“Think of Kate.” Daniel ignored Sutcliffe’s taunts, his gaze still locked with Talon’s. “Don’t do this to her. She’s already been hurt enough. Think about little Elizabeth. She’s so beautiful. Don’t throw your life away before you have a chance to see her.”
Elizabeth.
God, if only Daniel hadn’t mentioned his daughter. But now he saw her in his mind, a living, breathing soul. Elizabeth would need him.
And he realized he did have a choice. Kate was right. He had to choose between his hatred for his father and his love for Kate and the child.
The decision was surprisingly simple to make.
He slowly lowered his gun, forcing himself to ignore the triumphant light in Sutcliffe’s eyes. “Daniel’s right, I’m of far more use to my family alive than dangling at the end of a hangman’s noose.”
“Your family?” Sutcliffe scoffed. “You forget, Talon. She’s married to Daniel. And Daniel will never go against my wishes. He’d do anything to protect Philip Carrington.”
Daniel gave a bitter shake of his head. “Philip and I have ended our involvement. And I’ve already told Talon I’ll annul my marriage.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” At last, Sutcliffe began to lose control. “I won’t allow the two of you to defy me. I’ll kill you both and father another child on Kathryn myself if I have to. God knows that’s what I should have done in the first place. The two of you are as worthless as the spineless bitches who birthed you.”
Talon lifted the gun again, blinded with red-hot fury. “I’ll see you in hell before I’ll let you touch one hair on Kate’s head.”
Before he could pull the trigger, Daniel wrenched the gun out of his hand. Talon tried to wrest it back, but Daniel pulled away with surprising strength and fired, aiming for their father’s black heart.
Sutcliffe staggered back, clutching at his chest and staring down at the blood that covered his hands. His shocked gaze flickered up to Daniel, who still held the gun in his trembling grasp, his face bleached pale as snow.
“I am not spineless,” Daniel whispered. “And I wish to God I wasn’t your son.”
