Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(107)

The white object mocks me from his large palm. The pink line laughing at me. I threw it outside with the trash. How the hell did he find it?

I can’t speak. Every part of me is locked in place. But I have to say something.

He glares at my sisters as if that look will make them spill. But they are innocent. No one knows but me.

I straighten my back, ready to face him.

“Yes, I do.”

He sucks a deep breath, his face flushing more.

“What did you say?”

I feel Josh’s hand grasp my elbow, squeezing it gently, whether to lend me some of his strength or encourage me, I have no idea. All I know is that, hell just broke loose.

“I’m pregnant.” I say, the taste of those words which at first was foreign now sounds familiar. Comfortable. My body and mind have accepted the situation.

He stalks forward, bringing his angry face into my space. Eliminating any confidence I’d felt before.

“You stupid girl, sleeping around and getting knocked up. Who is the father? That abomination of a man in prison?”

Suddenly, rage unlike any other I’ve ever felt fills me. I stand up straighter and lift my chin up in defiance.

“His name is Cole,” I shout. “He is perfect. I love him with everything I am and he loves me. You will never tear us apart.” My chest is heaving with furious breaths and tears burn my eyes. “I don’t know what I did to deserve a father like you. Your narrow-mindedness astounds me. Most times I wish you’d just die and rid the world of your filth. You break everything that stands in your path. You’re a waste of oxygen and if God could grant me a wish right now, I’d ask him to throw you in hell. I hate you with every part of me. If I could rip out those parts of you that are in me, I’d have done it the first time I realized you were nothing to me but a sperm donor.”

My cheeks burn with hot tears and my throat feels like it’s on fire.

Dad’s mouth has fallen open and his eyes are wide in shock.

I should have set him straight a long time ago. Maybe I’d have earned some respect from him.

Air whooshes past me at the same time my body is pushed aside without warning, jolting me out of my fury. I look around, my head spinning. Josh is standing in front of me with his arms raised toward my father, whose fist is suspended in the air.

The shock of what almost happened slams into me. I shudder, clutching a hand to my chest.

“It’s. . .it’s mine.” Josh stammers and clears his throat. “It’s my baby.” His words are louder this time and confident.

I gasp, completely stunned by Josh’s confession.

What?

I swing around to face Josh, shaking my head, pleading with him not to put himself in my father’s war path.

This is my battle.

“Josh, no,” I whisper, still shaking my head. “You can’t do this. Just no.”

“Anything,” he murmurs under his breath, his gaze now fully focusing on me. “Anything for you and my brother. We’ll sort this out later.” The fear that was present seconds before vanishes, replaced by reassurance and confidence and love. The kind of love that has always been lurking and he couldn’t hide it from me. The kind of love I haven’t been able to reciprocate.

I can’t let him do this. I change my focus to my dad. His face is cloaked in disbelief and rage and he’s wearing murder like a second skin.

“Father—”

“Shut the hell up!” He shouts at me, his eyes filled with a kind of madness I’ve never seen before. Those brown eyes shift above my shoulder, narrowing on Josh, whose grip on my arm is right now cutting off any blood circulation. “Are you responsible for this?”

I feel Josh breathe as he exhales slowly behind me and coughs once. “Yes, sir.”

Stupid, utterly stupid but brave boy.

I open my mouth to negate Josh’s claim, but he slides a hand around my waist pulling me to him and kissing my hair. My father watches us with narrowed eyes.

“Please don’t, Nor,” his voice trembles in my ear. “Don’t say anything. He’s going to kill my brother if he learns the truth. Save my brother. Please.”

I feel wetness on the side of my cheek. I turn and meet his gaze and my heart stalls. The pulse pounding in my ear halts and I hold my breath as I see the magnitude of his fears splayed across his face. The impact of his words hit me and everything inside me jump-starts. I’m breathing hard now, fighting for breath.

Save Cole. Save Cole. Save Cole.

I give him a subtle nod. I know what he means.

My father stands up, eyes both me and Josh, turning those wild eyes on my sisters then back in our direction.

He jabs a finger in our general direction. “You. In my study.”

I take a step forward, but his glare freezes me on the spot. He sneers, eyes me up and down and shakes his head. “Not you. You.” He points at Josh.

I feel Josh’s fingers shake, getting clammy as he slides his arm from my waist. He follows my dad to his office without a backward glance.

I rush in the direction they disappeared to, and begin pacing in the small hallway. My heart is beating hard and I can hardly get enough air in my lungs.

Shit, shit, shit.

My feet give way. The blackness hovering on the edges, swoops in. I can’t fight it anymore.

I’m going down. My head hits a hard surface and everything goes blank.