AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Donnie scowls at me. "You went missing and show up now with attitude?" He grabs my arm and Foster steps forward.
Donnie holds up his palm to stop Foster. "Keep your distance, Foster."
"Donnie. Knock it off." He's always such an ass. I pull my arm from his grasp and glare at him.
Foster steps back, but his lips are thin and his jaw is jutting forward.
"Listen, Foster whoever you are." My father lays in. Oh no. This is not going to be good.
"Don't say it. Please. He helped me and you guys are being unfair to him."
My dad barely looks at me before he continues with what he planned to say as if I hadn't spoken. "Stay away from her. She's mine and she doesn't associate with street urchins."
"Dad!" I step forward as if I could physically protect Foster from him, but I know I can't.
"You've had your fun with my daughter. Now leave."
"He's really out of his league here and you know it." Donnie yanks my arm again, and I stumble over to his side.
Foster's jaw works, his eyes on Donnie's hand on my upper arm. His balled fists make it clear it's taking all his effort to hold back and not clobber my dad and Donnie.
I hate that my family is reacting this way. They're judging him because he has tattoos, he's a fighter, and I would guess because he's not Italian. I hate that Donnie is roughing me up in front of Foster. He saved my life and stayed with me through the storm when Donnie ran like a coward. He's the good guy here.
"Foster, you'd better go," I say with my head down. It hurts, but I don't want him to see this escalate with my dad.
"Fine." Foster turns stiffly and strides out the door of the solarium. He walks over the mess of fallen palm fronds and pine needles without looking back.
I pull my arm out of Donnie's grasp. "You guys didn't have to be so rude to him."
"That guy is a big loser," Donnie says.
My dad's face reddens and his eyes cool as he glares at Foster's retreating back.
"Shut up."
My dad hates when I talk like this, but I'm angry at him for hurting Foster's feelings. He told me how he's never been accepted by anyone and then my dad rejected him without even giving him a chance.
Before I say anything else that will get me in trouble, I walk away from them and over to the glass windows next to the pool to look for Foster. I can almost make out a blurry black helmet at the bottom of the drive.
The faint sound of a motorcycle roar permeates the glass of the house as I watch him drive off the property. I'm stuck in my fishbowl and he's gone. I may never see him again. I press my palm to the cool glass. "Bye, Foster."
Sharp pain stings my scalp, and my head is jerked backward. I don't see it coming but a thud hits my cheek and I'm on the floor, my hands flat on the cold Italian tile, my father standing over me.
"Don't ever talk back to me in front of anyone."
He won't stop unless I relent. "I'm sorry."
He's breathing heavy and fury grows in his eyes. I've insulted him and now I'll pay. "Screw sorry." His boot strikes me hard in the thigh. The pain zings up my side. "You're sorry for acting like a floozy streetwalker, picking up low-lifes and bringing 'em home to fuck in the basement. What the hell is wrong with you?"
I know better than to answer. If I'm quiet, he'll stop sooner. Anything I say will earn me more kicks until he loses control and really hurts me. No. I have to stay quiet.
"Remember your place." He points a shaking finger down at me.
"I protect you. I'm your shield. You respect that or I'll lower my guard and anyone who wants revenge on me will come for you in a heartbeat. The second they hear you're out from under my protection, your life is over."
The terror in my soul whenever he talks about my safety hurts so much more than the pain of the beating. I wish someone would finally come and end this for me, so I can be free of this eternal dread.
I stare at the floor and try not to cry, but my nose is running and I'm having trouble holding it back. Sometimes if I cry, he feels bad and stops. But that's not why I'm doing it. I'm hurt. Hurt my father treats me this way.
