my disgust, hate, and pain into my hard stare. My fingers tighten into fists at my side. Everything in me tells me to strike again, but I hold myself back knowing if he’s dead, then he can’t pay for his crimes.
“I know about that fucking place, The Boardroom.” Somehow, his face pales even further, understanding dawning on the reasons for my actions. The bones of my fingers groan under my tight fists. “They were just girls.”
Close by, someone sucks in a harsh breath, confirming what I had already known. Jessica had no idea the fuckery she was desperate to marry into. Hell, I’m already a part of this fucked-up family and I didn't know until yesterday.
“Get out.” Tilting my head, I level an emotionless glare to where Mother now stands, champagne glass discarded on the side table. “You have no right—”
“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, Mother. I have every right. Not only do I have every right to stand here and beat the shit out of my own father for fucking underage girls, I have the damn proof.” The sheer disgust in my tone echoes off the floor-to-ceiling windows. I suck in deep breath after deep breath. “And you knew.” My voice cracks, giving away the pain I feel. “You knew the whole time what was going on, and you did nothing to stop it. Just kept fucking your own way through senator after senator, leaching off each person for more secrets and power.”
My chest heaves as I turn back to my father where he sits against the wall, one hand cradling his swelling cheek while the other supports him from falling over.
“It's the way this city works, son.” I blanch at his words, which he notices. Thinking he has some footing, thinking his excuse is valid, he straightens and stands, wobbling in place as he does. “You have no idea the deals that are made, the power and secrets that are exchanged there.”
“I do not care. Those girls were held there, and you knew. You knew it was a hub for sex trafficking and did nothing except condone it by going back over and over and over again.”
“I had to do it to stay at the top of this city. It was nothing, just sex. I didn’t know their age.”
“It’s illegal and wrong,” I somehow grit out with my jaw clenched tight.
“It's politics.”
Another wave of disgust rushes through me. Blood pounds in my ears, distracting me to the point that I don't catch the door opening. I'm still transfixed by the perversion in his words when a cold hand rests on my shoulder. I go to shrug it off when it slides to my bare neck, sending a shiver down my spine. Immediately my swirling, out-of-control emotions settle. Confusion sets in briefly until Randi steps into my periphery.
“You didn't think I'd let you face this alone, did you?” The softness in her tone is a complete contradiction to the vileness coating the room. She gives the back of my neck another squeeze before sliding her hand down my arm to take my own and interlace our fingers. Shifting her attention to my father, the warmth in her features drains away. “Now, Mr. Benson, I walked in on the tail end of this conversation, so why don't you catch me up to speed.”
“No.”
My muscles bunch, readying to launch another punch at his sneering face, when Randi tugs on my arm.
“Okay, that's fine. I'll talk, then.” Two sets of stomping feet enter the room, signaling the agents from outside have decided I've had enough one-on-one family time. “You're under arrest for statutory rape, enabling in sex trafficking, and the bribing of federal employees.” A smidge of pride blooms in my chest at her calm tone, the firmness in her words. “I tried to have them tack on being a fucking lousy-ass father as well, but apparently CPS won't investigate since said child is nearly forty.” Her brows shoot up like a lightbulb goes off. “Wait, do you turn forty this year?” she asks me.
“Can we talk about this later?”
“Right, sorry.” Turning back to my father, she again settles that cold mask over her face. “As I was saying—”
“Don't you say another word to him,” Mother screeches. The tips of her heels clip against the pale wood floors, her hate-filled eyes locked on Randi. Unfazed by the outburst, Randi turns to meet Mother, who looks ready to strangle the woman I love. With a growl, I tuck Randi behind me, putting my