Chapter 18 #2
His question is as pointed as Sy’s stiletto and draws just as much blood. Silas knows he’s not a psychopath, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his doubts. Whether or not Dad was aiming that low, he hit his mark.
Silas goes quiet, like the deepest part of the ocean.
I tighten my grip on him, lowering my mouth to his ear.
“You know everything about love. I believe this in my soul, and I will handle this.”
He sniffs, thumbing away a tear. I refocus on my fathers.
“Get the fuck out of Silas’s place right now.
I will speak with you two later. And when I do, I expect a full apology, both to Silas and to myself.
” I address this next part directly to Dad.
“You have every reason to express worry and concern. But busting in here? While armed, even though you haven’t carried in decades? Absolutely not.”
“We tried to get a hold of you. Went to the penthouse this morning, and you weren’t in your bed.”
His excuse sounds so weak.
“All of the fathers’ entry privileges will be revoked by this evening, and we will be rescanning for listening and recording devices in all the common areas. You better fucking hope we don’t find any.”
“You can’t do that, Oak. If we can’t protect you—”
I shake my head. “You need to stop before you say another insulting thing. This isn’t about ‘protecting me.’ You could’ve sent one of the Wildlings down if you were so worried.” I point right at Dad. “This is about you.”
Dad’s inhale is shaky. “You have no idea what that man’s father did to me. You have no idea what he is capable of.”
“Actually, I have a better idea of what Sy is capable of than almost anybody. Certainly more than you two.”
“You know your dad worries,” Papa says, looking regretful.
“This isn’t worry,” I insist, more livid by the moment. “This is pure, unadulterated hatred.”
“And why shouldn’t I hate him? Why shouldn’t I be afraid for my son? He’s a genetic freak, Oakley. Don’t you get that?”
Cupcake growls, and Silas rubs her chest.
I snarl. “Don’t you fucking talk about him like that. He’s a human being.”
Dad goes to say something, and Papa wraps an arm around his waist, arresting whatever words were going to fly out of his mouth.
“Emotions are high right now,” Papa says softly. “It’s clear that we all need to go to our neutral corners, be a bit more careful, and speak when the temperature has come down.”
Dad looks like he wants to object, but I’m quick to agree. “Yes. Silas and I have a lot to talk about. And you need to know that saying hurtful things to him will never be acceptable to me. He has done nothing to earn your ire.”
“Are you kidding me?” Dad whisper-yells through his teeth, staring at Cupcake. She bares her teeth at him.
Papa clamps his hand over Dad’s mouth, and I feel so fucking helpless. He’ll never understand.
“You don’t know him, Dad,” I say, sounding like a plaintive teenager.
“All I need to know is that he is a monster.”
“He’s our monster! Don’t you get that?”
I scrub my hands through my hair, cursing the limits of a language too feeble to explain how much I care for Silas. Why I care for him.
I feel so fucking helpless as I look down at Sy. He’s looking back at me. Your monster, he mouths. Proud.
Sad.
I make one final play.
“Can you at least trust my judgment? Haven’t I earned that?”
Dad works his jaw but keeps his mouth shut.
That’s a no.
There’s no making this better. Not today.
“I love you,” I say as gently as my temper will allow. “But I need you both to get the fuck out of here. And maybe have a conversation with Hedy and Edison.”
“Hey, is everyone okay here?” Rami, ever the family peacemaker, asks from the door. “Can I come in?”
Cupcake’s tail thumps against Sy’s leg.
I glare at my fathers, then wave Rami in.
He steps into the bedroom, grimacing. “I saw them leaving the penthouse. Just wanted to make sure we were all…in one piece?”
“We’re fine,” I say. “My fathers are going to go home, think about what they’ve done, and come up with an appropriate apology for my boyfriend.”
Rami takes in the scene, including Silas and me, clearly naked under the sheets. He grimaces. Awkward.
“Oak, we will reach out to you in the next day or two,” Papa says, gripping Dad’s arm. Dad allows himself to be taken out, but not without first glaring at Silas over his shoulder.
Cupcake growls and Sy shushes her. My dads quicken their exit.
I let my head fall back. “Thanks, cousin,” I say, staring at the ceiling.
“You two gonna be all right?”
“We will be. Could use a little privacy though.”
He lets out a soft laugh. “At the very least, people need to stop busting in on you two,” he jokes, then heads out.
What a fucking nightmare.
I wish I’d done a better job of standing up for Silas. Of finding a way to explain how I know he’s not dangerous.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t suppose you have any alcohol in this place.”
“Actually…” He pulls away from me, his eyes so blue it hurts. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”
“Please don’t take what they said to heart, Sy. Please.”
“But they’re not exactly wrong, y’know?” he says, angling himself away from me as he stands from the bed. “I’m dangerous. If I were them, I’d wonder if I could love you the right way too.”
Damn them for poisoning the water.
Cupcake puts herself between Sy and me as Sy pulls on a pair of shorts. I wait for him to call off Cupcake, but he just stands there, awkward.
Oh.
He wants me to leave. But he doesn’t know how to ask for it.
My heart feels so fucking shredded.
I can’t stand that today is ending this way, but my presence can’t make it better. The only thing to do is give him what he needs.