Mason by Kathi S. Barton Read Free Book Online Page A

they’re
all that. And for the record, you’re nothing but a spoiled brat.” Dirk had had
enough. When he looked at his dad, Mason spoke again. “He’s had it with you as
well. And I don’t think he’s going to let you in either.”
    “Mom.” Dirk shouted twice for his mom, and
she came around the corner and stood on the porch with Dad. Dirk had had enough
of these people and their supposed rules. He was a McBride, the Dirk McBride,
and he was to be treated better than this. Especially by lower life forms like
Mason. “Mom, don’t let them do this to me. You know that this is not the way I
deserve to be treated. Tell Dad that this is enough and to let me in. I’m not
going to survive on the streets and you know it. I don’t even have any cash on
me.”
    “You don’t have any credit cards either, son.”
Dirk looked at his dad when his mom spoke, her voice as hard and cold as he’d
ever heard from her. “You’re on your own. We’ve decided that you’re too costly
to have living here. If you get yourself straightened out and get some help, we’ll
think about—”
    “Straightened out from what?” Neither of them
answered him. “I swear to Christ, if this is one of those fucking intervention
things, you’re wasting my time. I’m not hurting anyone with my fun. And it’s
not like you can’t afford to bail me out once in a while. I’m Dirk McBride.”
    “One hundred and seventy-three thousand, four
hundred and fifty dollars.” He asked his dad what that was. “What we’ve bailed
you out with in the last six months. I’m afraid to look at what we’ve done for
you since you’ve turned eighteen.”
    “So?” His parents looked at each other and
then back at him. “So what if that’s what it cost you? I’m your son, and you
have the money. Fuck, if you’d just give me what’s mine, then I’d not bother
you at all. I think I’m old enough to have my inheritance now. And kicking me
out isn’t going to make a bit of difference except for when I get back in the
house. You’ll see what happens when you treat me this way.”
    “There is nothing left for you.” Dirk just
stared at his dad. “So far as I’m concerned, you spent your share of the
inheritance from us a long time ago. Pain and suffering, money to bail you out.
That’s not even counting what Emma has given you or done for you. I’m washing
my hands of you and what you think we owe you. Dirk, you’re not going to do
this to any of us any longer.”
    “She’s a fucking lawyer. She should help me
out. Did you forget who I am? What I represent to this family and the McBride
name? Christ, just fucking get out of my way and let me in.” Dirk tried again
to move around Mason, and when that didn’t work, he glared at his mom. “So this
is how you’re going to treat me? Just kick me away as if I mean nothing at all
to you? This is how you treat your son? What the hell am I supposed to do about
the money I owe to my friends? You think they have that kind of money to just
piss away? There is thousands of dollars that I owe them. Look, just give me
some money…I could use about ten grand. That should be a nice start if you’re
kicking me out. Then say, I don’t know, you’re going to have to give me about
that much every month or I’ll never have anything. What do you expect me to do
if you just cut me off?”
    Mason laughed. “Get a job? Save your money?
Stop borrowing what your ass can’t afford? I don’t know, Dirk, those are just a
few of the things you’re going to have to figure out.”
    He lunged at the man and was knocked back on
his ass just as the police pulled in the drive. Now things were going to get better
for him. Turning to the cop as he got out of the car, Dirk started to explain
what his family was doing to him, but the cop only cut him off.
    “I’m afraid you’re going to have to move on,
Mr. McBride.” It took Dirk a few seconds to realize that he was talking to him,
not his dad. “You’re