Page 62 of Melt the Ice

He walks out of the stall, coming to stand in front of me, his eyes crinkling at the corner as they narrow. “I want to believe you aren’t part of this, but so help me God, Miller, I will kill you myself if I find out you are.”

“Whoa, hey.” His hands shoot up, “Slow down, what’s happening?”

I study his face, trying to find any hint of deception, but all I find is concern. “Did you know Lucas’s mom used to work here?”

His jaw drops, “Uh…” A flush creeps up his tan neck, my eyes narrow in on it as he brings his hand to his nape, squeezing softly.

“Miller.” I seethe, pacing the length of the reception area as I run him through everything from the cigar band to finding his mom. His hands clench, the muscle in his jaw popping every once in a while as he bites his tongue.

“I’m not working with your dad if that's what you’re asking.” I freeze midstep.

Spinning on my heel, I step into him, “But you’re not denying you knew Lucas’s mom was friends with Nana?” I need something, anything. But as his head slowly shakes, I feel the anger build inside me.

I chew my bottom lip as I try to think of what could possibly be so important to keep hidden that my father would literally kill for. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“I’m–”

“Forget it, I’ll figure it out myself.” I wave him off, plopping down at the computer behind the reception desk and start to research everything there is on Arias Corp. I only knew the oil side, but there’s more: stocks, cattle, and I’m positive there’s some not-so-legal activities thrown in there somewhere.

I’m currently kicking myself for not paying closer attention and for not befriending Candace, Dad’s apparently very good PR manager. There isn’t a single piece of negative press about him or the company. It’s clean, too clean.

I never would have imagined there’d come a day when I’d be actively trying to find something to hold over my father’s head when I spent most of my life just trying to get his approval. It’s almost as if he did it on purpose, paid no mind to me when I was doing what I loved, but when I was close to him, working his business, he’d act like I was the most treasured thing in the world.

Then, like a tidal wave, it crashes into me. He kept me close so I didn’t dig. He knew my curiosity would get the better of me. He knew if I came out here, things could come to light. So he lied. He lied to keep me from uncovering whatever it is he’s hiding. He kept me from Lucas, from the ranch, from the life I loved because he didn’t want to lose what he had built.

He knew I would be his undoing. Guess it’s time to put my heartless Scarlett hat on and bite the hell back. Woof woof, asshole.

“Lettie?” Lucas’s worried voice comes through a cracked window. I glance at the time on the computer, and holy hell, it’s been hours. “No, did something happen to her?” he yells, voice frantic. “Lettie!”

I don’t think twice before running out the door, unwilling to let him believe that for half a second that I’m not okay, or worse, gone. That man will never feel abandoned or unloved again. “I’m right here, Goldie. I’m fine.”

The time has come, I’m going to have to tell him my father, my own blood, had something to do with the death of his mother. And it’s going to break him, is it going to make him think less of me? Is he going to run? Will he even want me around?

“I’m sorry, I…” I stumble over myself. “Abby called. There are some things you need to know, but I think we should sit.”

Wrapping my hand around his, I pull him into the rehab so we can have this conversation with Miller without having to rehash it later. My phone pings as we sit, and when I look at it, my stomach plummets. That’s definitely Nana and his mom.

I slide my phone across the table, letting them both see the picture she just sent over. “Is that?...” He squints at the phone, swiping his fingers across it as he zooms in. My phone falls from his hand like it burned him. He looks at me, seemingly embarrassed. “Sorry.”

My hand covers his, “I don’t care about the phone, Lucas. I care about you.”

His breath hitches, his eyes heavy as they drill into mine, a heady mix of heartbreak and hope battle for control. “I need to know what you’re thinking before I go on, because there's more. And it doesn’t get better.”

Fear bleeds through my chest, its claws threatening to rip me apart from the inside right here, right now. Sweat beads across my forehead as I prepare for the devastation I know is coming. He nods, giving me a tight-lipped smile. I pick up my phone, opening the text thread I share with my dad, then slide it back across the table.

His eyes read the texts over and over. “Your dad killed my mom?” His monotone voice gives nothing away.

I nod, bile creeping up my throat as Miller’s spine straightens. Like a puppet on a string, his head slowly lifts to mine.

“Why?” Lucas asks, utterly broken.

“I don’t know,” I whisper, “But I’m going to find out. I’m going to fix it, make him pay. I promise.”

He gives me a sad smile, “Lettie.” His hand lands on mine the second I try to stand. “I came to terms with losing my parents a long time ago, my friends are getting married faster than I can blink, and I’ve been alone for a long time. But I can’t lose you, just, please. If fixing it is a threat to you, just leave it alone.”

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