Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
“I suppose your father told you this about me?”
“Your son told me. Actually, both of your sons and your daughter.”
He arches a brow. “You do know that your father called me, correct?”
“My father is going to suck it up and deal with Reid being his son-in-law,” I say, making darn sure I present my father as angry and reluctant. “And he’s doing so,” I add, “because he loves me more than he hates you. You won. He’s defeated and he gives up. I’d say that I’m upset I helped you beat him, but he played dirty, too. He lied. He wasn’t the man I thought he was and he deserves what he got, but it’s over.” Which is the truth. I’m making peace with my father, but those realities still exist.
“Then invite me in and prove it.”
“We both know you would hurt me to hurt my father so, no, I won’t invite you in.” I step forward and take the bottle from him. “You owe this to Reid for being such a shitty father. I feel sorry for you because you’re going to die old and alone.” I start to shut the door and hesitate only a moment before I add, “Unlike my father, I don’t blame you for breaking him and my mom up. She left and never looked back. She was beneath him and you two deserve each other. Maybe you should look her up.” Now I step inside the apartment, shut the door, and lock up.
I lean against the door and consider calling Reid, but he’s in hell right now. Okay, but he’s in hell over his father. I have to call him. I inhale, stare at the bottle of booze and then google it. It’s worth twenty-five-thousand dollars. I walk to the coffee table and set it down before I drop the damn thing and break it. Then I sit down on the couch, only I don’t have my phone. Great.
I stand up, rush to the bedroom and find it lying in a suitcase. I snatch it up, return to the living room and stare at that booze. What was the point in bringing that bottle? Maybe it means something to Reid? I dial my future husband. “Carrie,” he answers, sounding concerned, because of course, he knows I wouldn’t call while he’s in his meeting unless there was a problem. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I had a situation, but it’s handled and I’m perfectly fine.”
“What does that mean?” he demands, his tone sharp in that way Reid can be sharp, not with anger but the need to gain control he doesn’t have and needs with some degree of urgency.
“Right after you left, there was a knock on the door and I thought you left your key because of course, none of your siblings would be visiting and only they had access.”
“Oh, fuck. My father.”
“Yes, your father.”
“Please tell me you didn’t let him in.”
“I didn’t, but I did take the twenty-five-thousand-dollar bottle of scotch he brought us as an engagement gift. Why would he bring you a bottle that expensive? Does it have some meaning to you?”
He’s silent a few long beats before he says, “He once told me the day I bought a bottle of twenty-five-thousand-dollar scotch and didn’t blink, I would know I’d hit the jackpot. I need to go, baby. Don’t go out and lock the door.”
“I’m confused. What was he telling you?”
“That I’ve given him the ultimate weapon in you, baby. That I’m finally successful enough with this move to deserve that scotch. I’ll handle it. Just stay there. Understand? Stay there. I need to know you’re safe.”
“I’m safe. I’m fine. He didn’t threaten me or make me feel threatened.”
“He wouldn’t. That’s not how he operates. I love you. I’ll be home soon.” He hangs up.
I drop the phone to the couch and stare at the bottle of scotch and I swear, now I want to drop it and break it the way Reid’s father is trying to break his family. I fight the urge to call Cat. I’d love to have someone to talk to that understands what Reid is facing with his father, but I decide Reid wouldn’t like that. He’s very private and he’s spent a lifetime hiding these things from his sister to protect her. This realization drives home how strong my bond is with Reid. He trusts me. He’s bared his soul to me. I need to wait and talk to him, not Cat. Perhaps that will change in time, as he dares to bare his soul to her, but for now, Reid needs me to just wait, and wait I will.
Reid
I hang up with Carrie as Gabe and Royce sit across from me in a booth in the coffee shop not far from our house. “I caught enough of that to know dad visited Carrie,” Gabe says.