Page 839 of Lessons in Cruelty

“I’m Haven,” I say, and I’m proud that my voice doesn’t shake, even while my entire body cringes at the way he says sweetheart. “Haven Lee.”

“Lee.” He rolls the name around in his mouth. “From the trailer park.”

“Yes.” I feel compelled to tack on a ‘sir’ at the end, but I stop myself.

This man doesn’t deserve respect.

He deserves a shallow grave.

Amusement—maybe even disgust—flickers across his face. “Kai always did have a soft spot for strays.”

I don’t flinch at the insult. I’ve been called worse by better…and I liked it.

“She’s the one Kai used to run away with all the time,” Ezra mutters…like he’s trying to score brownie points with his abusive fucking father.

Richard’s gaze slides to his eldest son. “Shut it.”

Ezra’s mouth goes into a line. He drops his head, staring down at his phone as he scrolls silently through whatever app he’s using to opt out of this family nightmare.

Holy shit.

I reach under the table, fumbling for Kai’s hand. His fingers are ice cold and limp, and he doesn’t squeeze back. Does he even register that I’m touching him?

“Kai?” I keep my voice low, leaning close as I shake his hand. “Kai, hey. Come back to me.”

Nothing.

His unfocused eyes stare into the distance, his chest barely moving. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was dead.

Sharon returns with a beer, setting it in front of Richard with trembling hands. “Here you go, darling.”

Richard doesn’t thank her. Doesn’t even look at her. Just pops the cap and takes a long pull, his eyes still fixed on his son.

“So,” he says, setting the bottle down with a decisive clink. “You gonna tell me what the hell you’re doing here, Kai?”

The silence stretches.

I hear myself say, “We were just leaving, actually.”

Richard’s eyebrows rise. “Soon as I get here? That’s fucking rude, sweetheart.”

“Kai’s not feeling well.” I stand, tugging on Kai’s arm.

For a moment—a beautiful, awesome moment—I think it’s going to work. Sharon’s nodding encouragingly, relief flooding her Botoxed face. Even Ezra seems willing to let us escape, not bothering to look up from his phone, with a twist on his scarred mouth that says good riddance.

I’ve got Kai halfway to his feet when Richard speaks again.

“Sit down.”

I freeze.

Richard’s voice hardens. “I said sit down.”

And fuck me, I do.

I sit back down like the good little girl I swore I’d never be again, because something in his voice goes straight to the part of me that learned very young what happens when you disobey men like this.

Kai sinks back into his chair like a puppet with cut strings.