Page 840 of Lessons in Cruelty

“If only you were always so obedient.” Richard takes another sip of beer as he eyes Kai. “Now, since you made all this effort to leave whatever hole you’ve been hiding in, Kai, why don’t you tell me what the fuck you were thinking putting your brother in the goddamn hospital?”

“Aw, Richie, please.” Sharon whines in a high, reedy voice. “It’s Thanksgiving, darling. Can’t we just⁠—“

“Quiet, woman.”

She flinches like he hit her.

I know he used to. Kai would mention some of her ‘accidents’ in passing when we were in the woods. His mom’s broken wrist from ‘slipping in the shower,’ the bruised jaw from ‘walking into a door.’

“I told you, it’s nothing.” Ezra’s voice is flat and bored. “Brothers fight all the time.”

“Was I speaking to you?”

Ezra’s jaw tightens, but he says nothing.

Richard’s gaze swings to Kai. “Son. Look at me.”

Kai doesn’t move.

“Kai!” Richard barks.

Slowly—so slowly it’s painful to watch—Kai raises his head. His eyes are glassy, unfocused. He looks like he’s sleepwalking through a nightmare.

“You think it’s nothing too, son?” Richard’s grim smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I had a cop come to my office.” He stabs a finger into the tablecloth. “Right to my office!”

“I’m sorry, Dad,” Kai manages, but his voice is a whisper. A child’s voice.

“That’s it? You’re sorry?” Richard huffs as he takes another sip of his beer. “Everyone in that office saw me being questioned like a goddamn criminal. But, hey, I guess it’s okay now because you’re fucking sorry.”

Kai’s trembling so much, he stammers when he tries to speak. “Wh-what do y-you want me to⁠—”

“Don’t.”

Kai’s mouth snaps shut.

“I don’t want your fucking apologies. What I want is for you to stop making a mockery of this family. I’ve spent my entire life building us up from the ground. We lived in a fucking trailer park and now we have this.” He gestures at the massive house around us. “Because of me. Because of what I’ve done. And all you had to do was be grateful and keep your nose clean.”

His voice goes deadly quiet. “You’d swear I taught you nothing.”

What the fuck?

A hot, ugly feeling rises in my chest.

Is Kai’s monster of a father honestly berating his son for beating the shit out of his abusive brother, because he brought shame on their family?

“Wanna know what you taught Kai?” I can barely hear myself speak past the rage buzzing in my ears. “You taught him that violence is the only option.”

Richard turns to look at me with utter shock, like a piece of furniture just spoke back to him.

“The hell did you just say to me?”

“You heard me.”

I’m standing, though I don’t remember getting up. My hands are shaking, but thank God my voice is steady because weak people don’t stand a chance around men like him.

“You taught him to hurt the people he loves before they can hurt him first. And Ezra?” I gesture at his scarred son. “Ezra turned into a monster, just like you. So don’t worry, Mr. Jordan. You taught them well.”

Richard doesn’t look away from me as he speaks to Kai. “You better control your bitch, son, or I will.”