Chapter 16

The confrontation I’d been dreading for months arrives not with a shout, but with the soft, deliberate click of my bedroom door closing. I’m at my desk, the blue glow of the forbidden chat room on my screen, my hand still tucked beneath the waistband of my sweatpants. I freeze, my heart seizing in my chest.

I don’t need to turn around. The presence in the room is immense, a shift in the atmosphere that is purely him. The scent of his expensive cologne, mixed with the faint, clean smell of the gym, fills the small space.

“Adam.”

My father’s voice is low. Calm. Utterly terrifying.

I slowly spin my chair around, my hand jerking out of my pants as if burned. Edward stands with his back against the door, his arms crossed over his broad, still-damp chest. His workout clothes are tight, molding to a physique that is, even now, objectively powerful. His dark eyes, so like my own, aren’t blazing with anger. They are ... curious. Intensely, unnervingly focused.

“Dad,” I croak, my throat dry. “I thought you were ... out.”

“My meeting ended early.” His gaze flicks past me to the computer screen. The explicit profile pictures are still visible. The private messages from Carlos, from others. “What is all this?”

There’s no point in lying. The evidence is right there, glowing in garish pixels. I feel a cold sweat break out on the back of my neck. “It’s ... a chat room.”

“I can see that.” He takes a step forward, and I flinch instinctively. He stops, a faint frown creasing his brow. He doesn’t look mad. He looks... intrigued. “You know you’re not old enough to be on a site like that.”

“I know.” The words are a whisper. I feel like a specimen under a microscope.

He moves again, this time coming to stand beside my desk. He leans over, his hip brushing my shoulder, and uses the mouse to scroll. He reads a few of the messages. My cheeks burn with a humiliation so complete it feels like a physical weight. He reads the explicit details Carlos and I have exchanged. He reads the plans.