“I’m not thrill seeking,” Evonne said in a small voice full of hurt.
“So, slumming then?” a new voice said.
Rocky watched her brother enter the room, a younger version of his father. His forehead, broad shoulders and sharp, almond-shaped brown eyes were a dead ringer for the man already glaring at him.
“You got something you want to say to me? I’m right here, don’t pretty it up and force it on Evonne.”
“Son, there’s a lot I’d like to say to you, but we’ll start with the obvious. You’re not the right fit for my daughter. Not only can she do much better, it’s clear to me you’re already taking her down the wrong path.” Her father shook his head. “My daughter would never blow off work to take some extended vacation and do God knows what with some stranger.”
“I ain’t a stranger. But I’m sure you know next to nothing about her life,” Rocky said.
“Before you, we knew plenty. The girl came over weekly,” her father retorted.
Her mother wrung her hands, looking from Rocky to her husband.
“Dad, you don’t even know his name,” Evonne said.
“Don’t need to. I know his type,” her father said.
Paul sneered. “Not only are you stepping out on tradition, you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
The words weren’t lost on Rocky. “Watch how you talk to her,” Rocky warned, staring down the man he’d already pegged as a bully.
“Or what?” Paul stepped closer, edging out his mother as he stood shoulder to shoulder with his father.
“Or, I’ll break your jaw,” Rocky deadpanned.
“Big words,” Paul sneered while his eye ticced.
“A promise,” Rocky said.
“You threatening my son in his own home?” her father asked.
“No, I’m letting you know your days of talking down to Evonne and bullying her into what you want are over,” Rocky said calmly.
Her father scowled. “I didn’t bully. I guided her. She needed a firm hand, so I gave it.”
Evonne ducked her head and Rocky ground his teeth. How long did it take a grown-ass man to break his little girl down so much she didn’t even open her mouth to defend herself? “Not how it looks from over here.”
“You plan on staying with this, Evonne? ’Cause I’m going to tell you now, it won’t be welcome in my house. I’m disappointed in you. Coming here just to upset the balance. How often do we get to have Paul home? This is a blight on his visit that could’ve been avoided entirely.”
Rocky watched Evonne practically shrink into herself and retreat behind the wall of pretense she’d kept erected to keep them happy.
“We’re leaving,” he stated, sick to his stomach.
“Ro—?”
“Now,” he whispered.
She nodded, and he spun them around, walking her to the door.
“You’re just going to let this white man order you around like that?” Paul snapped. “You know slavery is over, right?”
The words halted his stroll. “Go stand by the door, Firecracker.”
“Rocco, please don’t hurt him,” she whispered.
“Not your concern now.” Their gazes locked and he ignored the watery film that made her brown eyes sparkle.