Page 73 of Takedown

He slams the beer down so hard, some of it spills out.

“Are you still on that?” he asks, and I look up and meet his eyes. “That’s bullshit and you know it. If you come upstairs, I’ll explain, and we can move the hell on.” He offers me his hand, but I scrape my chair back, further away from him.

“You’re going to tell me more lies?”

“I never fucking lied.” He doesn’t yell, but the words are louder than they need to be. In fact, I blame him for the fact that my mother walks into the kitchen. She puts a hand on her chest as if she’s surprised to see us here.

“Goodness, I had no idea everyone was here. What’s all the fuss about?” Of course, she looks at me when she asks that question.

“Just here to get my wife,” Adam says.

“You do that a lot, don’t you? I remember you were looking for her my first night here.”

His body goes rigid and his footsteps stall. He turns slowly and faces my mother. His jaw ticks again, and I know he’s holding back. I can feel his anger from here. Whether it’s because I left, or because of his unwanted guest, or a combination of both, his simmering rage is close to eruption.

“What’s your point, lady?” he asks quietly. Way too quietly for the anger oozing out of him.

“Don’t get smart with my mom, Flynn,” Jason says.

“As long as she minds her business, I won’t,” Adam says back.

“It’s my business. This is my family. Melanie is my daughter.”

“Oh, please,” I say to my mother. I stand between her and my husband. “Your fake concern is giving me a cavity.”

“It’s not fake, Melanie. Something is off with the two of you. I’m not blind. It’s time someone tells me what the hell is going on here, but I know you won’t. Jason, what’s the truth?” I cut my eyes at my brother, and he looks like a deer in headlights. He slowly sets his beer down and rubs the back of his head.

“If you want to ask Mellie about something, she’s right there, Mom.” Jason picks up the beer again and drains it.

My mom opens her mouth as if she’s in shock by Jason’s rebuke. She looks at me again, and her eyes narrow when she sees my smirk. “Proud that you’ve managed to turn your brother against me?”

“Really? How the hell did I do that? I didn’t realize I had that much power.” I stand up this time, ready to take my rage and frustration out on her.

Jason must sense it because he stands up too.

“He’s going along with this farce of a marriage or wedding or whatever the hell you want to call what you two are doing.”

“What we’re doing is minding our own damn business, lady,” Adam says. He stands next to me and wraps a protective arm around me. “Sounds to me like you have enough of your own problems to worry about. Don’t worry about my wife. She’s fine.”

“Flynn, I told you to shut up.” Jason walks over and stands in front of Adam.

“Tellherto shut up,” Adam says back.

“Melanie, I’m not the least bit surprised that you would end up with someone as disrespectful as him.” She points to Adam as if saying his name is beneath her. “You two are a farce. When this all blows up, I won’t be around to pick up the pieces.”

Adam drops his hand and takes a step closer to her, but I stand between them.

“Mom, that’s enough,” Jason warns.

“When have you ever been around to pick up the pieces for me? To pick them apart? Sure. To criticize and lay blame? Yeah, all day every day, but to actually offer me a shoulder and understanding? That only extends to your son.” She gasps and steps back as if struck. “I don’t need or want anything from you, Mother, least of all your fake concern.”

“Mellie, enough. Don’t say something you’ll regret,” Jason warns.

“The only thing I regret is that she moved here. And she’s doing it again. She’s slowly coming between us just like she did when we were kids with the constant favoritism. I’m not doing it anymore. I can no longer live here, and I honestly don’t want anything to do with you,” I say, pointing at our mother. “You’ve always been and will always be toxic where I’m concerned.”

“Oh, where are you going to go? With this wedding nonsense and the new furniture, you can’t afford to go anywhere. He gave you a fake diamond ring. He couldn’t even afford to furnish his own damn apartment. You had to do it for him. And on your dime, I bet.” A few years ago, I would have unshed tears in my eyes at her dismissal, but not today. Today, I let out a laugh. I hold out my hand and admire my rings.

“How do you always manage to get everything wrong where I’m concerned?” The question throws my mother off, and she looks around the kitchen as if confused. “Don’t disparage my husband. He has a job and so do I. Jason and Alex asked me to be here, unlike you who just barged in. Thank goodness for your son. The only child you ever wanted because if it were up to me, you’d be living in your car.”

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