Page 60 of Hate So Deep

A snort escapes me before I can help it and he grabs my arm, snarling, “You think this is funny?”

Pulling away, I step cautiously to the side as he says, “Do you know who that fucker is? Do you care?”

When I don’t respond, his eyes narrow to slits and I glance at the door.

Following my gaze, he finally says, “You think he wants you, Lala? He don’t care about what’s between your thighs. Those assholes only want one thing. To get back at me.”

His words sting, the truth behind so many of my thoughts lately, tumbling free and averting my gaze, I whisper, “Get out.”

The rasp of his nasty chuckle slides down my spine like razors as he backs away, but I don’t care.

Once again, I’m left wondering…if my own father threw away his family for another, why would some random dick care about me?

Chapter 25

NOW

Dirk

I knew being here would bring out the worst in me, but I swear, this place is a fucking powder keg about to go up and the burn in my throat only flames hotter when I enter through the front door and my father is waiting for me.

This is why I came back but that doesn’t mean I want to stand across from this asshole and have any sort of a conversation.

The sooner he’s in my rearview mirror, the fucking better but I can’t go until he makes this right and he will make it right or I’m ready to take him down even if I have to go with him.

Since I’ve spent my life studying his behavior, I know it will only rile him up if I pretend indifference to his scheming, so, once we’re in his office, I lean against the wall by the door and summon a bored expression.

My father thrives on creating chaos, I suspect because it gives him the power he so desperately craves.

In this, it took me years to ratchet back my rage, but it was worth it to see his own build with every careless shrug and blank fucking stare.

“So, you’re back,” he says, and I shrug. “Couldn’t handle the heat, Dirk? I told you, you’d come crawling back on your knees.”

Of course, he thinks I’m here to beg him for money, but I’d rather live out of my fucking truck and starve to death than ask him for anything.

This is all a game though and if I want to ruffle his feathers, I have to make the right moves.

It’s time to drop the first bomb and see how he takes it.

“I’m enlisting,” I say before stepping away from the wall. “Thought you should know since you’re my father and all.”

Although he raises his brows, he doesn’t comment.

Is he hoping that I haven’t found out about his little scheme? Or maybe he’s disappointed that he has nothing to hold over me.

“Enlisted,” he finally says. “You? How’s that going to go down, Dirk? You’ll be kicked out before the first day is through.”

“Nah,” I say with a shrug. “The only person I can’t stand listening to is you.”

When his jaw tightens, I pull up a smirk.

Bingo.

Your little empire is falling.

Dick.

After a moment, he rounds the desk to sit on it before grabbing the edges.

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