“Mr. Bennett,” she said, softening her tone, “last night got out of hand. Everyone had been drinking. Nobody meant to hurt you.”
“Take off my wife’s robe.”
The softness vanished from her face.
Brian slammed his hand onto the counter. “Enough about the robe.”
“No,” I said quietly. “Enough about you.”
He stared at me.
“I want everyone out of my house by six tonight.”
Melissa laughed once. “That’s illegal.”
“No, it isn’t. You are not tenants. You have never paid rent. You have no lease. You live here because I allowed it.”
Brian pointed at me. “You would not throw your own son out.”
“Last night, you put dog food in front of your father at his birthday dinner.”
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
“So let us stop pretending blood is enough to excuse cruelty.”
Melissa folded her arms. “You’re confused. This is exactly what we were worried about.”
