Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
I grunt and look away. I knew Daisy was lying about that, but why would she do it? And why would her uncles let her?
“Is there anything else about Colton’s disease you want to tell me about?”
The nurse takes a deep breath and lets it out like she’s been waiting for this moment a long time. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but here’s all I’ll say. I’m not a part of this family and their fight over this place isn’t my business, but I’m around a lot and I hear things. Folks act like I’m invisible and like I don’t have ears sometimes. And I can tell you, something’s not right. I’ve been waiting for someone to come around and start asking questions, and I think you’re the closest thing I’m gonna get.”
“What sort of questions should I be asking?” My heart’s racing with anticipation. No matter how many times I do stuff like this, ask questions, poke around somewhere I shouldn’t, it’s always a rush.
She looks back the way she came. “It’s about money, isn’t it?” She blinks up at me and tilts her head. “You were looking in Daisy’s room. That’s smart. But Daisy’s smart too, and I don’t think she’d leave anything to chance. Do you?”
“What do you know?” I press, but she’s already shaking her head and walking away.
“I know Daisy and her uncles are involved in something. I know it’s probably not legal. I know they don’t want anyone looking around, and they definitely don’t want Colton hearing about it. That’s all I know.”
“You need to give me something else. That could be anything.”
“If I knew more, I’d tell you. All I’ve got are bad feelings. Colton’s a hard man, but I think he’s a good one, and I hope you figure out what’s happening around here before he passes, because I think he knows something’s wrong too.”
I watch her disappear around the corner and lean my head up against the wall, eyes closed.
Melody’s split lip flits into my memory. The anger in her eyes, the hurt at being called a liar. The taste of her, the sensual sounds of her moans as she came under my tongue.
I want to help her. I want to solve—whatever’s happening at this place. Fraud? Murder? Probably a little bit of both.
But I’m lost and in the dark, and I’m not sure I can find out the truth without her help, and I doubt Melody’s interested in digging through the wreckage of this place.
Too many bad memories.
Which leaves it up to me.
And the problem is, I’m not sure I want the truth. Whatever Daisy’s been up to all these years can stay hidden for all I care, so long as I get Melody to marry me in time to inherit. Once that happens, we can evict all these petty little fuckers and take control of the ranch.
I can pay off my father’s debt and save him from the Greeks.
I can give my mother the life she deserves.
All I need to do is fall in love.
With fucking Melody. And her taste. And her moans. And her kiss.
Let it go. Just let it go. Forget about Daisy and all the rest. Focus on what matters. Focus on the mission.
But as I push myself off the wall and walk away, I can’t help but think about my next moves, because those soulless pieces of trash hurt Melody, and I can’t let them get away with it.
Chapter 16
Melody
I lie on my back and stare out the windows as night falls on the ranch.
My mind’s spiraling out of control from the fight. My head aches, my lip stings, but most of all, my pride is battered. I never should’ve let Daisy bait me into that, and I hate that I acted like a child again, like I was a teenager getting into a tussle. We’re grown-ass adults, we shouldn’t be fighting in the yard like that anymore, and yet the uncles did nothing about it at first, not until War showed up.
I hate myself for letting Daisy get to me. But her words echo in my brain, spinning through my thoughts. I’m a liar, an enormous fake, nobody believes me, and they never did. Why would they? I can still see my father, days after Rosie’s funeral, standing in his bedroom as he looks down at me with utter disgust. I still hear what he said: What is wrong with you, girl, talking bad about the dead that way, spinning crazy stories? It was like a hammer blow, like getting punched in the throat. I would rather let Daisy slap me around for hours than hear that contempt in my father’s tone again. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t explain. Dad stared at me with utter hatred, called me a liar, called me a fraud right to my face, questioned the most pivotal moment of my entire life like it was something I’d created for fun. He truly believed I made up the most awful moment of my life. Truly believed I told Renee for attention, and that I’d better drop it and forget it.