Page 62 of A Coffee Away

I clenched my fists. “What the fuck did you just call me?”

He glared at me. “Well, that’s what you are, aren’t you? Roberto was confused, and you took advantage of that. Did you think we’d let you have your way?”

I grabbed the collar of his suit. “Shut the fuck up!”

A sinister laugh left him. “Are you going to hit me, boy?”

My fist hit his nose before I knew it, followed by a crack.

Blood poured down his face and onto his clean white shirt.

“Security!” he yelled.

My vision blurred, and darkness overtook me. I don’t know how many times I punched him until someone pulled me away.

“Stop it, son!” Dad’s voice cleared my head.

Robbie’s father was on the floor, smiling. “You just dug your own grave.”

I heard a talkie, and security came inside. An officer pushed me against the wall.

“Please don’t hurt him,” Dad said to no avail as they manhandled me.

“Sir, are you okay?” A nurse came inside and helped Robbie’s father.

Fuck! What had I done?

“Get him off the property!” He pointed at me, holding a cloth to his broken nose. “I won’t press charges, but know this—I’ll make sure this is the last time you set foot in this hospital.”

“No!” I struggled against security as they dragged me away.

I took one last glance at Robbie before the door closed and they walked me off the premises. Once outside, they let me go.

I ran to the door.

“Don’t!” Dad said.

I stopped midway, breathing heavily.

“No, no, no.” I raked my hair back. “Dad…”

Dad hugged me. His hold was tender, like when I was a child.

I buried my face in his neck. “I can’t live without him.”

Dad cupped my face, wiping away the renegade tears that ran down my cheeks. “I know. We’ll figure something out.”

Breathing was hard, and my chest hurt. “I fucked up.” My voice broke.

I needed to see him. To be by his side. I couldn’t stop shaking. The torrent of tears blinded me.

“Dad?” I held him tight. “How can I fight for him now?”

Dad grasped my shoulders. “Have faith. We’ll find a way.”

I took a shaky breath before nodding. I would keep fighting until I was able to see him again. No one would stop me.

Chapter 16: All Is Not Lost