Page 60 of Whispers in the Dark
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “No, but having your picture on the front page of every tabloid this morning looking like you just went on a two-week bender is. Did you even know those girls hanging all over you? You’re to set an example for your younger brother. He looks up to you.” My father swivels in his seat to peek around the headrest. “Don’t you, Leo?”
“Huh?” Leo scratches his head, appearing lost in thought.
Dolion elbows him in the arm.
“Oh, umm, right. Yes. Definitely.”
I roll my eyes. Leo’s so in love, he wouldn’t notice if the world was ending around him.
“Vin’s the one who goes out every night,” I say. “I don’t see you giving him a hard time about that.”
He shakes his head. “Your brother will have enough to deal with one of these days. When I’m gone, he’ll be the head of this family, making all the big decisions to keep you, your brothers, sister, and mother safe. That’s when his fun will end. He’s entitled to his time now.”
“And I’m not?”
“No!” he shouts, taking me aback. He looks straight ahead as he voices, “You’ve disappointed me, Mauro.”
A deep, unsettling ache blossoms across my chest as I pull up to the warehouse, putting the SUV into park.
He’s never said those words to me.
I’ve always been his reliable son.
The one he can count on.
But I go out one night with my friends as any normal twenty-one-year-old would, and this is how he sees me?
As a disappointment?
My throat burns as I spit out, “Yeah, well, I never asked to be a part of this life, yet you’ve thrown us all into it with no care for what we want. What kind of father does that?”
His eyes widen, his lips parting. “Mauro—”
“Forget it.” My fingers wrap around the door handle. “The faster we’re finished here, the faster I can get the fuck out of here. Away from you.” I open my door, pausing. “I hate everything about this life, including you.” I step out into the warm night air, slamming the door shut behind me.
My chest feels too tight. My head is too overwhelmed.
Leo and Dolion step out as well, leaning against the vehicle. Leo stares down at his phone with a slight grin on his face, utterly oblivious to the tension fueling around him.
At least Dolion is smart enough to keep his distance, walking away from the car.
My father straightens his tie and strides ahead as if our conversation never happened. Appearing completely unaffected.
And maybe he is.
But I know him.
I know he cares about his family.
I know he loves each of us with everything he has.
Which is why I regret the words I lashed out at him in the heat of the moment. Words that hold no truth.
As he shoves the warehouse door open and steps inside, I take a deep breath and say, “Dad, I’m sorry—”
Boom!
I’m thrown backwards, shards of debris flying everywhere as a sphere of fire soars around me.
