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“What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t do drugs. And I’m still playing. Your make-believe story is just that.” I narrow my eyes at him, but my heart is racing in my chest.
“True. It hasn’t happened… yet. But don’t think I don’t have people in the right places that can make that little story a very real one. Look, son?—”
“You may be my biological father, but I’m not your son,” I cut him off with a scowl.
“You can’t fight who you are. As I was saying,son, none of this has to happen. You can take your rightful place in the Society and carry on the legacy. I think you will find you have been missing out on a whole world of opportunities at your fingertips.”
“So, you’re just gonna blackmail me into this?”
“Well,” he says with a shrug, “it’s not blackmail. Think of it as merely a suggestion.”
“That I have no say in or I lose my baseball career to false allegations,” I growl.
“Oh, it won’t be false, son. Those tests will positively show your drug use. If I have to tie you up and drug you myself, I will make sure you never play the game ever again.” His face reddens, and I can see him gritting his teeth.
I wouldn’t put it past him. While I have never wanted anything to do with the Society, I do know they have a wide reach. And my sperm donor is a fucking asshole who will do anything to get his way.
“But look at it this way, with no baseball career, you can now run this club with me. This town. The Society.” A creepy smile stretches across his face. “You took an oath, and it’s time for you to uphold that oath.”
“You are a fucking asshole,” I seethe.
My father just laughs. He grabs his drink and heads back over to his chair, slowly sitting down and not breaking eye contact as he does.
“I may be an asshole, but I’m the asshole who holds your world and your life in his hands. So choose wisely,son. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Either way, you will do as you are told.” He gives me a sinister smile.
In that moment, I realize I’m royally fucked.
I say nothing, just get up and head for the door. The need to beat him to a bloody pulp races through every vein in me. For now, I need to get space between him and me.
There aren’t many people I trust or can turn to. But there are a few. And now I will need to let the guys in on this part of my life.
That is, if I have any chance of escaping it.
I may not have much choice but to take my place in the Society. But maybe they can help me find a way to get out of it.
What’s that saying? If you can’t beat them, join them?
I think my only way out is in.
Chapter Twenty-Four
DREW
“Where is she?”Kayce comes waltzing into the living room.
I brought her home from the hospital a couple of hours ago, and Kayce had to go take care of something before he could get back here. Tristan hasn’t been heard from since he left the hospital abruptly.
And Cam… well, Cam said he just wanted to go home and watch a movie. Such a helpful prick he’s being right now. But that seems to be the usual lately.
“She is in her room. I need to check on her in a bit and make sure she is staying hydrated. Make sure she’s okay.” I rub the back of my neck. My stress levels have reached an all-time high after all this. I’m on edge. I’m thrown back to my Darkwood days when shit was happening to Phoenix.
To when we almost died.
Maybe Cam was right. This is affecting me more than I’m admitting to. But even if it is, I can’t just let her go. I don’t know why, but I just feel like I need to protect her.
“Can I go check on her?” Kayce asks hopefully.
“Sure. Bring her another bottle of water if you could please.” Kayce nods at me and heads into the kitchen before going to check in on Raelyn.