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Clearly he didn’t know everything. She’d have to tread carefully.
“Why should I care if it gets out?”
“I can see there’s a problem with my plan. I thought perhaps you’d want to keep the news from the father. I had no idea I’d find the actual father in your bed.”
Sam finally spoke. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here, asshole.” He stood. “I’ll make you a deal, Kyle. You’re obviously good at finding information. Find out where my child is, and I won’t smash your face into this wall.”
Sydney froze. Oh God.
“Should be easy enough,” Rod said. “I’ll get right to it. I do value my face, after all. But not until Sydney agrees to reinstate our engagement.”
Sydney looked pleadingly at Sam.
“What?” His eyes flashed anger. Rage. “I don’t give a fuck what you do. You gave away my child.”
Nausea crept into her throat. How could this be happening? “You just said you love me.”
He sniffed. “I’ll get over it.” He put on his shirt and boots and grabbed his hat.
He went to the desk and scribbled something on a piece of hotel stationery. He handed it to Rod. “Here’s my name and number. Find my kid. If I don’t hear from you within twenty-four hours, I swear to God I’ll hunt you down and kick your ass into next year.”
He put his hat on and left.
“What will it take for you not to find the kid?” she asked Rod.
“Since I have no desire to have that Neanderthal pummel me, I don’t see why I shouldn’t acquiesce to his request. What do you care? Don’t you want to know where your son is?”
What could she say to that? “It’s not that I don’t want to know. I just can’t dredge up that part of my life. It’s too painful.”
“What will you do for me? Marry me?”
God no, she couldn’t. She loved Sam. Damn it, I love Sam so much.
“I’m sorry. I can’t marry you, Rod. For the life of me, I don’t know why you want me.”
“This is a blemish, that’s no lie. I don’t relish having bastard half siblings of my own flesh and blood running around.”
“See? Good. You don’t want to marry me.”
“So there’s no reason not to honor the man’s request, is there? He has a right to know where his child is.”
Sydney clenched her fists, her heart pounding. “Damn you! Why do you want to do this? Why are you trying to hurt me?”
Rod smiled sardonically. “Because I can.”
She pushed him out the door and slammed it. He was pure evil. How had she gotten involved with the likes of him?
Money.
It all came down to money.
The purse she won today would help. They weren’t destitute after all, but the small Buchanan ranch needed help. Right now they were being forced to sell off their livestock, and a ranch couldn’t exist without its stock.
Her big brother, Blake, had abandoned them long ago, but she would not. Her parents deserved better. Duke deserved better.
Duke.
Such an angel.
