Southern Storm (Southern 3)

I laugh now bitterly while Savannah squeezes my hand. “Beau,” she says my name. “You aren’t one of them.”

“You,” my father says to her. “You need to learn when to talk and when not to talk.”

“I love you,” I whisper and lean forward to kiss her lips.

“What the fuck is this?” Liam says. “You barge in here acting all high and mighty and what?”

“The police just arrested Chase.” As I say his name, my eyes are on my father, but just like the poker player he is, he doesn’t even bat an eye. “I’m assuming you have no idea what I’m talking about.”

“Not a clue,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “Should I?”

“Well, considering you were going to pay him a million dollars to take out Savannah and Ethan.” I say the words that taste like acid in my mouth. My brother looks at me, his mouth open, and then looks back at my father. “You should know his name.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” my father says.

“Well, here is a surprise.” I let go of Savannah’s hand. “Chase said you might say that so he gave us this.” I take my phone out of my pocket and press play on the video that Chase secretly recorded of my father and him.

“That can be doctored. That proves nothing,” he says, and I want to grab him by his throat.

“The thing you did wrong this time,” I tell my father, “was hire someone who was unhinged to begin with.” I shake my head. “You see, you hired Chase to do a job, but what you didn’t know is that Chase was already forming a case on you, Father. He has meetings of the two of you. He has all of the names of the women who you have fucked over during the years.” I look over at my mother who doesn’t say anything,

“I have a clean-cut record.” He leans forward now. “That man is on drugs.”

I laugh. “Twenty-five abortions. Twenty fucking five. Money taken to pay for these abortions. Money paid for apartments to keep your women close. Fifteen women all around the town all set up. That isn’t even counting the ones he keeps in town. Taking the town’s money to make sure your dick stayed wet.” I look at him. “You’re fucking pathetic. The thing you did wrong. Paper trail.”

“Okay,” Liam says. “So what? He cheats on Mom. That isn’t a surprise to anyone.” He looks at my mother, who is standing there with her hands to her mouth and tears running down her face. “Sorry, Mom. So what are you going to do, rat on your father? He’s your father.”

“Your wife,” I say, looking at him and then my sister-in-law, who sits there with a shocked look on her face.

“What?” Liam whispers.

“You see, dear old Dad,” I say to him, “I found the files.” He glares at me. “The files that you hid under the floor in my office.”

He slams his hand on the desk. “That’s enough of this shit. This is my house!” he shouts.

“My wife …” Liam says almost in shock.

“You are lying,” she finally says, getting out of her chair.

“You see …” I look at Liam, “what dear old Dad does is he gets what little dirt you have hidden away, and then he blackmails them. Pushes them until they have no choice but to give in. He’s been doing it for years.”

“My wife …” Liam says. “You slept with my father?” She turns and runs to him.

“Is it mine?” Liam asks, and she looks at him and then looks down, her hand going to her stomach. “God,” he says, holding his chest and looking over at my father. “How could you?”

“Oh, please,” my father says. “You were too drunk to get it up,” he says, and he’s about to say something else when a shot is fired. Liam grabs his wife, and I grab Savannah, but my eyes are on my father as blood starts to seep through his shoulder.

I look back to see my mother standing there with his gun in her hand. “I gave you everything,” she says, walking to him, and he groans, holding his shoulder. “Everything. I stood by you when I caught you with my best friend on our wedding day.” She points the gun at him. “When you chased the staff around. When I had to spend my birthday alone because you were with one of your whores!” she screams, and you see that she is broken. “I did everything for you.” She sobs. “Everything.” I get up now and walk over to my mother who stands over my father, and her hands are shaking. “Everything!” she yells, and I call her name.

“Mom,” I say, and she turns her face to look at me.

“He ruined everything,” she says.