Page 66 of Watched

Rain nods to me. “Do you want to tell him, or shall I?”

“You fucking cunt,” Dad spits through his teeth.

“I’ll take that as me.” Rain steps past me, fetching his phone from the side table. “Watch it,” he instructs, placing the device in my hand.

I click play. A dark-haired woman walks hand in hand with Dad as they enter what looks like a hotel room. Time stamped: Sunday, 27th September, 23:34.

“Watch the next,” Rain instructs.

I flick across, watching the next video. My father appears around the corner now, carrying the woman in his arms and opening the door. Time stamped: Tuesday, 29th September, 20:18.

My muscles tighten as I lift my head. “You’re cheating on Mum?” His chest pumps against his grey suit as he glares at Rain. “Answer me!”

“It’s complicated, Rome,” Dad says calmly, like we have a chance of sitting with one another and talking this out.

“Seems pretty fucking simple.” I wave the phone. “I have provided for this family for three years and this is what you’ve spent my money on? Hotel rooms for your fucking mistress.”

“The. Fuck. Did. You. Say?” Rain’s shocked glare quickly becomes overshadowed by anger. I’ve been afraid of Rain since the first night I met him, but right now, the storm brewing in his eyes is terrifying. “I should’ve checked your bank account.” Rain’s glare pins on Dad, every muscle in his large body tensing. “Your son has been providing for your family?”

“He earns millions,” Dad argues. “I got him to where he is.”

“No,” Rain laughs, swiping his tongue along his teeth, like he’s seeking something to ground himself. “He got himself to where he is. He trains his ass off in every season of weather. He follows his diet. He is beating himself up when he makes one small mistake, but I’m assuming that’s due to you. You have taken advantage of his kind nature and manipulated him into paying for his family.” Rain’s shaking body turns to me. “The twins’ school tuition, are you paying that?”

All I can do is stare into the eyes of the only person who ever truly defended me. My sisters try, but I tell them to back down. My mother always sides with Dad. Anything that has ever gone wrong has always been my fault.

Rain slowly steps backwards. “I’d run, Daniel, before my bat meets your temple.”

“No, Rain. Don’t,” I plead.

“Listen to him, Rain.” My father has the audacity to smile.

“I won’t share the videos online because I don’t want anything to affect Rome. I will, however, share them with your wife. I’ll also have you arrested unless you say goodbye to your daughters and tell them you changed your mind.” Rain takes another step toward the wardrobe. “Or I can have some fun. Your choice.”

Dad’s eyes lock to mine, and I wave the phone again. “Leave, because he will get that bat.”

“I’m disappointed in you, Rome.”

“What’s new?”

Chapter twenty-six

RAIN

I’m tempted to call Blade and ask for some torture methods. Maybe I’ll break the fucker’s teeth while I jam the bat down his throat, because he’s still not moving. “Time to eat metal, motherfucker.” I grin and continue approaching the closet.

“I’m leaving,” Daniel grits out. “But you cannot keep my children from me.”

“Indie,” Rome says. “You’ve never cared about me or Kilah. You just want your princess to have the perfect image of her daddy.”

“You can’t show her those videos, Rome.”

“I’ll do what I want. First, I’ll move my money, and the only person with access will be me. If you need money, start by selling one of the four cars or the house I paid for.”

Rome’s shoulders slump, and I’m ready to step in if his morals get in the way. He’s standing up for himself and I’m so fucking proud of him.

“When I was little, you were my hero. Then you began to control every aspect of my life. You made me feel like shit for every little thing,” Rome scoffs. “You can be disappointed in me till the day you die. I’m done giving a fuck what you think. You may be Daniel Aston, but I’m Rome Aston. That means a hell of a lot more. Get the fuck out of my house.”

Rome stalks behind his father down the stairs, and I follow, my heart bursting with pride. Daniel fakes that the world is shining with fucking rainbows while he hugs his daughters and informs them they can stay.