able to let her go.
“What did that fat fuck want?”
Mason’s stare locks to mine, but rather than answering him, I study my brother.
To everybody else, it looks like Damon is handling this well, but I know him better than that.
Memories crash through his head as violently as mine, the voices and images of forced betrayal that is chained to us with hooks through our skin.
“We should go get those drinks,” I say instead of answering Mason. “But let’s go to one of our houses instead of out to a bar. I don’t think any of us are in a mood to be trusted.”
Jase laughs at that.
“Not sure about you sorry assholes, but I’m all good.”
I cut him a look and he shrugs. “What? It seems like I’m the only one without a problem tonight.”
“Should I bring up Everly?” I ask.
The smile on his face vanishes. “Fuck you.”
Laughing at that, I tilt my head toward the mansion. “You all should go wait by the limos. I’ll see if I can find Gabriel and Sawyer to let them know we’re leaving.”
“What about Shane?” Mason asks.
My lips curl knowing what that bastard is up to.
“He’ll find his own way home.”
They take off, and I spin a slow circle in place looking for the other two.
When I spot Gabe, he’s already heading in the group’s direction to walk up front with them. But there’s no sign of Sawyer.
I pull out my phone and send him a quick text, a response coming through almost immediately to tell me he’ll meet