Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I grab Fay’s hand. “I never should have gone to work today. You’re right. I should have stayed home and played with my toy.” Her frown slowly transforms into a smirk.
“You should have. It was all wound up and ready to go.”
“If you’ll let me, I’d like a redo.”
She pretends to think about it, but I know from the instant flush of her cheeks that she’d let me have my way with her right now, cast and hospital staff be damned. “Fine. I guess.” I kiss her quick, sealing the deal before she changes her mind.
The drive home is quiet. The pain meds made her drowsy, and she slept most of the ride. When we get to my condo, I thank James and carry her to the penthouse. She finally stirs when I lay her on my bed.
“Hey,” I say when she opens her eyes.
“Did I fall asleep?”
“Yeah.” I sit down on the bed next to her. “I’m so sorry for all this.” My words are thick in my throat. “If I just left you be, this would have never happened.”
“Theo, this isn’t your fault. There are crazy people out there. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“But you weren’t.”
Her eyes open wider. “What do you mean? It was a fluke—”
“I think my father had something to do with this. Alana showing up. Drawing you out of my place. Someone pushing you into traffic. I don’t think this was a random accident.”
“Your father would really try and have me—”
“He would.” I don’t allow her to finish that sentence because I can’t bear to hear it come out of her mouth. I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. “I’m going to fix this.”
“How? Just go to the police. They’ll arrest him. Then he won’t be able to—”
“It’s not that easy.”
“It is that easy. Pick up the phone and—”
“It’s not. Listen to me. I’m putting a stop to this tonight.” I hate the worry shining in her eyes. “I promise you.”
“Theo, please. If he’s dangerous, you shouldn’t confront him.”
I hate doing this, but I kiss her hand and release her. “I need to see him. Tonight. I won’t be gone long.”
“Theo, no.”
“I have to. He’s not getting away with this. Not anymore.” I lean over and press my forehead to hers. “Rest. I’ll be back before you know it.” I straighten and walk away. I hate to leave her, but I need to do this. This ends tonight.
I stop at the concierge desk and threaten Grant’s job if anyone remotely resembling Alana Hill ever enters this building again. I know exactly how she got that key, which infuriates me. He crossed the line today. A line he’s overstepped many times, but this time I’m done.
I storm into his house, startling the staff, and shove open the double mahogany doors to his study.
“You son of a bitch.”
Like I expected, my father is in here, sipping cognac. As if he was expecting me. “Now, now. That’s no way to speak to your father—”
“I’m done with you,” I spit out.
“Says the coward standing in my office. You don’t have the balls to go public with this.”
“Watch me.”
“Oh, I will. What do you think happens to you when that information gets leaked? Are you that delusional that you think you get to run off with the girl and live happily ever after? Or are you willing to give it all up for some mediocre pussy—”
I grab his shirt and slam him against his bookshelf. “You’re fucking done, old man. Done controlling me. Done puppeteering everyone in your life. Mother did the right thing, dying on that table. Living under your demands would have been worse than the fate she was granted.”
“And you should have died with her, you pitiful—”
I pull him back, only to slam him harder into the shelves. “I would risk it all just to put a stop to you. Whatever my future is, it’ll be worth watching you fall.” I release my death grip and step away. “I’m going to the police.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would. And I am. This is the end of the road for you. I’ll accept the consequences of your wrongdoings, even if it’s in a cold jail cell. I’ll sleep like a baby knowing I’m finally done with you.”
I turn and walk out. I’m on autopilot during the drive home, but relief washes over me. Soon, he’ll have no more control over me. I refuse to think about the blowback, but I’m ready to accept it.
I find Fay hobbling around on crutches in the kitchen. “Jesus, what are you doing up?”
“You ditched me, and I needed water.”
“Here, let me help you.” I scoop her in my arms and carry her back down the hall.
“The water.”
“I’ll get it.” I put her back on my bed.