“You gave me no choice!” my father shouts, making me jump. His face is red, eyes open wide. I don’t understand how he can be so angry about this. It’s not his life. This has no bearing on him. “I have to save you from yourself. You have no idea what kind of man you let into your bed.”
I feel my face flush with heat. I open my mouth and close it, unsure of how much he really knows. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.
“You think I don’t have you checked on? You’re my daughter.”
“You don’t own me! I’m not one of your overpriced art pieces or a yacht.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I footed the bill your whole life to all of those fancy schools. The best in the world, and you fucking jump into bed with a thug and take pictures of a Ferris wheel. It’s about time you grow up. This charade has gone on long enough.”
He clenches his hands into fists. I’ve never seen him this mad before. I truly don’t understand why he can’t let me live the life that makes me happy.
He closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. “You’re going to marry Justin. You’ll learn to love him and do as you're expected going forward.”
“What?” Did I hear him right? “Who is Justin?” Is he really talking about an arranged marriage? This sort of control is what I’d been afraid of; it’s why I tried to get away. I know to some taking pictures at a Ferris wheel sounds like a silly job, but to me it meant I was free to choose my own path in life. Not one that my parents planned out for me.
“Me,” the man in the suit on the other side of me says. I stare at him for a moment. I think he might be older than Big. The urge to vomit hits me. Now I’m supposed to be some trophy wife?
“I’m not marrying him. I’m in love with Big.”
I don’t see the slap coming. I let out a scream at the pain, my hand going to my cheek. My face throbs. My father hit me. I’m so shocked that I can’t form words. My father has always been an overbearing jerk, but this is taking it to a whole new level. I hold my cheek as tears start to pour free.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.” He reaches up, adjusting his tie. “I will not allow this man to take over the Winthrop name. He’s a con. I’m sure he targeted you to try and get his hands on the Winthrop estate.”
“Big would do no such thing. Even if he wanted to, how could he?” This is ridiculous. Still, it has me wondering what my father found out about Big. He doesn't talk much about what he did before he came to Cherry Falls. But that’s just one thought in the million swirling through my mind and mixing with the pain and fear that almost overwhelm me.
“Because of your fucking grandpa! He ruined everything.”
I still don’t follow. Grandpa and my father were like oil and water.
His face gets even redder somehow. “When you marry, everything falls to you. You will possess all of it, and I’ll be damned if I let some lowlife bouncer swindle it from you.”
Holy crap. I did not see that coming. No wonder he wants to keep me in a box he can control. He needs me. If he can’t control me, then he won’t have access to the Winthrop estate. My father is a surgeon, and I’m sure he makes good money, but it’s nothing compared to the wealth our family has accumulated.
“All that money. You don’t want me to be with Big. Because you want to swindle me instead?” I toss out. I’m sure he and this Justin guy have some kind of plan so they can get their hands on the money. “You’re right. Big would stop you. Not only will he stop you, but he’s going to come for me.”
I don’t think it’s a bluff. Big will look for me. He’s a good man. He might not want to be with me after all this, but he will come to save me.
“You ungrateful little brat.” He raises his hand again. I put my hands in front of my face to try and block the blow. The whole car jerks suddenly as something rams us from behind. We all turn to look out the back.
“Big!” I shout. He rams the back of the SUV again.
“He’s going to kill us all.” Justin screams like a girl next to me.
“If you pull over and let me out, this will be over. You can go on your way.”
“I’m not going to be bullied by some low life scum.”
Before I can think about what I’m doing, I smack my father as hard as I can. The shock on his face is one I’ll never forget. But I have to admit it felt good. “He’s a better man than you’ll ever be!”
“You bitch!” He grabs me, his hands going around my throat. “If you’re dead, I get it all. I should’ve done this when you tried to leave the first time.”
I pull at his arm, trying to get him to release me. When I see I’m not getting anywhere, I go for his face. He lets out a scream more high-pitched than Justin’s as I sink my nails into him. He lets go.
The SUV jerks again, spinning us around until we come to a stop in the middle of the road. The smell of burnt rubber fills the air.
“Drive!” my dad shouts at the driver. The sound of gunfire has me ducking my head.
“He shot the tires out,” the driver cries.
Relief fills me. That is until my father wraps his hand around my throat again, pulling me out of the SUV. He shoves me in front of him.
Big stands there, a gun in his hand. He looks so calm. Unlike me, who can’t stop the tears that are flowing down my face.
“Let her go,” he orders my father. But his hold on me only tightens. Black spots start to dance in my eyes as he cuts off my air supply.
“I’m sorry,” I get out before everything goes dark.
16
Big
“Let her go.” I keep my finger off the trigger. No way am I going to risk Amethyst.
“She’s my daughter. Mine. You aren’t going to touch her.”
Amethyst’s eyes close, her body going limp.
I’m trying to keep my cool, but seeing her like this isn’t helping. “Let her go, and you can walk away from here. If you don’t, I can assure you it’s a regret you’ll have for the rest of your life.” I take a step closer.
“Back up!” he cries and tries to drag Amethyst away.
It’s the opening I need. I holster my gun and run for him. He’s quick, but he’s off balance. If I can—
The blindside comes from my left. A fist to my jaw that would knock any other man onto his back. Not me. Never me.
The asshole from the backseat screeches and clutches his hand. “Owwwww!”
Motherfucker. I come across his stupid face with a haymaker. It cuts off his screaming and drops him in a heap.
I dart past him and rush to where Amethyst’s father is trying to drag her away.
“Stay back or I’ll—”
I grab the arm he has around her throat and yank it away, then yank it farther until I hear something pop. He lets out a bloodcurdling scream as he falls back, and I catch Amethyst in my arms.
“Amethyst!” I pat her cheek as her father yowls at my feet and cradles his injured arm. “Amethyst, baby, wake up.”
She’s breathing, but her lips are still blue. Fuck. Panic tries to overwhelm me, but I can’t let it. Not when she needs me.