True Control Read Online Free PDF Page B

moved from his seat. Jeff still stands next to him.
    Dad nods to Jeff. “This is a family matter. You can go.”
    I nod to Jeff when he looks at me before moving. He leaves quietly, but not before telling me to call if I need anything.
    Jake finally looks up at Dad. It’s the same look he wore as a kid. Whenever Dad had The Look and Jake knew he was in trouble. In the beginning, I tried to protect Jake from our Stepdad. That never worked. I would get twice the punishment and Jake would still get his. By the time Ron adopted us officially, we were both toeing his line.
    Now I don’t look with pity or sympathy on him. I want to beat him myself.
    “Jake.” Dad takes a seat opposite him, hands on the table. “What were you thinking? Seeing your brother’s wife like that, in secret?”
    That’s not where I would’ve started.
    Jake shrugs. “I wasn’t thinking. It just happened really.” He always tried to get away with the innocent act.
    “That’s not an answer, boy.”
    Jake looks to me, but I only shake my head, fists clenched in my crossed arms.
    “I came to see how Lucy was. That first time. I knew how angry Max was with her…for what she did. Hell, I was mad at her.” He tries to laugh, but stops at the look he gets from Dad. “But I also know what men do in this family when they’re angry. I just wanted to make sure she was ok.”
    “That wasn’t your right, Jake.” Dad says exactly what I’m thinking this time.
    “She is family, Dad. I have a right to make sure she’s fine…” But he isn’t convincing anyone, not even himself. He knew what he did was wrong. And he did it anyway.
    Dad speaks so quietly that I almost can’t hear him, “But you weren’t checking on her as a brother would a sister.”
    Jake swallows before answering. He was never a good liar. He learned a long time ago not to try with Dad. “No, Sir.” He looks at me, “But we were just friends. Nothing more. Nothing more than that ever.”
    Dad nods. I have no choice but to nod too. I know he’s speaking the truth. It’s what he’s not saying that has me still clenching my fists though.
    He wanted her.
    “So what else weren’t you telling the police?” Dad could always read us. He knows as well as I do that Jake was holding back with Killaney not just about his being here earlier or the night I beat Lucy.
    He looks at his hands while he answers, not wanting to see my face I guess. “She was struggling with everything. She…she didn’t know if she could live up to what Max demands of her.” He looks at me briefly, then back at the table. “I saw her when she got her last period...” He takes another deep breath. Hearing him talk about Lucy, about her so intimately. It takes everything not to shove the table away and choke him with my bare hands. “She was crying. Saying she didn’t want to tell Max. She didn’t want to disappoint him.”
    “She told you all that?” Dad is sitting back. I don’t think either of us had any idea how close Jake and Lucy had become. We’ve hung out together plenty. We helped him celebrate buying a new building to make his new architectural offices and home. We’ve spent holidays together. But Lucy was confiding in him before me even. And I didn’t even have a clue about it.
    I remember how sad and frightened Lucy had been the last time she told me started her period. I held her all night, reassured her with little touches and kisses. The next morning she said she felt like we were going to be lucky very soon…that she wanted nothing more than to have my child in her arms next year. I was so proud of her for not staying sad. For bouncing back so quickly. I had no idea that maybe that had more to do with her talking to Jake than me. I clench my jaw more at this thought.
    “Yes. She also said she wasn’t sure how she felt about raising a kid,” he glances at both of us now, “the way we were raised.”
    Dad doesn’t say anything for a long time. It takes longer for me to get