Page 39 of At Their Mercy: Part I

I cant keep waiting for my son to solve my problems

I will handle this myself

I have a plan

Im sorry Reese I really am

There was one thing our dad hadn’t said since we were five or six. That he loved us. So I couldn’t use that. Apologies had been rare too, but not as much.

Man, he better fucking realize it was me.

“This ain’t what you do to family,” Dad said, shaking his head.

“You don’t know the meaning of that word,” I replied and returned his phone. “See, a good dad is there for his kids. He supports them, spends time with them, and asks them to come over for holidays. He lets them know they can always talk to him.”

We already had a man in our life who did that.

“So I haven’t been perfect⁠—”

“You’ve been a piece of shit,” I told him bluntly. “We’ve never once asked for perfect, but you couldn’t even shoot for decent.” I pointed to his bag on the floor. “Everythin’s packed. I’ll give you ten minutes to leave and check out.” I took one step closer and leveled him with a serious look. “Don’t let me catch you here again. The slightest indication you’re reachin’ out to Reese, I will come for you. Do you understand?”

He flinched and took a step back. “All right, fine. I’m done listenin’ to your threats. I’ll leave.”

“Good.” I went over and grabbed my food container. “I’m not heartless. I’m happy to give you financial advice. Number one, quit gamblin’. Number two, sell your house, square your fuckin’ debts, and get your shit together.”

He clenched his jaw and left the doorway. “Like my house is worth anythin’.”

“Your property is. Nashville suburb? Give me a break. Some upper-middle-class family is just waitin’ to tear that rubble down and build a house they can show off on Instagram.”

“You don’t think I’ve looked into that?” he snapped. “I owe more than I’ll get.”

I opened the door and turned in the doorway to look at him one last time. “Not our fucking problem.”

With that, I walked out.

Both Reese and Shay were in the pool when I got back. After leaving the container in the sink, I walked out onto the patio and glanced up at the sky.

It was definitely gonna rain today.

“Hey.” Reese pulled Shay with him as he moved closer to this end of the pool. “Shay said you went out to buy smokes. I left two packs in the cabinet above the coffeemaker.”

I furrowed my brow. “Oh.”

Shay snickered. “He’s not used to looking there yet, maybe.”

I actually wasn’t. New house, new routines.

I sat down on the foot of a lounger, fairly close to the water’s edge. “Are we eatin’ before we head over to the house? I’m hungry.”

“I can make you something, Master,” Shay offered. “Would you like a turkey sandwich?”

Fuck yeah, I did. “Can you toast the bread like last time?”

“Of course, Sir.” He smiled.

“You’re the best, baby. I’mma shower, and then I want you next to me on the couch when I eat,” I said, facing Reese next. “Are you gonna be boring and work out more, or can we get you to join us?”

He chuckled. “I’m gonna be worse than boring. Macklin and Tate need us earlier, so we gotta leave in an hour.”