Page 89 of I Knew You
“And none of it fucking mattered. I lost the scholarship, anyway. I lost her. I never even had you as a father. You’ve ruined Mom’s life, cheating on her every chance you get and beating her when things don’t go your way. And you refuse to acknowledge your daughter?—”
“That bitch is not my daughter!” Spit flew from Vince’s mouth.
“Yeah, DNA means nothing to you since you’ve swapped it around so often,” Bram replied. “When will anything be enough? When will you be satisfied?”
I was shocked. Pieces fell into place like a puzzle, but I couldn’t know the whole picture without some context. Bram had held back something from me about that night of the wreck. Had he come back to the scene? Was he almost arrested? I couldn’t decipher the extent of it.
“Quit being so dramatic.”
I watched helplessly as Bram’s face reddened to an unnatural shade. “Get. Off. My. Property.”
Vince let out a taunting laugh. “Or what? You’ll hurt me? Kill me? You’re too chicken shit for any of that. Always have been. And you want that money so bad, there’s no way you’ll risk an assault charge.”
“You’re right, but I only want that money to heal the thingsyoudestroyed.”
Vince continued like Bram hadn’t spoken. “You could have been something huge in this town. Instead, you’re playing in the woods all day like a child and fucking a fat chick at night.”
I winced and strained to see Bram’s reaction.
Bram stepped toe to toe with the man he loathed the most. I had to concentrate to hear their voices through the window glass. “Is this why you’ve come here?” Bram asked. “To tell me how much you hate me and insult Julianna? You’re pathetic.”
“I’ve told you before, I made you, Bram,” Vince growled. “You came from me. I gave you everything when you were a kid: all those trips, professional ball games, even that truck you wrecked. Plus, don’t forget that future you wanted so badly in football. None of that would have been possible if it weren’t for me. And a long time ago, you chose all of those things over that woman you’re calling a wife now. Remember that.”
The warmth that had engulfed me was replaced by a chill that ran through my veins. I let go of Lakey’s neck. I stood to full height, no longer caring if they could see me. Bram’s attention cut to the window, and they both stared at me.
I met Bram’s gaze, and his expression morphed into tragic worry. Bram made to move around Vince, coming toward me. But I shook my head, and his eyes returned to his father. Yet Vince held my gaze. I wasn’t sure what face I was giving him, but it must have pleased him. He smiled, his menacing grin mocking me.
“Punch me, Son. You know you want to.” He was still staring at me.
Bram shook his head. “I’m not you. You’ve had your fun. Now go.”
Vince’s eyes shifted to Bram. “When I die, you won’t get another fucking penny, you hear me?” He was yelling forcefully, pointing at Bram in accusation, his voice full of evil spite.
“I don’t want one fucking thing from you,” Bram seethed through gritted teeth. “And the day you’re gone can’t come soon enough.” And like the bigger man he was, Bram walked around his father and started toward the house, coming for me.
Vince left in his fancy car, squealing tires as he retreated. Bram was shaking out his hands, which had been fisted, as he strode toward the front door, his face grim.
I was rooted in my spot by the window, unable to decide what to do or how to react. He’d confessed to the police about driving the night of the wreck at some point and hadn’t told me. His father rigged his football scholarship. And his father had warned him off me. And he’d listened and broken my heart. Like bones breaking, my feelings were morphing into something I hated with each realization. All I held were small pieces of the truth. I wanted the entire story.
Bram stopped in the large doorway to the living area.
“Are you okay?” I asked, ashamed of how shaky my voice sounded.
“Yeah,” he murmured, flexing his hands again. His eyes met mine. “How much of that did you hear?”
“All of it,” I whispered, staring back at him. “I have questions.”
He exhaled long.
“I know you do, and I’ll answer them all. But I want you to know, before you ask them, I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you on purpose. I just?—”
“You just never thought it was important that I know? Because if you chose me, you’d have lost your football scholarship, right?”
That was as far as my mind had gotten in solving the highly complex puzzle. Saying the words out loud made my heart drop into my stomach. Sadness and truth flashed across Bram’s features.
“It’s not as simple as it sounds, sweets.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Do not call me that.”
