Page 3 of Unbalanced

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Enough! Both of you get up right now,” Dad orders.

We slowly get to our feet.

“Neither of you is supposed to be in here for any reason. You interrupted my meeting.”

I cross my arms and snort.

Dad turns on the light, grabs us, and pulls us out of the closet. Tammy is standing near the bed with her top on again.

“Are you giving me attitude, young man?”

“No, you’re just a liar,” I snarl.

“Excuse me?”

I point at the woman.

“You were going to have sex with her. That’s not a meeting. She’s a whore.”

His hand comes out of nowhere. Dad smacks me so hard that I fall to the ground, my face stinging and my ear ringing. Rob gasps and starts to cry as Dad hauls me up to my feet.

“Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that?”

I glare at him.

“I hate you. I’m telling Mom.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I will.”

Dad drags me out of the bedroom and down the hall. I fight him, pulling back as hard as I can, but his fingers just dig into my arm.

“Dad, don’t hurt him,” Rob cries as he chases after us.

“You are such a little shit,” Dad says.

“At least I’m not a slut,” I growl back, using the new word I learned at school.

“That’s it.”

He yanks me into my bedroom, slams the door in Rob’s face, and starts to undo his belt. I know what’s coming, I’ve felt the bite of that leather before, but I don’t back down. My eyes lock with his and I let him see the truth.

“I. Hate. You.”

PRESENT DAY

“I just don’t know what to do,” Mrs. Peters says, freeing me from the memory.

Reaching out, I place my hand over hers and give it a reassuring squeeze.

“Luckily for you, you’ve come to the right place. I never lose, Mrs. Peters. When I’m through with your cheating husband, he’ll be sorry that he was ever unfaithful.”

More tears fall and slide down her cheeks. Each one is a drop of fuel for the high-octane hate in my soul. I pull out my handkerchief and hand it to her. It may have gone out of fashion, but I still like to carry one. In my business, there is always an opportunity to be a gentleman.