Suddenly, I’m just worn out. I hate this. Hate that my remaining blood relatives are nothing to me. “No, Jonas,” I say in a low voice, “I won’t. I’m signing with Mackenzie.”
“That weak-ass fucker?” Jonas barks out a laugh. “He doesn’t have the balls to get shit done.”
“Hey!” Mac snaps, stepping forward. “That’s my father you’re talking about, so shut your mouth.”
Inside I groan, cursing this whole situation. But my awareness goes on high alert as I sling an arm around Mac’s slim waist and haul her back against me. Every inch of her vibrates like she’s about to throw a punch, and she doesn’t know who she’s dealing with.
“Ignore him,” I murmur. Not because I disagree. But I know Jonas.
Jonas’s leer isn’t a shock. “I can’t believe this. He has his daughter riding cock to get clients? I underestimated the guy.”
Mac lurches in my arms, unable to get free but trying. “You disgusting fucker, you don’t know dick.”
That shuts him up. He pushes off my truck, rage in his eyes. “Watch your mouth, girlie.”
Blood races through my veins, and it feels ice cold. Not taking my eyes from him, I firmly set Mac behind me, telling her, “Don’t move.”
Something in my voice must convey the seriousness of the situation, because she does what I say. Jonas, on the other hand, takes a step toward her. “I should shut that mouth for you.”
“You need to get the fuck out of here,” I tell him, standing in front of Mac. “Now.”
“You don’t tell me what to do, Gravy. You fucking obey. As always.”
It burns that Mac hears my shame. That I ever obeyed this asshole. But no more.
“You’re making a fool out of yourself,” I tell him. “Go on. We’re done here.”
Jonas’s nostrils flare. Instinct has me transferring my weight onto the balls of my feet, my thighs clenching, prepping for a tackle. Jonas is a big motherfucker, but he’s been out of the game for years, and I’m stronger, faster, with better balance. He’ll go down and stay down.
Because he is, at heart, still a lineman, he reads my intent with perfect clarity. It’s in the eyes. We’ve been trained to broadcast “I’m gonna fuck your shit up” with one look.
“You think you can take me, little bro?” Jonas smirks like there’s no chance.
“I can bench four-thirty, so that just might be enough to toss you.” I shouldn’t taunt Jonas but he brings out the worst in me.
He bares his teeth at me. “I shit bigger than you.”
“I believe it.”
When he makes a noise as if he’ll soon charge, I clench my fists. But Ivy’s cool hand lands on my stomach. “He isn’t worth it, Gray.”
Her dark eyes are wide and worried, gleaming up at me with a silent plea. And I soften. I don’t want her to see this ugliness. But my distraction is a mistake. I hear Jonas snarl.
“Thought I told you to mind your fucking business, girlie.”
He lunges, and I can only think of Ivy, threatened. My vision goes white, a roar tears from my throat. I’m barely aware of moving. I slam into Jonas with enough force to rattle my bones. Fisting his shirt, I propel him upwards, my thighs bunching with effort. And he goes airborne.
His massive shape is a silhouette in the streetlight, and then he’s crashing down onto the pavement with a loud thud. I stand over him, my teeth grinding. A slow shake works deep through my guts. “Get the fuck out of here, or I will end you.”
He stares at me, all wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open. Blood dribbles from his lip, and my knuckles throb. Had I hit him? I don’t even remember doing it. But he spits a glob of red from his mouth as he rolls over, so I must have. Slowly he stands.
We stare at each other for a long moment. When I speak, the finality of our relationship feels like shards going down my throat. “Don’t ever talk to me again.”
He just shakes his head. “Mom wasted her time on the wrong kid.”
And then he leaves me there, gutted and filled with useless rage.
* * *
Ivy