A hundred and fifty grand? My eyes widen. Why would anyone spend that much on a ring? I could buy a house for that much money.
“Well,” I glance back to Rhett, his size even more noticeable now that he’s standing next to Nathan, “I waskidnapped and now I’m pretty sure the whole purpose was to get that ring.”
“No,” Rhett groans, “the whole purpose was to take you and make this fuck pay for your return, but then I didn’t want to return you.”
I don’t know why a part of me thought that Rhett felt something that night I brought him paint samples, and I don’t know why I let myself believe he came to the wedding because he wanted me for himself.
God, I’m delusional.
“Sure,” I mutter, gutted and feeling like an idiot. “Well… the ring is a good alternative, right?”
“No.” He looks straight toward me, and if I were the woman I was ten minutes ago, I’d probably believe him. “I didn’t take the ring. It’s got to be around here somewhere. As soon as this fuck leaves, I’ll help you look for it.”
“I’m sure you will,” I groan, glancing back toward Nathan as a frog croaks in the distance. It’s probably the same one from last night. Maybe he was trying to warn me about the idiotic mistakes I was about to make. “How did you know I was here?”
He draws in a heavy breath and drags his gaze down over me, studying my frame as though I’ve been taken by wolves and he’s seeing me for the first time in months. “Your dad called last night and told me your mom fell going down the stairs yesterday. She needs a pretty big surgery. Your dad wanted to see if I had a number for you. I didn’t, so he told me you were with the painter.” He nods once and glances down at the ground as though he’s hurt, though we both know it’s a show. “I knew exactly where that was.”
My heart slams against my chest as I slide on the high-heeled shoes I was planning to wear to my wedding. “What hospital is she in?”
“I told your dad to take her to the specialty hospital up in the Springs. I paid for the nicest room and called in favors with the top doctors in the area. She’ll be in good hands.”
Funny he’d do this now but couldn’t be bothered before.
“I’ll take you over there,” he continues.
“Like hell you will,” Rhett growls. “She’s mine.”
“Yours?” I glance back toward the man I’ve been calling daddy. “You lied to me about everything. Now it’s probably my fault my mom fell, and yeah,” I glance back toward Nathan, “take me to the hospital.”
“InhisT-shirt?”
“It’s all I have.”
Nathan nods, his upper lip curling in what looks like disgust. “Get in the car.”
My chest tightens, my heart aches, and nothing feels right. I know that now for sure, because for a second… it did. It really freaking did.
Chapter Ten
Rhett
I often wish I was a nicer man. The kind of guy who’d let someone they love make their own choices. Hell, some days I wish I’d been a fucking astronaut, but that’s not gonna happen either.
I tuck my phone in my pocket and grab my forty-five off the rack by the door and shoot before I think, sending two bullets into the tires of Nathan’s shiny, silver Tesla. Given the price of that damn thing, I’m sure the tires self-heal or something, but at least now I have time to get my girl.
Pepper whips her gaze back toward me, her voice louder than I’ve heard it yet as she screams, “You’re insane! Oh my God! You’re actually insane!”
She’s mad, for real this time.
The early morning breeze blows across the lake, sending her hair flying as she continues. “I want to leave! I need to leave right now! You’re an asshole! I can’t believe I trusted you!”
“I tried to tell you he wasn’t a good man.” Nathan wraps his arm around my girl as though he’s got the upper fucking hand.
I should take out his knee right here. Better yet, shoot him in the fucking heart and watch him bleed out before the sun comes up. I could if I wanted to. I was a sharpshooter long beforeI settled on Combat Craftsman. One squeeze of my finger and he’d drop clean.
I hesitate over the trigger for a long moment, muscle memory and instinct battling with the reality of the woman I love standing there scared and watching my every move. It shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t have to protect her from this asshole. She told him it was over… so it’s over!
Charlie ambles out onto the front porch with me, his old body taking a moment to wake up and rationalize all the drama interrupting his nap.
