Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(126)

She’s right. No judge in their right mind would want a child around all this.

I open my mouth to inform her I won’t be in the picture for long, but my dad growls, “And once I tell the judge you started an affair with my son when he was only sixteen, he’s going to realize that you have no goddamn business being around children.”

Mic-fucking-drop.

Crystal’s mouth falls open and she stumbles back.

But my dad isn’t done yet. “Fuck with me and my kids, Crystal. Because I swear on everything I love that I will bury you. I’ll tell the court you manipulated my teenage son. That you seduced him and tried to get him sent off to military school after you got pregnant. I’ll tell them about all the psychological damage you inflicted on him.” His gaze swings my way. “Better yet, I’ll put Oak on the stand and have him tell the court.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I flash her some teeth. “I was just a kid when you exploited me for your own needs. A young, innocent kid who was looking for a mother figure to fill the void. And hey, who knows? Maybe a psychologist will attest that my love of alcohol and drugs started after your abuse, so what happened to my dad was really your fault.”

It’s not the truth. I knew exactly what I was doing when I initiated things between us, and my love affair with alcohol and drugs started long before we did.

However, you don’t fuck with the people I love.

If my dad needs me to play the victim so he gets rights to see C.J., it’s the least I can fucking do.

He’s a good dad. Hell, he’s the best dad, and depriving C.J. of him would be wrong.

Crystal looks like she’s going to throw up. “When we talked last week—you know, after I went down on you in a parking lot—you promised not to bring that up in court.”

Stunned, I give my dad the stink eye. “Dude.”

There are not enough drugs in the world to ever make me tap that again.

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “What? She offered to blow me a few times in exchange for my silence. I’m only human, Oak.”

Fair enough.

Jaw set, he turns to Crystal. “We also agreed to joint custody, and that Oak can see C.J. whenever I have her.” Appearing calm again, he folds his hands in his lap. “But if you’re not going to stick to your end of the deal, I have no problem lighting you on fire and watching you burn.” He winks. “In a courtroom of course.”

Seething, she stalks out. But not before she mutters, “I hate you both.”

I cup my hands over my mouth. “Feeling’s mutual, Antichrist.”

Now that that shit’s settled, I can handle my business.

My dad tries calling me back when I leave the room, but it falls on deaf ears.

I’m digging my keys out of my pocket when Jace and Cole march up to me.

“Where are you going?” Jace questions.

“I’m taking care of some shit.”

I try to walk away, but Cole stands in front of me. “What shit?”

Are they fucking serious right now?

“Not that you give a fuck, but my dad was just shot by one of Loki’s associates.”

They exchange a glance.

Next thing I know they’re both hauling me into an empty hospital room.

“Don’t be stupid,” Jace barks.

“Too late,” Cole mutters. “This is Oak we’re talking about.”

I glare at them because they have a lot of fucking nerve.

“Don’t stand there and pretend you’re my boys. Or that you actually give a shit.”

I’m a lot smarter than they think, and I know they’re only here right now because either Bianca or their girls forced them to come.

As far as I’m concerned, they can both kick rocks.

Cole rolls his eyes. “Aw, I think he needs to hear us whisper sweet nothings and eternal promises so he’ll talk to us.”

I shove him. “It’s not funny, asshole.”

They made it perfectly fucking clear our ties were cut after the accident.

Truth be told, it hurt after they ditched me.

Way more than I thought it would.

But I don’t need them or their conditional friendship.

Hell, I don’t need anyone.

Except her.

I start to walk out, but Cole grips my shirt.

“Fine, I’ll start.” He makes a face like he’s pretending to think. “Let’s see, where should I begin? How about the time you gave my fiancé Adderall and she had a heart attack? Or when you were lying about working at a bar when you were really selling drugs? Or the time Sawyer flushed your stash down a sewer, and you needed money to reup so Loki didn’t bust a cap in your ass.” He taps his chest. “Yeah, that envelope with the wad of money in it wasn’t from Santa. You’re fucking welcome, asshole.”

I had no idea he was behind that. Although I probably should have, given Cole’s the type to help someone out on the down low and never say a word about it.

“I didn’t know—”

“I’m not fucking done yet,” Cole grunts. “Where was I?” He snaps his fingers. “Oh, that’s right. The time you were boning my baby sister behind my back and then got drunk and high behind the wheel and almost killed her.”

He’s got me there.