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If he only knew it was his own son who’d been the one to break in and rob the place.
“Strung out? Seriously, Dad. They’re professional fighters who work out in the gym. Working out and drugs don’t usually go together. I know the owner, and he’s definitely not breaking into businesses for cash.”
“That Knight kid took over the place, right?” my father asked, crossing his arms over his chest. The way he referred to Romeopissed me off. “His dad was a train wreck. Spent some time in prison, if memory serves. And his kid and his friends were always trouble.”
My mother shook her head. “They were kids. Our own son has made his fair share of mistakes. We don’t like when people judge him, do we?”
“Well, even Slade said they were trouble back in the day, so there you go.” Dad shrugged.
Slade, his son, who he wasn’t even speaking to? The guy who’d just robbed his own sister? He was our moral compass now?
“Well, by all means, he’s a great judge of character.” I made no effort to hide my sarcasm. The way he spoke about Romeo and his friends bothered me. Romeo was an asshole most of the time, but he wasn’t a bad guy. He was moody, and he didn’t seem to like me for reasons I couldn’t wrap my head around. But if this was the way my father had behaved around him, it was likely that he’d been rude to him and his friends over the years.
“He warned us about those guys long before his boating accident, Demi. He wasn’t on drugs back then. Trust me. These are not people you need to be talking to,” my father added.
“Jack, stop this nonsense right now.” My mother gaped at my father.
“Are you for real? Nash and Kingston did the renovation on this place. They were great to work with and very professional. Romeo owns the gym next door. He’s been in a few times, and they’re all nice guys. Romeo was the one who called the police the night of the break in. I hardly think he’d be calling the cops on himself.”
“They did do a great job on this place, and I’m grateful that Romeo called the police on your behalf.” My mother smiled before raising an eyebrow at my father.
He could be very judgmental at times, but I’d never noticed it as much as right now.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “We can agree to disagree.”
“Okay,” Mom said. “Let’s focus on the security system. I’d like to discuss the idea of getting a wooden door for your entrance so that it’s not glass and wouldn’t be so easy to break into.”
“It’s a coffee shop. I can’t hide it behind a large wooden door. Anyway, there’s a window beside the door. They could just break that.”
“Your mother would like that window removed, too.” Dad covered his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing.
“What? Mom, you are overreacting. It was teenagers. It happens. But with the cameras you’re having installed, I don’t see it happening again any time soon.”
“Fine. We’ll start with the cameras and the added security. My concern is your safety, sweetheart. I’m hoping it was just a bunch of teenagers getting into trouble.”
“You both already know my thoughts on the matter.” He held his hands up to stop us both from arguing. “I guess time will tell.”
It took everything I had not to throw Slade under the bus. I’d always protected my brother, but I was not okay with my father blaming innocent people for something their son did. I bit my tongue.
“Anyway, I heard the Knight kid is going to fight some famous boxer. I can’t understand why anyone would want to get their head bashed in for a couple of bucks,” Dad said.
“It’s hardly a couple of bucks if you’ve been paying attention at all to the news. He’s fighting a contender for the belt. It’s a big deal. And he happens to be a professional boxer. He’s an athlete. This is his sport.”
“Since when did you get so defensive? Don’t we deal with enough stress from your brother? I hope you’re not going to start giving us trouble now, too.”
Was he serious? He was comparing my sharing my opinion to the hell that Slade had put them through, all because I didn’t agree with what he was saying about Romeo and his friends?
“Jack, that’s not fair.” My mom tucked my hair behind my ear, and her smile reached her eyes. “He’s just worried about you, sweetheart. Let’s focus on getting the cameras installed and doubling up the security.”
“Your apartment door will have three dead bolt locks and a camera of its own outside the door.” My father walked around, inspecting the walls as if he were seeing if he could add security behind the drywall.
I loved my parents so much, but they could be overbearing at times. I think the trauma they’d been through with Slade had made them even more controlling when it came to me. I hadn’t felt it to this extent over the last few years because I’d been away at school. But now that I was here, it was definitely more extreme than ever.
My mom excused herself to use the restroom, and my father pulled up a chair and motioned for me to sit across from him.
“Your mom is worried about you. She doesn’t like you living above the coffee shop.”
“Shedoesn’t, oryoudon’t?” I quirked a brow.
