N. E. Henderson - Silent No More: A Novel

What the fuck does the bastard want now? I huffout, glaring down at the name displayed on my cell phone. If I never have tospeak to him again, itll be too soon. Jerking my right hand off the steeringwheel, I reach over, turning the volume down on the stereo thats blasting Avenged Sevenfolds "Nightmare "through the speakers.

My Father.

The person I hate most in the world. If Godexisted, the motherfuckers life would have ended by now. But that hasnthappened, and I dont see it happening any time soon. Im the type of guy thatprays for his dad to get a brain-fucking hemorrhage that will take him straightto Hell, where he belongs.

Yeah? I greet the fuck as I turn into theunderground parking garage at Lockhart Publishing in my silver Audi R8.

Way to ruin my day, Dad!

Nicholas, is that any way to answer your phone?Youre the CEO of a company for Christs sake. The least you could do is actlike a professional. Two companies to be exact, but what the Hell does being aCEO have to do with professionalism when the person on the other end of theline is the sorry excuse I get to call father? The man should know by now, Imgoing to do and act any damn way I want. Ive never been the do as youre toldtype, so why start now?

I wasnt aware this was a professional call. Mytone is sarcastic, but I dont give a shit. The dick-fuck knows I hate him.Nothing is ever going to change that. We will never drink a beer together. Wewill never have a strong father/son bond. Hell, the only bond we do have isblood. The simple fact that his blood runs through my veins and that it willforever link us disturbs me.

Son, lets not argue today. I called for aspecific reason, so I wont keep you any longer than necessary. I can tell byhis clipped tone he doesnt want to be on the phone with me any more than I dowith him.

Fine, then please tell me what you want so I canget back to work. I breathe out in annoyance.

My father was a well-known Defense Attorney in LAwhen I was growing up. He made a living getting criminals out of jail for manyyears and now hes a prominent judge. There is some real fucked-up irony inthat. The man should be locked up for the shit he has done to my mother overthe years. Why the woman stays married to him is beyond me. Its not like sheneeds his money. In fact, my father has benefited from her inheritance morethan she has.

Rotten bastard.

As you know, Thursday is Thanksgiving, and yourmother would like you and your sister present for lunch. He knows Ill doanything for my mom. I think I proved that to him a long time ago. Do youthink you can do this for her? he adds. He knows Im going to say yes.

What time? I ask on a sigh as I open my cardoor, stepping out into the dark, musky air under my building. To my annoyance,I slam the door harder than I intend. Fuck! Why do I let this man get under myskin so easily? Just the sound of his voice tends to set me off.

Noon, he responds. A few hours in the company ofmy father is sure to piss me right the fuck off along with adding additionalrenovations to my house for my handyman to fix. Not that I cant fix the damageI create myself, but why go through all that trouble when I can hire someone todo it for me? Im sure the guy already thinks Im a raging alcoholic who comeshome and punches holes in walls for fun. Im not, of course, or at least Imnot yet. If he knew all the damage was the result of my frustration with myfather, he would understand.

Yeah, so I have anger issues.

Okay, but if you want Nikki there, then perhapsyou should call your daughter yourself. I make my way to the elevator pressingthe up button. As I wait, I check the time on my Rolex. Its 1:14pm. I haveplenty of time before my meeting with Teresa. Why I ever made that woman VicePresident of my company, Im still not sure. Shes great at business and abrilliant editor, but damn, I wish she would stop trying to get into my pantsevery time we are alone. Now that shes my VP, I see her more often than Ilike. Its not like she isnt attractive, because she is, with blonde hair, bigtits, and a tiny waist, but I dont sleep with people who work for me. Andwellshe annoys the fuck out of me, plus she is too bitchy. Its a big fuckingturn off!

The sound of my fathers voice brings me back toour conversation. I really need to wrap this up. The longer I speak to him, thelonger Ill be at Knocked Out tonight, kicking the shit out of my best friends ass.

Jase is one of the few people who knows about myrelationship with my father and why I hate the man. He and I share a commonhatred for our fathers. Everyone that works for my father thinks hes anoutstanding judge and wonderful family man.

What a crock of shit!

Nicolette is being her usual immature andchildish self. It would be easier for all of us if you ask her to come. Shelistens to you, Nicholas. He sounds annoyed with his last statement and Isilently laugh. My sister isnt immature or childish. She would just ratherignore his calls than deal with the man. She hates the heartless bastard asmuch as I do.

Any man, who lays a hand on a woman with the soleintension of hurting her isnt much of a man at all in my book. Thats the kindof fucked-up shit my father loves to do to women. We watched him physically andmentally abuse our mother for years. The day I turned twenty-one, I made suremy father never laid a hand on my mother again. Thats not to say hes stoppedhurting women because he hasnt. Now, he has a mistress to abuse. He doesntknow I know about her, but I do. Surely my mother has to know too.

As the elevator door opens, Matt, my senior editorand good friend, is exiting. I pin him with my signature icy stare. I can tell bythe look that crosses his face he knows Im in one of my moods, so he wiselysays nothing and passes me quickly. These moods only happen when I have tocommunicate with the man on the other end of my phone.

Nicholas, he stresses, "just call yoursister for me. I dont have time for Nicolette right now. Im walking intocourt as we speak. He has never had time for Nikki or me for that matter. Notthat I care. I stopped caring about my father before I learned to write my own Goddamn name.

Sure, Dad!I force out through clenched teeth. Ill handle it. Well be there on Thursdayat noon. Is there anything else? I have a meeting to get to. Im not totallylying. I do have a meeting to attend, but its not for another hour.