“What – “ I stopped. I was getting ready to ask for the umpteenth time what was going on. However, I had the presence of mind to realize that this was not the time to question him. It was clear that what he needed was to know that, if no one else had his back, I did.
“I wish I could take it all away,” was what I chose to say instead, pulling him into my arms for an embrace. I didn’t realize how badly he needed it until ten minutes passed and he still hadn’t let me go.
We stayed and just lingered silently in one another’s presence for awhile before AJ took me home. I looked back at him over my shoulder as I made my way to the front door. He forced a smile that did nothing but make me more certain that he was spiraling. I had a heavy sense of grief as I imagined what he’d have to face when he crossed the threshold of his home.
*****
AJ
Before I could step foot outside my car, the door connecting the garage to the house swung open and my father shut it behind him for privacy before coming my way. Inwardly, I sighed.
Not again.
He still had that smug look on his face when he approached me where I stood.
“Did you enjoy your evening?”
“You don’t have to pretend to be human; Mom’s not around. What do you want?”
His expression soured and his posture stiffened just a bit when I shot down his attempt at small-talk. “We need to discuss the manner in which you left the house this evening,” he stated with a surprisingly high level of composure. His eyes lingered on the portion of my tattoo that was still visible.
“My behavior was warranted.”
“Your behavior was irrational and selfish.”
I took a step back and shoved my hands in the pockets of my hoodie, finding him unworthy of eye contact. “I suppose the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, then.”
My father sighed. He’d become accustomed to me bucking against him lately, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t frustrate him all the same. “I’m sure your mother hasn’t disclosed the details of this business endeavor with you, but I’m willing to explain what Mr. Tanaka’s contribution to Arata could mean for –“
“You’re using him to pay off your debt so you don’t have to watch your back anymore,” I interjected. My quick assessment ruined any chance he’d have to wrap his flawed logic in a pretty bow and try to sell it to me. “That’s pretty much it, right? He’s just one more person who’s getting ready to experience the consequences of being connected to you.”
His jaw tensed and I stared back when he tried to quench the anger that flooded his expression. “You seem to have forgotten that this situation has affected us as a family, Anthony.”
“It’s kind of hard to forget that with Vick always creeping around corners.”
“Then you should be just as invested in Mr. Tanaka taking this deal as I am,” he said sternly. Silence fell between us and I could feel my shoulders heaving as breath after frustrated breath rushed from my lungs. Being the manipulative bastard that he is, my father knew exactly how to appeal to me – dangle the vision of a return to normalcy in my face. No more lying to Sam. No more sneaking around to take phone calls from my overly-protective mother. No more death threats. It’d be over.
I expected my father to smile or show some sign of triumph at the slightest sign of submission, but he didn’t. “Now that you’re listening,” he went on, “I can explain that this isn’t an attempt to exploit Mr. Tanaka’s kindness.” My father lowered his eyes to the ground and I sensed the slightest hint of defeat when he added, “This deal will make him a majority shareholder of Arata. There’s no way around it.”
Hearing that my father was basically selling my birthright should’ve impacted me more than it did, but all I heard was a promise of getting my life back. For me, that was enough.
“All I’m asking is that you resist the urge to rebel while the Tanaka’s are guests here,” he said far more humbly than I expected. “The future of our family depends on it.”