AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dad shook his head, his cold gaze flicking back to me. The sneer he gave Ilya remained firmly in place after his attention returned to me. “You had so much potential, Roan. It hurts to see how far you’ve fallen.”
“Well, you know me. I strive to be an epic disappointment in your eyes. Guess I finally succeeded at something.” I stepped past him and yanked open the front door.
I didn’t have to worry if Ilya was behind me; his footsteps shadowed mine the entire way to the car. If it was Sasha, I’m sure he would have laid my father out the second he opened his mouth. Thankfully, Ilya didn’t seem as hot tempered.
Shoving the bags in the backseat, I climbed into the front passenger side and slunk down. Arms crossed and eyes closed, I exhaled a shaky breath, wishing like hell I could teleport back to my bed and put this whole fucking day behind me.
“I can bring your car tomorrow,” Ilya said as we pulled out of the driveway, “so you don’t have to see him again.”
“Thanks. Sorry you had to see that.”
“Sorry you had to live with that.”
5
SASHA
Per my instructions,Ilya sent me a text as soon Roan was safely inside the building. According to him, there was nothing to report for his first day on the job.
Over dinner, however, I got the distinct feeling Ilya left out some very important details in his daily summary.
“You’re quiet,” I said, watching Roan push a piece of chicken around his plate like he had been for the past five minutes. I’m pretty sure if I reassembled all of the pieces, it would show he hadn’t actually eaten any of it. It was a painful reminder of the time I’d once held him hostage. He’d hardly eaten then, either, which meant he was once again under an equally large amount of stress. Not that he’d tell me.
“I’m tired.” He didn’t even bother looking up when he replied. Hedidlook up when I reached for my cell phone, eyes widening. “What are you doing?”
“Asking Ilya what happened.”
“Oh my God. Nothing!” His fork clattered against his plate. He held his head in both hands for a moment before he dropped them, glaring at me from across the table. “I saw my dad. I’m officially kicked out of the house and now he wants the car back. Happy?”
I frowned at him. Of course I wasn’t fucking happy. What the hell kind of a question was that, anyway? “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I don’t have to tell you everything, Warden. And to be honest, I’m surprised my babysitter didn’t already fill you in.”
Frankly, I was surprised Ilya didn’t mention it either. Unless he didn’t think family conflict was worthy of mentioning. But when it came to Roan’s asshole father, I wanted to know everything. I hadn’t forgotten how willing Phillip Sinclair was to sacrifice his only son to save his own skin. Roan wanted him to pay — and pay he would, as soon as the time was right. My priority at the moment, however, was Roan. Until he was in a good place, I wasn’t concerned with punishing his father.
“It’s no problem,” I said with a shrug, slicing through my own chicken as calmly as possible, and ignoring that whole prison jab.
“Itisa problem, Sasha,” he snapped back, his teeth on edge. “I need my car. I don’t just work in the city, remember? I have to have a way to get to the suburbs with all of my stuff.”
“I’ll buy you a car,” I replied evenly, laying my own fork down before I bent it. “See? No problem.”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “I’m not letting you buy me a car.”
“Why not?” I tried not to scowl, but I knew I failed when he made a face right back at me.
“Are you serious right now?!”
I cocked my head, trying to figure out why he wasn’t happier. He had a problem, I presented a solution. That should have alleviated his worry. But no. He still had to be a pain in my ass.
“It’s bad enough that I live here and you pay for” — he threw his arms wide, glancing around the apartment — “everything. You hired a fucking bodyguard. And now you want to buy me a car? What do I look like to you?!”
It was obviously a trick question, so I didn’t say anything.
As usual, my silence only seemed to infuriate him, but it was better than misspeaking altogether.
“I’m not your fucking rent boy!” He shoved away from the table, rattling the dishes. “But I guess I’m not even good enough forthatanymore, am I?”
Rent boy? I furrowed my brows, tracking him as he stormed across the living room and disappeared down the hall. I might not have known what he was saying, specifically, but I had enough context clues to know what he was getting at. It was the last part that pissed me off the most, though.
