Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
“And you didn’t like that.”
Dare took a settling breath. He was getting worked up, and that was a mistake. “It’s a triggering word for me. I don’t think there’s any reason to ever use that word. I was numb at the time. He’s lucky.”
“Don’t underestimate him. He’s a well-trained operative, and he doesn’t fight fair. At some point in time I’ll take care of that fucker,” Taggart promised. “If you’re still around, I’ll cut you in on the action. But let’s talk about your problems and how I can help you.”
At least they were getting to the heart of the matter now. “Unless you’re calling me a ride, I’m afraid there’s not a lot you can do. Mr. Taggart, I’m not going to help you. There’s a part of me that can rationalize what Tasha did. I can understand the need to protect her country, and hell, it’s not like I didn’t get something out of it.” He winced because he’d told his girlfriend’s father he liked having sex with her. Not his fucking girlfriend. “This is a weird conversation to have with her father.”
“I’m a weird father. What you’re telling me is you would likely shrug this whole thing off if you didn’t feel the way you feel, if Tasha had been nothing more than a fun time in bed, but she wasn’t. She was more than a good time. She got inside, and that’s what you’re upset about. She assures me she feels the same. I’m under strict instructions not to hunt you for sport or scare you away with my trademark sarcasm. My daughter is in love with you. Now I argued about timing because from this side of things it seems abrupt, but it was pointed out that I might be hypocritical to question the timing.”
He’d needed very little time to fall for Tasha. A single week and he knew he’d never be the same. If only it had been real. “I can’t trust her.”
“Time and proximity sometimes solves that problem,” Taggart offered.
He could see himself getting comfortable, and then she would rip him open all over again. “It won’t for me. I won’t let her in twice.”
Taggart waved a hand. “Then you’re safe and you can finish up the op without worrying you’ll end up happily married at the end of it. If you don’t want to sleep with her, there are various ways to avoid that including not sticking your penis in. I’ve found that’s fairly good advice on a number of levels. Don’t stick your penis in.”
“Well, I can do that from Canada. Now I’m done with this extraordinarily uncomfortable conversation. If you’re going to arrest me, do it, but otherwise I’m leaving.” He started for the door, perfectly ready to face whatever beatdown these people were going to give him.
“I’ll take down your father for you.”
He stopped, his hand on the door, but he didn’t pull it open. Taggart had said the only words that could make him stop cold and consider doing something phenomenally stupid.
“I haven’t come up with a comprehensive plan yet, but I don’t think it will be hard,” Taggart continued. “I did a cursory study on the plane. I suspect not all of his business is legit, and it will be important that we’re able to prove you weren’t involved in that part. Now, the easiest way is to let my wife assassinate the fucker. It’s been a while, and she gets antsy.”
This whole conversation was surreal. “You wouldn’t.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Taggart agreed. “Charlie totally would, and I would hold her latte. That’s a bit extreme, of course, but it’s the fastest way to get it done. Like I said, if you can be a bit patient, I can find the leverage I need and force him to do what you need him to. I suspect it might make your life easier if both of your siblings had trust funds he couldn’t touch so he couldn’t threaten to cut the purse strings. They’re the reason you stayed, correct? If I’ve read the situation wrong and you enjoy working for your father…”
“He’s had me under his thumb since I was a child.” Dare moved back to the chair, though he didn’t sit down. “I can’t let him do the same to my siblings. As long as I give him what he wants, he leaves them alone. He wants an heir, to be able to show the world his company will have strong leadership in the form of a son. Johnny is too fragile to live in his world, and he would never accept Gina because she’s a daughter and not a son.”
“You are his natural heir. You’re smart and strong enough to run the business and the family. But he feels the need to punish you because you weren’t born the right way. He wasn’t married to your mother, and your mother wasn’t a person his society would ever accept.”