“You have no right, no leg to stand on. That money is legally mine. My gram left it to me.”
“Yes, perhaps, but I can tie it up in court until you see the logic of my position and the folly of your choices. I’m doing this for your own good, Kira. I’m your father. I can’t let you ruin your life.”
Tears slid down my cheeks. “You’re doing this for your own good,” I hissed. “You’ve never given my happiness a moment’s consideration. You’re doing this because of your own pride—you can’t bear to see me do anything that doesn’t work into some agenda of your own making. You can’t bear the thought that I’m not under your thumb just like everyone else in your world.”
He sighed. “Kira—”
“Haven’t you done enough to him?” I asked, realizing there was nothing to lose now if we discussed it. He’d already done what I’d feared most. “I remember, you know. I was there when the judge in his case came to your office. I heard your advice. I heard you tell him to throw the book at Grayson, to make an example of him. And that’s just what he did.”
“I give a lot of people counsel. There’s no law against it. And if that boy got the book thrown at him, it’s because it’s what he deserved.”
He did remember. The quickness of his reply gave him away. He hadn’t when we’d gone to him in San Francisco, though, I was sure of it. He’d looked more closely at Grayson at some point after that. I knew it in my gut. Whether it was before or after he’d offered him the bribe money, I didn’t know.
My dad had taken part in screwing Grayson and all along—not only had Grayson’s crime been an accident, but the reason for the fight had been based on valiant reasons—Grayson had been trying to protect someone. Maybe he’d have gotten some time anyway—after all, his actions had resulted in a man’s death, accident or not. But he wouldn’t have been put away for five years.
For a moment, the only sound was my harsh breathing as I attempted to swallow the sobs desperate to escape my chest. “That counsel you give affects lives, Daddy. Real, live, breathing humans who have hopes and dreams. Like the advice you gave Cooper on how to handle the situation with me. You crushed me. Did you know that? You crushed Grayson too. Please, please don’t do this. Just put a stop to whatever you’ve done and let us be happy. Please.” I did sob then, a harsh, gasping sound. Just when I’d thought I found happiness. Why? Why was it always snatched away? How many times could I begin again?
“I’m sorry, Kira. This is for your own good, and Cooper’s too, yes. But you’ll see the wisdom in my vision someday. As for your current husband, I’ve made him a very generous offer to walk away from you. I suggest he take it if he doesn’t want his business to fail.”
“And what strings are attached to that?” I spit out.
“Not many. He’s receiving a significant amount of money for very little sacrifice. I asked only that he walk away from you permanently and go along with the story that he took advantage of you—a troubled girl with a significant trust fund.”
Very little sacrifice. That’s what he thinks of me.
My blood turned to ice water, not at the fact that my father would throw me under the bus again but at the realization that he had no qualms about ruining Grayson’s life too. Again. “He’s just beginning to earn back his reputation. And now you’re asking him to lie and have people look at him like a pariah again? How do you expect him to make a life for himself in a place where people have no respect for him?”
“That’s not my problem. With the money I’m offering, he can make a life anywhere.”
He sees himself as some sort of hero. His ego is so colossal, he views himself as an agent of justice. He’s truly delusional.
“Is that why you married him?” he asked. “Another charity case to you?”
“No. I love him,” I said simply and truthfully. There was no reason to try to convince him of anything anymore.
I suddenly felt numb. My father would never leave me alone. I’d spend the remainder of my life being his pawn in some form or another. Staring unseeing out the windshield, I ended the call without another word.
I didn’t remember the drive back home. Home. Another sob threatened to choke me as tears slid down my cheeks, one faster than the next. “You’re okay,” I assured myself. “Everything will be okay. Grayson and I will work this out together. He said he’d take care of me now.” Oh God, but neither one of us has a cent to our name once again.
I pulled through the gates and immediately noticed a black town car parked in front of the fountain. Oh God, now what? As I pulled in behind it, Cooper stepped out of the back seat. My heart stuttered again and then took up a staccato beat. At this rate, I was likely to die of heart failure before this day was over.
I took one last deep breath and stepped out of my car, closing the door with a quiet click. Cooper was already walking toward me. “Kira, what’s wrong?” he asked, a look of concern on his face.
I swiped at my eyes. “Do you really not know, Cooper? Or are you in on this too? You and my father—some sort of sick duo,” I suggested flatly.
He took a deep breath, his brow creasing. “Yes, I know what he did. I’m sorry. But I have to agree with his desire to get you out of here.” He waved his arm behind him at Grayson’s home. “He’s a murderer, Kira,” he said harshly. “You’re probably not even safe.”
“I’m about a million times safer with him than I ever was with you.” My voice rose in volume as I spit the words at him. But suddenly another wave of defeat crashed over me. Fighting with Cooper wasn’t going to solve this situation. I changed my tactic. “Cooper,” I said, moving closer to him, my voice shaking slightly, “I know what you did was…”—I shook my head, searching for words that would persuade him, rather than anger him—“because of the drugs and alcohol. I know that wasn’t the real you.”
He seemed to consider that explanation momentarily and then nodded. “It wasn’t, Kira.” Liar. “It wasn’t me. I was out of control. But no one can know that. It would ruin me.” But you were perfectly fine with ruining me.
I shook my head briskly. “I don’t want to expose you. I’ll never reveal what happened between us. I’ll take the fall. It’s okay. I’ll do whatever you ask of me. Just please, convince my father to take the hold off my gram’s money. Convince him to leave us in peace. Will it really hurt you to come up with a new plan, one that doesn’t involve me? Please, Cooper, if you ever loved me at all, please let me be happy.”
Cooper worried his lip, appearing to contemplate my words. Hope leapt in my chest, and I moved a few steps closer. “You don’t know everything he does, everything he’s capable of. I know you’re better than him, Coop. Don’t align yourself with my father any more than you already have.”
“What he does?” Cooper asked, moving a lock of hair away from my face. I glanced at the house, hoping against hope Grayson wasn’t looking out the window. No, he was most likely still sleeping, still processing. I didn’t want him to walk into the middle of this. I needed to convince Cooper to help me. Help us.