AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dad,” I said, and he turned around, stunned I’d disturbed him. “Yes, I know, but you need to hear this.”
His scowl would have burned holes through me if I wasn’t so used to it and if we didn’t have something so dire to tell them. Plus, around the age of sixteen, I noticed he’d become aware of my size and he’d stopped manhandling me. I could be a serious threat if I needed to be, and he knew it.
He sat, crossed his legs and folded the paper across his lap.
“Bridge,” I said, opening the floor for her.
My mother, distracted before, finally noted Bridge’s puffy eyes and red nose. “Bridget, honey, are you all right?”
The tears started streaming anew, but she stayed my mom with a hand when she attempted to comfort her. “I’m fine, well, not fine, but I have something to tell you both.”
She took a deep, cleansing breath and I sat forward, fists clenched, preparing for the inevitable blowup from my father.
“I’m pregnant,” she said.
The quiet was deafening.
“This isn’t a problem,” my dad said, with eerie softness, pressing the creases of the paper over and over.
“It’s not?” I asked, bewildered.
“No, this is an easy fix, especially since it’s over Christmas break.”
“No,” Bridge said, realizing what he meant.
“Excuse me?” our dad said, breaking his cool exterior and uncrossing his legs.
“No,” Bridge said strongly.
“Dear, lovely, stupid, whorish Bridge,” my dad said, sliding forward and staring right into her eyes, his face pinched with the most evil expression I’d ever encountered, reminding me of Piper yet again. “You will get rid of that thing, or I swear to God I will have you killed and make it look like an accident.”
My mother gasped.
“Dad!” I said, jumping up.
He stood and met me nose to nose.
“She wants to keep it,” I said.
“I don’t give a shit. This will not be tolerated. I’m in the middle of the biggest merger of my life and I will not have our family name tarnished!”
“Oh, but having her murdered won’t bring unnecessary awareness? Possibly negative awareness?”
He considered what I’d said, the sick bastard.
“Perhaps,” he agreed, “but it’s got to go to save this merger.”
“Give it up, old man. This family name is soiled beyond redemption and you know it. It’s why Peter Knight said no. It’s why they all initially say no. It’s why I’m always called home to fix it.”
His neck turned beet red.
“Shut the fuck up, Spencer!”
My fists clenched tighter and my chest met his. “Make me, you lousy piece of shit!” I yelled in his face.
Bridge stood and pulled me away. “I’m keeping it, Dad,” she said, charging past me toward the stairs.
Mom stood with her hands over her mouth, unable to speak.
