He grunted. “Impossible.” His answer was quick, making me wonder if he already knew what I would ask. “He doesn’t want you in.”
“Then make him want me in.”
“You’re his son. He’ll want what’s best for you.”
“I know what’s best for me.”
“You’re sixteen. You don’t know shit,” he spat. Theo had never been one to sugarcoat something already covered in shit.
“I know you’re going after whoever’s stealing your jobs.”
Theo swore and muttered something about needing soundproof walls.
“You shouldn’t know about that.”
“But I do.” He tried to stare me down. Two years ago, it might have worked, but I wanted this.
My father was a notorious criminal.
A bad man.
And I admired him.
Even without my father’s blessing, I’d follow in his footsteps.
“Fuck.” He glanced down at Mian apologetically, but she pretended she wasn’t listening. “I’ll talk to him, but I do not promise anything.”
“I wasn’t asking for promises.”
“You’re a smart kid.” He shook his head with pity. “You could do better.”
“It doesn’t mean anything if it’s not what you want.” I cut my eye at Mian when I felt her watching me again. Her pink lips were slightly parted. Theo didn’t respond. He turned to his daughter and lowered his tall frame to his haunches. Her gaze reluctantly shifted from me to her father.
“You good here?”
“She’ll be fine,” I dictated.
Her body stiffened, the only thing moving were her flaring nostrils.
It seems she hated being spoken for. I smiled for her father’s benefit and wondered why I’d done it. Was it because I didn’t want to give her a chance to say no? I’d been in their presence together for less than ten minutes and already knew he indulged his daughter. Spoiled was written all over her.
“Well, I guess it’s settled,” he said clearly amused. He stood to his full height and ruffled her hair. I waited for her to complain and fuss over her hair like chicks do, but she only smiled up at her father and offered a fist bump when he set it up.
Yeah, definitely a daddy’s girl.
Theo left, and for the first time, I was alone with her. The air felt thinner, and the walls closed in making the room appear smaller. I felt as if I were being strangled by the need to be even closer.
I bet she’s just a baby, perv .
“Tell me how old you are.”
“That’s a rude question.” The way she scolded me, she might have been twice my age.
“Like you care.” Was there anything typical about this girl? “How old?” I repeated.
“Ten.”
“Bull. Shit.”
“Well, I am.” She stepped around me and looked at the wall above my headboard. I had posters of buxom beauties stashed on almost every inch of the space.
What could I say? I’m a breast man.
“Did you feel they were all necessary?” Her back was turned, but it didn’t matter. I could hear the disapproval in her tone.
“You can never have too many breasts.”
“As someone who will one day possess them, I beg to differ.”
I closed my eyes, but it only made the visual even more lucid. She was just a little girl, and I was six fucking years older than she was. Neither one of us was even legally able to consent to sex, but it didn’t erase the vision of her older with soft, perky Ds.
“Are you even listening?”
“Sorry?”
She sighed. “I said I’m hungry.”
“The kitchen is downstairs.” I retook my spot in my gaming chair and picked up the game controller. I needed the distraction that came with violence since I was crushing on a girl who was practically a toddler.
“This is your house.”
“I’m sure you don’t need help finding the kitchen,” I answered without taking my eyes from the video game.
She didn’t move. I had a feeling she was expecting me to jump and see to her needs. When it became clear I wouldn’t, she huffed and stomped from my bedroom. I paused the game when I couldn’t hear her footsteps anymore and hung my head.
It took less than five minutes of having her out of my sight for me to run after her.
I found her in the kitchen staring into the refrigerator with her nose turned up. I was light on my feet so I was floored when I entered, and she turned her head.
“Don’t you have anything besides sandwich meat and Gatorade?”
“You vegetarian?”
“No, but there’s nothing I want in here.”
“Pick something.” I waited to see if she would obey. She slammed the door closed and planted her hands on her nonexistent hips.
Cute.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
I leaned against the doorjamb and crossed my arms. “If you’re going to be a brat then I guess you aren’t hungry.”
She put her back against the door. Maybe so I could watch her lick her lips. She was even prettier angry.
Ten. She’s fucking ten.
“Are you always so mean?”
“Are you always so spoiled?”
“I’m not spoiled. I’m hungry.”
“What did you have in mind?” Why was I asking?
She didn’t even think about. “Frozen yogurt.”