Free Troublemaker (Troublemaker, Book 1) by Ava Parker Page A

paper, and at me.
    “Good morning,” I say, pouring the juice into my glass.
    “Morning McKenzie,” he says. He appears strangely happier than I would expect, which almost scares me more than when he’s just obviously enraged.
    “You still jetlagged?” I a sk, sipping from my juice.
    He nods his he ad but doesn’t respond. He’s completely silent.
    “Dad, I…”
    He shakes his head from side to side as I start to talk. “Save your words McKenzie.” He takes a sip from his coffee as he pauses. “The tenant has to go.”
    I almost drop my glass on the floor.
    “What? Why ?” I ask.
    “How do I begin to count the reasons, McKenzie?”
    “Dad, it wasn’t his fault. He’s actually a really…”
    He chuckles sarcastically, cutting me off again. “You know nothing about his type, and I didn’t work so hard raising you to have you just throw it all away on, on…” He shakes his head, apparently at a loss for words for just how bad he thinks Cage West really is.
    I slam my glass on the counter, the kind of thing I’ve only done once before with my father. “This is so ridiculous. You don’t know anything about him. He already paid us for the entire eight weeks.”
    My father doesn’t respond to me slamming the glass, which almost makes me more uncomfortable. He slowly looks towards me before he opens his mouth to talk. “I want him out in an hour.” He gets up from his chair and walks towards me. He comes in close and hovers over me. “Are we clear?”
    I can’t breathe. I can barely stand up. “Dad, I don’t think it’s fair to…”
    “ARE WE CLEAR?” he shouts at me. I flinch and put my hands out in front of my face for protection. A single tear rolls down my cheek.
    “Yes, dad. Yes, we’re clear.”
    My father adjusts his shirt and relaxes his demeanor. “Good, glad to hear that. Come on, you’re coming with me to tell him.”
    I shake my head, “Please dad, no.”
    “You know the deal McKenzie. If I have to ask you again, I will not hesitate to…”
    “Okay, ” I say softly. “Okay, I’ll go.”
    I stand up tall, wipe the tear from my face, and brace myself.
    “Let’s go, I have a busy day. And I’ve wasted more than enough time on this as it is.”
    We walk outside and make our way to Cage’s unit. My father is standing in front of me as he knocks on the door. I seriously might pass out, so I lean on the handrail just in case.
    Cage ’s door swings open and their eyes lock. Cage turns to me briefly, but I look away, unable to face him.
    “I need to ask you to vacate our property. You have until 9:00 a.m. to gather your belongings and exit the apartment.”
    “Seriously, why?” Cage asks, shaking his head.
    My father reaches into his pocket and pulls out a personal check. “Here, this is to compensate you for your unused time here.”
    Cage takes the check and stares at it for a moment, then raises his eyebrows. “This is for real? You’re kicking me out?” He looks at my father, then over at me for an answer. I lower my head slightly, my lips won’t move.
    “Please, Mr. West. Let’s not make this complicated.” My father looks over his shoulder and into the unit. “I’ve asked you to leave by 9:00. I will expect full compliance with the law in this regard.” My father has stopped all eye contact with Cage at this point.
    Cage shakes his head and stuffs the refund check in his pocket. He looks over at me. “Kenz?” He throws his hands out for an answer. “Is this really what you want?”
    I. Can’t. Breathe.
    My father looks over at m e. “Go ahead McKenzie, tell him…
    tell him what needs to be said.” He gestures with his hand for me to do as he says.
    Cage steps out of the doorway and comes towards me. “C’mon Kenz, it doesn’t have to be this way.” I feel lightheaded from the blood rushing through my head.
    I’m sandwiched between both of them. The thick air is swallowing me whole, and I can’t seem to feel or hear anything at all.
    My eyes