CHAPTER 77

ALEXANDER

I took the steps two at a time, a mechanical grinding springing between my teeth, my hands clenched into fists damn near the size of soccer balls by my side.

Whatever my father wanted from me, I had no doubts in my mind we weren't going to be drinking morning tea under the rising sun in our crepe silk-leather suits, tea cups raised with dignity, and our pinky fingers shooting out.

I rounded the corner, breathing heavily until I was face-to-face with the red pine wood door of my father’s study, bracing myself before I rapped my balled-up knuckles on the wood’s bark.

“Who’s there?” Mr. McKenzie’s gruff voice thundered from inside, barely muffled by the thicket.

“Who the fuck else could it be?” I grumbled under my breath, instead yelling out my name brusquely before turning the knob and swinging the door open.

The double room study was lined by mahogany bookshelves filled with books I didn't care to read, and the Kenzie safe hidden between the paperbacks was all the relevance I