IT WAS THE SECOND TIME in as many months that Mitch started the morning with a killer hangover. He didn’t remember much about the previous night except he’d spent it with a bottle of Scotch and a burning need to forget.
A shower helped a little. He made his way downstairs where he shook off breakfast, grabbed coffee and started to leave.
“What’s wrong?” Fidela asked. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
She came up to him and cupped his face. “You mourn your friend. I know. Time will heal the wound. It always does.”
Would time heal this wound?
“His wife is pregnant.”
“Her baby will bring her much comfort.”
“He’ll never know his kid.”
“He’s in heaven. He’ll know everything.” She glared at him. “Don’t you dare tell me you don’t believe in God. You’ve been to war, Mitch. You’ve seen the pain and the miracles.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re right.”
“So believe in the possibilities.”
He nodded because it was easier than arguing. Yesterday he would have believed. Yesterday he would have known that whatever happened, there was still good because he and Skye loved each other and they’d finally found their way back to where they belonged. This morning, the world was a shitty place and he was sorry he’d come back.
He stepped outside and winced as the bright sun seemed to pierce his skull. He limped to the barn and stumbled into his office.
Forgetting seemed impossible, he thought grimly. At least while he was here. He would have to go somewhere that didn’t remind him of her. Assuming there was such a place in the world. If he’d had the faith Fidela had talked about, he would have offered God a bargain-his sorry self for Pete.
He sipped the coffee and thought about turning on his computer. Once he was online, he could pick a destination. Any one. Maybe Thailand. He could get lost in the jungle. He had money. Arturo would run the ranch. He didn’t need Mitch.
“Hi!”
Erin bounced into his office.
“I don’t have school today. It’s the summer.” She giggled, as if not knowing about her summer break was the funniest thing in the world. “Mommy said I could spend the day here and go riding.”
Her voice was high and made his head throb as if it were stuck in the middle of a church bell.
“Can you keep it down?”
Erin looked confused. “Keep what down?”
He slumped onto his chair. “Nothing. I don’t know where Arturo is.”
“He’s out riding the fence line. Fidela told me.” She moved closer, then plopped on the floor next to his chair and looked at him. “Want to go riding.”
“No.”
“But it’s nice out.”
“I don’t feel very good. My head hurts.”
She pressed her lips together. “You can take something. Mommy takes something when she gets a headache. You buy it at the store. Or do you want me to get you a cold cloth? That helps.” She sprang to her feet. “I’ll go get a cold cloth. That will be nice.”
He raised a hand to stop her. “Just go. I need quiet.”
She ignored the instruction to leave. “I can be quiet.”
“Not so far.”
She sank back down on the floor and eyed him. “Are you sad about something?”
“What? No.”
He would be sad one day. Right now he was beyond sad. Not beyond pain, though. The pain was right there, crouching in his gut, reminding him with every breath that he’d lost her.
Lost Erin, too, he thought, looking into her concerned face and wishing…what? That he could have been a part of her life? Sure. Why not? She was a great kid. He liked everything about her. Loved everything about her. He wanted to be a part of her world-helping her grow. Teaching her to drive and scaring off potential boyfriends. Who would do that now?
“Are you fighting with Mommy again?” Erin asked.
“Not in the way you mean.”
“Huh?”
“No. I’m not fighting with your mother.”
“She’s not scared of you. I’m not, either. Sometimes people fight.”
He rubbed his temple and wished he’d thought to swallow a half-dozen or so aspirin before leaving the house.
“Who told you that?” he asked.
“Izzy. She tells me lots of stuff. About my dad so I can try to remember him and what it’s like to climb a mountain. She says that when adults fight I shouldn’t get scared.”
That got his attention. “Why would you be scared?” Was Ray not the paragon Skye had claimed? Had he frightened his wife and child?”
Erin studied her shoe.
He put down his coffee and leaned toward her. “What is it? Who scares you?”
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. “Grandpa,” she whispered. “Sometimes when he yells, I hide in the closet.”
That bastard, he thought, reaching down to grab Erin and pulling her onto his lap.
“He’s a big guy,” he said as she snuggled close. “But he won’t hurt you.” If Jed tried, he would have to answer to him.
“Will he hurt Mommy?”
A reasonable question. Simple words, easily understood. Would Jed hurt Skye?
Mitch swore silently. Of course he would. Jed would do whatever it was he had to. If he thought there wasn’t a choice. If he felt trapped. He would destroy anyone who got in his way. Even his own daughter.
He remembered making love with Skye. What they’d shared, how she’d touched him. How they’d truly been one. She’d seen him naked, had accepted him-all of him. He knew it in his gut and in his heart. She hadn’t rejected him. She’d been afraid. Beyond afraid. Terrified. And there was only one thing that would frighten Skye into turning her back on him.
Erin.
“Mitch? Will Grandpa hurt my mommy?”
“No,” he said firmly, putting her on her feet and standing, as well. “Not ever again.”
“I don’t understand.”
He crouched in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re great, you know that? I think you’re the most special girl I know.” There was more he wanted to say. That he loved Skye and he loved her. That he would protect them both with everything he had.
But this wasn’t the time. He wanted to get to Skye, to tell her that he’d figured it out and he was there for her. However Jed had threatened her, they would deal. Together. They would figure out a plan. She didn’t ever have to be afraid again.
“I’m going to take you to the house where you can help Fidela make cookies,” he said. “We’ll go riding later, okay?”
“Okay.”
They turned toward the door. She held out her hand, as if she wanted him to take it. He did. She was so small, he thought. Defenseless. But that didn’t matter. She had her mother and she had him. They would protect her.
They returned to the house. He took Fidela aside to tell her she needed to keep Erin, but before he could say anything, she spoke.
“When Skye dropped Erin off, she was upset. Something’s wrong. She said to keep her girl safe.” Fidela grabbed his arm. “Mitch, what’s happening?”
“I don’t know but it has to do with Jed.” He hugged her. “Don’t worry. I’m going to find out and I’m going to fix it. I’ll go get Skye and bring her back.”
“Jed Titan is a powerful man.”
Mitch smiled. “So am I. I didn’t fight for what I wanted last time. I let her walk away. I’m not going to do that again. I don’t know what hold he has on her, but I’m breaking it today and for good.” He glanced at Erin. “I said you’d let her help you make cookies.”
“Of course,” Fidela said. “Be careful.”
Mitch started for the door. “If you’re going to worry about someone, worry about Jed.”
THE BAR WAS OLD, paneled and catered to rich men with influence. Jed ordered his usual Scotch from the bartender. He was meeting his lawyer for lunch. While he didn’t usually enjoy sharing a meal with a lawyer, these days he didn’t have much choice. They were a reality in his life.
As he took his drink and carried it toward an empty table, he saw another man sitting in the corner. Their eyes met. Jed changed direction and headed toward him.
Garth Duncan stood as he approached. He said something to the person he was with and met Jed in the middle of the bar.
“Afternoon,” Garth said, looking confident. A faint smile pulled at his mouth, as if he had a secret.
There was power in knowledge, Jed thought, not intimidated by his bastard.
“You’re not going to win this,” he said, figuring there was no reason to waste time with niceties. “I’ve been playing this game longer than you’ve been alive and I always come out on top.”
Garth gave in to the smile. “You talk tough for an old man facing treason charges. It’s already over, Jed. You just haven’t figured that out yet. But please, try to defeat me. I enjoy a good fight.”
Jed saw the anger behind the smile, the rage and determination in his son’s eyes. Was that because of him or did it have another source?
“You crossed the line when you hurt my daughter,” Jed said. “Blowing up her oil rig was a big mistake.”
Garth studied him. “I agree. Whoever did it was a fool, but it wasn’t me.”
Jed dismissed him with a shake of his head. “You think I’m an idiot?”
“A question for another time,” Garth said. “I’ll take credit for all I’d done. Your girls have given me a run for my money. You should be proud of them. But Izzy? She doesn’t have anything I want, so I’ve left her alone. I didn’t have anything to do with the explosion. You’ll have to look elsewhere.”
Which was true, but Jed wouldn’t acknowledge it. “Why should I believe you?”
“I don’t care if you do or not, Jed. That has nothing to do with the truth. It wasn’t me.”
Jed leaned close and lowered his voice. “I’m going to take you down, boy.”
Garth looked more amused than afraid. “You’re going to try. There’s a difference. You’re out of your league on this one. You don’t even know what I want, so how are you going to stop me?”
“You want it all. Just like me.”
Garth’s amusement faded. “I’m nothing like you. You inherited a fortune and made it bigger. So what? I started with nothing and built an empire. You’re used up and irrelevant.”
“Then why are you trying so hard to beat me?”
The smile returned. “Because I can.”
SKYE FORCED HERSELF to focus on the goal. Getting out. Erin was safely at the Cassidy Ranch, which meant she was away from Jed and right now that’s all that mattered. Mitch would keep her safe. He might want to eviscerate Skye, but he would die to protect Erin. She was willing to bet her daughter’s life on that.
Because no matter what, in the end Mitch was a good man. The best man she’d ever known.
“Later,” she told herself as she collected her daughter’s clothes and put them in a suitcase. Erin’s toys and books were already packed and in the car. She figured she had the whole afternoon until her father returned, but she wasn’t taking any chances.
Everything was finally clear to her. She was going to fight for what she wanted. She was going to fight her father and then she was going to fight for Mitch. But first she had to get out of Glory’s Gate.
The irony didn’t escape her. She’d spent her whole life trying to be worthy of these walls. Trying to feel as if this was really where she belonged. When the truth was, she wanted Jed’s love. Something she’d never been able to find. Maybe it didn’t exist. It hadn’t for Pru.
She was his daughter and that should matter to him. It didn’t, and the sooner she accepted that, the sooner she could move on. She’d already sold herself once for her father. She wasn’t going to do it again.
When the suitcase was full, she closed it and carried it down to her car. Her things were already packed. She only had to go through her makeup and then she could-
“Going somewhere?” her father asked, coming in through the kitchen. “There seems to be a lot of luggage in your car.”
She raised her chin. “I’m leaving. Erin and I are moving out.”
Jed looked tired and his eyes were red. “I warned you what would happen if you tried that. I’m not going to warn you again. Skye, you will do what I tell you or I will-”
She cut him off. “Yeah, I know the drill. You’ll have me locked up. Doctors will testify. Blah, blah, blah.”
He glared at her. “Who the hell are you to talk to me that way?”
“I’m your daughter, Jed. The daughter you’ve used before, taken advantage of, put down. Oh, wait, you’ll need more information. That describes all three of us.”
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you will take your bags back inside and unpack or I’ll make you regret every moment you’re alive.”
The fear was still there, but so was determination. She wasn’t going to do this anymore. She wasn’t going to be his employee or his bitch.
“No,” she said firmly. “I won’t unpack. I’m not staying. I wanted this to be different. I wanted us to be a family. But that’s not possible with you. You want to take it all and give nothing in return. No one else matters.”
“Oh, my poor little girl. Has your life been hard? Too many ponies to look after?” He stalked toward her. “I’ve taken care of you and you have wanted for nothing. All I want in return-”
“Is my soul.”
“You’ve always been overly dramatic. You get that from your mother.”
“A woman you drove to suicide.”
“She was always unstable. And an idiot.”
“She loved you so much that when she found out you wouldn’t love her back, she killed herself.”
“Not my problem.”
“I agree. It’s not. But it should have been. When I was little, I thought you were amazing. You could do anything. Now I realize you’re nothing but a selfish jerk who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. The only way you can keep me in line is to threaten me. What does that say about your parenting skills?”
“I swear I’ll lock you up, Skye. You’ll wish you were dead. Maybe you’ll try to kill yourself, like your mother.”
She ignored the words because they didn’t matter. He couldn’t hurt her unless she let him. And she wasn’t going there.
“You can’t lock me up. You have only yourself, because that’s how you’ve always wanted it. That’s your game. I have sisters who will scream from every street corner in Dallas. They know what you’re trying to do and we’ll work together to stop you. You have doctors? Fine. I’ll get more.”
“You don’t have the money.”
“I have plenty. Besides, it’s going to be a little difficult to fight me from jail. That’s where the government likes to keep traitors.”
He swore. “You know I had nothing to do with that.”
“You’re right. I do. But does anyone else? If your family doesn’t support you, what will the public think?”
He flushed. “You’re threatening me?”
“How does it feel, Dad?”
She wouldn’t go through with it, but it felt really good to say the words.
“I’m not running,” she told him. “I’m moving in with Lexi until I can find a place of my own. I want you to know that so it’s clear you haven’t scared me away. I’ll fight you and I’ll win because I love my daughter and that’s not anything you could possibly understand.”
“You won’t last a second without me.”
“Then you have an exaggerated sense of your place in my life. I’ll be fine. I have a foundation to run and a daughter to raise and a man to win back.”
“You can’t mean Mitch. Why would you want him?”
“Because he’s my world. I’ll do whatever is necessary to convince him that I had a moment of weakness and I acted out of fear. He’ll forgive me.” At least she hoped he would. In truth, she wasn’t as confident as she sounded.
“Don’t be so sure,” Jed sneered.
“She can be sure.”
The voice came from behind her. Skye caught her breath then turned and saw Mitch standing in the foyer.
“You’re leaving?” he asked her.
“Just Glory’s Gate. Not Dallas.” She swallowed. What did it mean that he was here? “I’m moving in with Lexi.”
“She didn’t say anything.”
“You saw her?”
“I’ve spent the afternoon with her.” He held up a folder. “Interesting piece of information. Those so-called experts of your father’s don’t exist. Lexi came in this morning and copied down the names.” He looked at Jed. “It’s fancy printing and nothing else. Or as we like to say here, all hat and no cattle.”
Her breath caught. “They’re not real letters?”
Jed stared at her. “I’ll still annihilate you.”
“I can’t believe he fooled me,” she told Mitch ignoring her father as he stalked out of the room. “I’m an idiot.”
“He threatened Erin. You weren’t expecting that.”
“Wait a minute. How do you know what’s going on?”
He looked a little sheepish. “Your daughter stopped by this morning. Talking to her made me realize this had Jed written all over it. He was faking you out.”
“And I fell for it. I’m so sorry.”
“I know.”
She moved toward him. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was scared and I reacted and I hurt you. Mitch, I’m sorry. I feel horrible. I didn’t mean it. You know that, right? I know that doesn’t take away the words.”
She wanted to sink into the ground. Humiliation clawed at her.
“I’m sorry.”
He dropped the folder onto a chair and wrapped his arms around her. “I know.”
“Really sorry. I was so stupid and I didn’t think.”
“I know.”
“I love you. I’ll do anything to convince you. Even beg.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I can’t see you begging. Well, maybe naked.” He tucked her hair behind her ears. “Skye, I get it. Jed knows how to push your buttons.”
“I won’t let it happen again. I swear.”
He stared into her eyes. “Next time come to me. We’ll work it out together.”
“I will.”
“Good. So are you really moving in with Lexi? Won’t that be crowded, with Cruz there and all?”
“It’s actually Cruz’s house and it’s huge.”
“I thought maybe you’d want to stay with me.”
“Really? You still want me.”
“Skye, I love you. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
Relief and happiness rushed through her. She leaned in and kissed him.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’d love to stay there and Erin will be thrilled.”
“Good. You know that I would build you a house as big and fancy as Glory’s Gate, if that would make you happy.”
He would. Mitch was a man of his word.
She stepped back and turned in a slow circle, taking in the high ceiling, the antique furniture. She’d grown up here. The house represented so much to her. She’d lost Mitch once because of it.
“It’s just a house,” she told him. “I don’t want another one like it.”
He looked confused. “But you love this place.”
“No. I love you. I don’t want a house. I want a home, and that’s where you are. The ranch.”
“You know we have certified organic cattle and free-range chickens? We’re practically tree huggers.”
“I’ve heard, but I’m good with that.” She kissed him again. “I love you, Mitch.”
“I love you, too. Now get the rest of your stuff and we’ll go get Erin. The three of us can ride into the sunset, just like in the movies.”
She laughed. “That would be a perfect ending.”