Page 54 of The Spare

Father tilts his head, his lip curling as he takes a step forward now, too. But I'm not having it; for far too long everything's been about them and never me. Currently, I'm hurting.

I'mthe one wronged right now.

Seriously offended, I feel my face heat up with anger at the audacity my brother and father have to square off atthis exactmoment.

"I don't need you to babysit me, Hendrix!" I growl, taking a threatening step forward and shoving my sleeves up my arms. About to beat his ass. Both he and father turn their heads to me, but I keep my eyes on Hendrix. "Don't you dare fucking credit yourself with everythingI'vedone these last four years, asshole," I pound my fist against my chest."I'veput in the goddamn work and made something of myselfby myself,without either one of you, might I remind you! You fuckingpiece of shit!"

Hendrix gets a shocked look in his eye at my harsh admission.

Isobel's chin quivers as a tear slides down her cheek, and as Donna steps back a few paces with Mariah, Teresa walks over to her and whispers something in her ear. Donna nods, handing off Mariah to Brody who has Vi in his other arm, and they disappear down the hallway.

"I have more than proven myself," I say, narrowing my eyes. My heart pounds, and my eyes fill with tears it almost kills me to fight back. My words come out rapidly and harshly. "I havemorethan earned a place within this family.A place that wasn't just handed to me!And all either of you two have done is discredit me, belittle me, and make sure every step along the wayyou remind me of how worthless I am! And I am through. I'm done, you hear me? I want nothing more to do with this fucking family."

Madre starts crying, and father steps to her, pulling her under hisarm.

"Now, hold on, son," Father says, a flash of hurt entering his eyes and his voice thickens with emotion. "Just wait a second, Mason. You don't have to-"

"No-" I slash my hand through the air, feeling sick. "I've been holding on my whole life, Father. What don't you fucking get about that? I finally got something to love, something forme.And because it had to be onhisterms, she's gone!"

Father's head snaps to Hendrix. "Explain yourself.Now! And it had better be good,"he says to Hendrix in a deathly serious voice that causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.

Hendrix's face flushes slightly. "She's Isobel's sister, and I didn't want her to be hurt. Is that not good enough?" He turns sharp eyes on me before facing our parents once again. Madre's curled in on herself, and Father looks as if he's going to lunge at Hendrix. I frown, because that's different. "And in case none of you remember," Hendrix snaps, "Mason wasn't exactly in the best position when they first met. Neither was she; she wassixteen."

That's it. My eyes narrow.

"Almost seventeen, and a year after that I could have picked her upthen," I snap, slapping my fist into my palm. "She has been waiting for me, andI never showed up!"My voice cracks, betraying just how deep this goes for me. "Now she doesn't trust me! I've lost her tonight, Hendrix, in case you hadn't got a fucking clue."

"Wait, I'm sorry… but I'm so confused," Donna speaks up now, walking closer. "Why do you keep saying 'picked up?' What's that supposed tomean?"

I let out a curse, forgetting no one formally told Donna how this family procures their spouses.

My sister Teresa steps over to her, taking her by the arm. "Come on, Donna," she says softly. "I'll explain to you in the study. Let's let them figure it out, and we can call Melody and make sure she's okay."

I feel myself deflate with relief that they're going to check on her, knowing Teresa will always step in.

"Mason,I'm sorry,"Hendrix stresses, stepping towards me.

"Get the hell away from me. I don't want a fucking apology," I bellow. "I want you to stop interfering, and leave the two of us alone." My eyes slide to Isobel, who's looking at me with a mixture of pity and anger. "Except you, I'd never ask you to leave your sister alone," I stress. Putting my eyes back on Hendrix I stiffen my spine."But you?Stay the fuck out of our business."

He tightens his lips, but wisely stays quiet.

"I'm going to go pick her up, and I would appreciate it ifnone of youcall me for a while."

The party effectively ruined, I tear my eyes away and make my way around them to the front door where I climb into my car and take out into the night. I look in my rearview mirror, seeing Dante tailing me. His headlights flash just as my dash lights up with a message.

She's at Bar One, sir. -Stephen

The location pops up, but I ignore it, calling Dante instead.

"Yes, sir," he answers.

"Dante, I need you to call the maintenance guy at Melody's dorm, and let him know we're coming and need to be let into her room. We're moving her out while they're partying so we'll need to stop by the store and get some boxes."

"Yes, sir, I'll call him now."

"Thank you, Dante. Let Stephen know to inform me when they're about to head on their way back."

"Yes, sir."