Page 62 of The Golden Boys
I’ve never known him to miss a chance to belittle her, the woman who bore his sons and stood by him while he built his empire from nothing. Seems like, to him, she’s only an armpiece these days.
You know, when there’s not some underage gold digger swinging from his nuts.
“Well, just seems like a missed opportunity is all. It’s the perfect chance to show whatever young ladies you three have eyes for that they’re special to you,” Mom adds. After speaking, her gaze lowers to her plate and she leaves it at that.
“Pam, please. These boys are star athletes. They can have any girl in this damn city.It’d be stupid to walk into some dance with chicks on their arms. Talk about taking sand to the beach,” he barks out with a laugh.
There’s an uncomfortable silence that follows, but my dad seems to completely miss that he’s killed the vibe as usual.
“What’s the verdict on South Cypress?” he asks, taking a sip from his glass of wine while changing subjects.
“We’re solid this year,” Sterling answers. “We pulled out the win against them a couple weeks ago, like we knew we would.”
“Barely,” Dad shoots back. That one word is spoken sharply, and a displeased look passes over my brothers and me.
“It was a clean win and—”
“You’re Goldens,” he says, cutting off Dane. “You boys are good.Damngood,” he adds. “It’s the reason each of you got a full ride to NCU. So how do you think the coach over there feels about his future stars narrowly stealing a win against a poor, gutter-trash school like South Cypress?”
Mom glares up at him but doesn’t dare interrupt.
“Whoever this punk kid is that they’ve staked everything on, squash him,” he declares. “The next time you go up against him, show him why he should’ve stayed in Ohio. Or wherever the hell he came from. Understood?”
Dane and Sterling pass one another frustrated glances, but don’t speak or agree with his B.S. logic.
I, on the other hand, am in no mood to keep quiet or play pretend. I know who and what he really is, and I know so many of his secrets.
“We won. Get over it,” I grumble. “For someone who hasn’t shown up to a single game in three years, you sure have a lot to say.”
A hush falls in the room and I feel my father’s gaze locked on me. Still, I don’t look up to confirm that I have his full attention.
“What’d you just say to me?”
“Vin, honey, relax,” Mom says sweetly, trying to diffuse a situation she doesn’t realize is already beyond her control.
He doesn’t speak directly to her, but holds a hand up, which silences her instantly. I swear, I hate that he’s broken her down to nothing, made her so weak. It’s not unlike the control he’s tried to place over me, Dane, and Sterling. We’re just all too pigheaded to be ruled by anyone.
Just like him.
“There anything else you want to say to me?” he asks, staring me down again. “Now’s the time to get it off your chest.”
“If I did, you’d know.” I stuff a forkful of green beans into my mouth and don’t bother softening my tone.
If I cared to look at him, I’m sure his face would be bright red right now. His tolerance for disrespect is uncommonly low, which is why I’m only mildly surprised when my plate is snatched from in front of me.
“You’re done. Come with me,” he asserts, being the supreme dick he is.
“Vin, he’s barely even touched his food,” Mom jumps in.
Another of those cocky laughs leaves my father’s mouth.
“Then, worst case, I just saved him from having to choke down the rest of that tough steak,” he adds callously, and then stands, leveling another glare on me. “We’re leaving. Now.”
I could fight him on this, but I know it’s no use. The guy has a way of getting what he wants out of people.
So, hungry and pissed off, I oblige. Within minutes, we’re seated in his SUV and I’m staring up at the bright lights of the high-rises as we drive past. At first, there’s no conversation, but then that all changes.
Unfortunately.