Page 71 of Manhattan Tormentor

He’s eating but also reading from his tablet. The man never stops. I suppose it’s a quality to admire. A multi-millionaire always wants more.

I loved him once. When I was small and didn’t know any better. Before he treated his family as a commodity to use at will.

In this house, we arethings.

I respected him.

Hero-worshipped as only a clueless kid can.

Now I loathe the man he is.

“What kind of news would you like me to deliver?” I doubt he’d like to know I earned an A in my first photography class.

The way mom side-eyes me, she must sense there’s an argument brewing. “Finn, your father only wants you to be happy.”

Fat chance. A crocodile only knows how to look for his next meal.

He might think it’s joining our family to Sofia’s, but he’s not using me as bait to do it.

Millions are on the line. I know this because he’s rammed it down my throat for a year. He expects me to become a sports legend and then go into the family business.

I’d rather slit my throat and bleed out on mom’s bedroom carpet.

There’s only ever one person Jeremy looks out for, and that’s Jeremy. His family don’t factor.

I’m supposed to fall in line and do what the old man says. Put my ring on a finger and cement his deal with blood and obedience. He might even want me to toss in a few grandkids.

As pretty as Sofia is, she acts dumb as a piece of bread with no opinion of her own. Blindly following whatever her parents tell her to do.

She’ll jump on my cock if told to.

And the girl is eager to.

“Don’t let me down, do you hear, Finn?”

“I have two good working ears,” I reply, chewing through a roll. Dad lifts his eyes finally and stares at me.

“Don’t get smart.”

“Don’t let you down. Don’t get smart. I’m only a man, Jeremy, pick one and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Finn.” Mom warns in her sweet voice that wouldn’t scare a spider.

“You’ll watch how you talk to me,” he warns. “The Edwards are coming over next weekend, you need to be home.”

“I can’t keep coming home every weekend.”

“You’ll do as you’re told if you want to keep your car and limitless cards.”

His old faithful threats.

The man is pathetic.

Mom implores me with silent eyes for me to behave.

He doesn’t need to raise his voice; he knows he’s got me by the balls. I either fall in line, or I’ll have nothing.

I push back my chair, mom looks worried as I walk around the table and drop a kiss to the top of her head. “I gotta head back.”

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