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One of us was a poor judge of character.
And to be honest, I was beginning to think it was me.
I let Hayden have his little smile and bask in the glory of his moment.
When Hawk got back, we’d be busting his bubble.
Right after we worked out exactly what we were going to do with him.
22
VAUGHN
Things I knew for sure.
I loved Rebel.
I loved Kian.
And Fang was okay.
But I also knew I was restless. I couldn’t continue to just hang around the house with Kara and the baby or follow Rebel and Kian to work if I wanted the numb feeling inside me to go away.
The money in my bank account felt like the answer, but it also seemed dirty. Tainted. I didn’t feel good about Brooke being shipped off to who knows where, and the money her father had transferred to me didn’t feel like mine.
I’d failed at business once, but I’d learned from those mistakes.
This money could be a fresh start.
I could take over my father’s company.
But I sure as hell didn’t want to run it with Harold Coker looking over my shoulder.
The money could buy him out, and if he was as broke as he made out, maybe he’d even agree to it.
I could already hear my accountant screaming about this being a terrible idea. But I didn’t want all those people in my father’s office to have to go home and tell their loved ones they no longer had a job to go to.
I wanted to rebuild with my father’s dreams in mind. I wanted a company where everyone was welcomed and included. Where everyone had a finger in the pie and felt useful and needed.
I wanted the complete opposite of how Harold had made me feel and what he’d turned that company into.
I couldn’t do any of that with him still at the helm.
Harold needed to go.
So when I was called—summoned, really—into his office, I went with my buyout offer in hand.
That afternoon, for the first time in a long time, I’d been able to look myself in the mirror and not feel shame.
I drove into the city, following the ever-present traffic lines to the office. I was so in my head about what I was about to do, I didn’t even notice my mother’s car in front of me until we were both parked and she was stepping out of it.
She blinked as our eyes met. “Vaughn! What are you doing here?”
I pointed up at the building with my family name on it. “Got some business things to discuss with Harold.” I took in her smart work suit and low heels that matched her handbag. “What are you doing here? Do you have an appointment nearby or something?”
“Harold called me in.”
My hackles instantly rose.
