Chapter 59
FIFTY-NINE
Two days later, there was an unexpected knock on the door.
Mason and Abby were both sitting at the kitchen table working on homework while I was sitting on the couch reviewing notes for an exam I had coming up.
“I'll get it,” I said quickly, already moving toward the door before Abby could get up.
I looked through the peephole and my stomach dropped. My father stood in the hallway, his expensive suit wrinkled and his usually perfect hair disheveled. Even through the distorted lens, I could see the fury radiating from him.
My hand hesitated on the deadbolt. I’d wondered after the stunt he’d pulled with the guardianship hearing if he’d try something else, but I hadn’t expected him to be so brazen to show up at our front door.
“Who is it?” Abby asked.
“It’s my dad.”
I unlocked the door, opening it just wide enough to see his face clearly. His eyes were bloodshot, and I caught the faint smell of whiskey on his breath.
“Foster.” His voice was tight with barely controlled rage. “We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing left to say,” I replied, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I’d never seen my dad in this state, but he’d lost any chance of gaining sympathy from me when he tried to pay my girlfriend to break up with me.
His actions since then had only solidified my resolve. “I made my position clear.”
“You think you’re so smart,” he sneered, pushing against the door. “Think you can just walk away from everything I’ve built for you?”
“I can, and I did.” I started to close the door, but he slammed his palm against it, pushing it all the way open.
His glazed eyes landed on Abby and his face contorted into an ugly snarl. “I’m not done trying to destroy you.”
I stepped in front of him, blocking his view of her. “You need to leave,” I said, my voice deadly calm. “Now.”
Instead, he did something that shouldn’t have surprised me, but did all the same. He shoved me. I was so taken aback, I stumbled before catching myself as rage lit like a fire through my veins.
“Get out of our home,” Abby said, now standing in front of her brother, her voice sharp with authority despite the fear I could see in her posture.
My father’s cold gaze swung to her. “You did this. You ruined everything, you little bitch—”
The words weren’t even fully out of his mouth before he lunged toward her, his hands reaching out to grab her.
I moved faster than I’d ever moved in my life, intercepting him before he could touch her and shoving him back against the nearest wall. My forearm pressed against his windpipe, pinning him in place. His eyes went wide with shock and something that might have been fear.
Good.
He should be afraid.
There was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect Abby and Mason—my family.
“Don’t you ever try to lay a fucking hand on her again,” I growled, my face inches from his. Every word dripped with the promise of violence if he dared to test me. “Better yet, don’t come near us, or I’ll go to every client you have and tell them all your dirty secrets.”
He tried to scoff, but it came out as more of a wheeze with my arm pressed against his throat. “I have no secrets.”
I leaned in closer, close enough that he couldn’t mistake the deadly serious look in my eyes. “You sure about that? How do you think they’d feel if they found out about your propensity to cut corners when costs get too high and then pay off your favorite inspector to look the other way?”
The effect was immediate and dramatic. He went completely still, like a statue, his face draining of color before flushing a deep red with anger and panic. His eyes darted around frantically, as if looking for an escape route.
“Bet you didn’t think I knew about that, huh?” I continued, my voice low and menacing. “I know a lot more than that, and if you come anywhere near us again, I’ll end that business you love so much.”
I’d always had questions about some of the things my dad had done with the business, but I hadn’t cared enough to dive deeper.
But I’d learned some very valuable information when I’d requested a character reference for the guardianship hearing from one of my construction employers.
My dad’s business wasn’t on the up-and-up like he’d always made it out to be.
That was the reason certain construction companies had stopped working with The Kane Group, something my dad had said was his choice, not the other way around.
It was information I’d been holding on to since I’d found out, not sure what to do with it.
But him showing up on our doorstep and threatening us had made everything clearer.
If holding this information over his head got him off our backs, then so be it.
I was done letting him think he could mess with us.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he managed to rasp, but the panic in his voice betrayed him.
“Don’t I?” I pressed harder against his throat, not enough to actually hurt him, but enough to make my point crystal clear.
“Jenkins Construction ring a bell? The Fairmont project? What do you think your biggest competitor would pay for detailed information about your payment schedules with Inspector Morrison?”
His face went from red to white again. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.” I stepped back, finally releasing him from my hold.
“You think you’re protecting her,” my father wheezed, his voice filled with disgust as his eyes flicked toward Abby. “But you’re just delaying the inevitable. I will find a way to—”
“No.” I cut him off, my voice like steel.
“You won’t. Because if you so much as speak her name again, if you contact her employer, if you even think about interfering in her life, I will bury you.
I have enough evidence to bring criminal charges for fraud and bribery.
Is your hatred of my choices really worth spending your golden years in prison? ”
The fight went out of him all at once. His shoulders sagged, and for the first time in my life, Dennis Kane looked old and defeated.
“This isn’t over,” he said, but the words lacked conviction.
“Yes, it is.” I moved to the door and held it open. “Because the next time I see you, I’m calling the police. Get out.”
He straightened his suit jacket with shaking hands, trying to salvage some dignity. His eyes found mine one last time, and I saw something there I’d never seen before—genuine fear of what I might do.
Without another word, he walked out of our apartment, and I hoped he was out of our lives once and for all.
I closed the door behind him and turned the deadbolt, then slumped back against it, the adrenaline finally starting to wear off. My hands were shaking, and I felt like I might throw up.
“Foster?” Abby’s voice was soft, concerned.
I looked up to find her standing a few feet away, her brown eyes wide with worry and something that looked like awe.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“I should be asking you that. You’re shaking.”
I was shaking. The rush of protective fury was fading, leaving me feeling raw and exposed. “I’m sorry,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry he came here. I’m sorry he tried to touch you. I’m sorry about everything he’s tried to do to you.”
“Hey.” She reached up and cupped my face in her hands, her touch grounding me. “You have nothing to apologize for. You protected us.”
Mason appeared beside her, his face pale but his expression fierce. “Dude, that was awesome,” he said quietly. “The way you just…damn.”
I couldn’t help but smile a little at his reaction, though my heart was still racing. “Language,” I said weakly.
Abby smiled as her thumbs stroked across my cheekbones, her touch soothing the last of my rage. “Do you really have evidence of all that stuff he did?”
I nodded. “He didn’t revoke my access to his computer files, and when my old boss told me about what he’d found out, I did a little digging and made copies of emails, receipts, and other discrepancies I found in his records.
I hope I’ll never have to use it, but I will if he ever comes near you or Mase again.
I’ll burn his whole world down before I let him hurt you. ”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me fiercely. “I love you,” she whispered when she pulled back.
I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight against my chest. Over her shoulder, I caught Mason’s eye. He gave me a solemn nod of approval, and something settled in my chest.
We were safe. Dennis Kane would never have power over any of us again.
We were finally free.