Where We Left Off - Romeo Alexander Page 0,39

enunciated clearly and fiercely.

“Yes, Father,” Nathaniel muttered, knowing there was nothing else he could say.

“And as for the other details that I learned…”

“Other details?”

Dane Carter’s voice grew low and dangerous. “Do you think I don’t know that you were holed up in a hotel room with someone else? Their name is on the room, and in the police report. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize the name?”

Nathaniel’s eyes widened as he stared at Tyler. “I…”

“Don’t think we won’t be talking about that little detail as soon as I am home. Which for the record, after this little stunt, I will be flying back shortly. I thought I could trust you to handle things properly, as the adult you claim to be. But I see that was a mistake.”

“No, I…”

“No more. I have no time, nor do I have the patience to listen to any more of your excuses. Or the lies, for that matter. With the danger passed, you will return to the manor and you will stay there, in your quarters, until I have returned. Then, you and I are going to have a long conversation about what you will do from this point forward.”

Nathaniel swallowed hard. “Yes, Father.”

“You have endangered this family enough as it is and put at risk my chances of re-election. I will not have my son making a fool of me and this great name, do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then you will return to the manor promptly. I don’t care how, but I will expect word within the next couple of hours that you have arrived and are waiting in your quarters. Do you understand me?”

Nathaniel watched Tyler’s face, wondering how much of the conversation the other man was witness to. Shame and guilt wrapped its way around his gut and squeezed. He had known what he was risking by flouting his father’s rules, and he had dragged Tyler into the whole mess.

Again.

There was really only one thing he could do. As much as he wished it could be any other way, Nathaniel knew that the only way everything would be alright would be to bow his head and take the punishment. Anything else would only serve to make his life more miserable and drag other, more innocent, and less deserving people, into his mess.

“I understand,” Nathaniel said softly.

“Good, see that you don’t create any further disasters on your way home,” his father said, ending the call.

Nathaniel slowly pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at the now black screen. He knew what was coming next, and as much as he dreaded what he had to do, he knew it was necessary. Tyler had already protected him. Now it was time for Nathaniel to do the same in return.

“Nate?” Tyler asked softly, squeezing his hand.

Nathaniel shot him what he hoped was a gentle smile. “I suppose I should have known he would find out one way or another. He always does.”

“Jesus. Did he even ask if you were alright?” Tyler demanded.

No, he hadn’t, but Nathaniel hadn’t been expecting anything else. He had willingly broken the rules, and worse, had deliberately tried to flout them in the worst way possible. If there had been a list of written rules, Nathaniel had practically ripped them up and tossed them in the fire. What was anything else in the face of his own willingness to give the finger to his father’s wishes?

“I need to return home,” Nathaniel told him, avoiding the question.

Tyler straightened. “You’re kidding me.”

Nathaniel shook his head, heart sinking. “What did you expect to happen? If my father ever found out about what I was doing, he was bound to bring me back. We both knew this wasn’t right.”

Tyler snorted, lip curling. “Not right. By whose standards? Yours? His?”

“There’s not much of a difference,” Nathaniel told him.

“Of course there is. If you want there to be. You don’t have to let that giant gaping asshole control your life, Nate. You’re a full-grown man.”

“Giant gaping asshole?”

“You have a better word for him?”

Nathaniel snorted softly. “It’s not that easy, Tyler, you know that.”

“No, I don’t, actually.”

“He’s my father.”

Tyler turned his head away, still sneering. “The only thing about him that’s fatherly is the fact that he’s biologically related. Anything else is just bullshit he heaps on you. Trust me, I know a few things about shitty fathers.”

Nathaniel winced. Tyler’s father had always been a sore point for him, and understandably so. Instead of sticking with his family and trying to better his life, Tyler’s father