Susan Mallery - Lip Service

Which was true, but Jed wouldn’t acknowledge it. “Why should I believe you?”

“I don’t care if you do or not, Jed. That has nothing to do with the truth. It wasn’t me.”

Jed leaned close and lowered his voice. “I’m going to take you down, boy.”

Garth looked more amused than afraid. “You’re going to try. There’s a difference. You’re out of your league on this one. You don’t even know what I want, so how are you going to stop me?”

“You want it all. Just like me.”

Garth’s amusement faded. “I’m nothing like you. You inherited a fortune and made it bigger. So what? I started with nothing and built an empire. You’re used up and irrelevant.”

“Then why are you trying so hard to beat me?”

The smile returned. “Because I can.”

SKYE FORCED HERSELF to focus on the goal. Getting out. Erin was safely at the Cassidy Ranch, which meant she was away from Jed and right now that’s all that mattered. Mitch would keep her safe. He might want to eviscerate Skye, but he would die to protect Erin. She was willing to bet her daughter’s life on that.

Because no matter what, in the end Mitch was a good man. The best man she’d ever known.

“Later,” she told herself as she collected her daughter’s clothes and put them in a suitcase. Erin’s toys and books were already packed and in the car. She figured she had the whole afternoon until her father returned, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

Everything was finally clear to her. She was going to fight for what she wanted. She was going to fight her father and then she was going to fight for Mitch. But first she had to get out of Glory’s Gate.

The irony didn’t escape her. She’d spent her whole life trying to be worthy of these walls. Trying to feel as if this was really where she belonged. When the truth was, she wanted Jed’s love. Something she’d never been able to find. Maybe it didn’t exist. It hadn’t for Pru.

She was his daughter and that should matter to him. It didn’t, and the sooner she accepted that, the sooner she could move on. She’d already sold herself once for her father. She wasn’t going to do it again.

When the suitcase was full, she closed it and carried it down to her car. Her things were already packed. She only had to go through her makeup and then she could-

“Going somewhere?” her father asked, coming in through the kitchen. “There seems to be a lot of luggage in your car.”

She raised her chin. “I’m leaving. Erin and I are moving out.”

Jed looked tired and his eyes were red. “I warned you what would happen if you tried that. I’m not going to warn you again. Skye, you will do what I tell you or I will-”

She cut him off. “Yeah, I know the drill. You’ll have me locked up. Doctors will testify. Blah, blah, blah.”

He glared at her. “Who the hell are you to talk to me that way?”

“I’m your daughter, Jed. The daughter you’ve used before, taken advantage of, put down. Oh, wait, you’ll need more information. That describes all three of us.”

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you will take your bags back inside and unpack or I’ll make you regret every moment you’re alive.”

The fear was still there, but so was determination. She wasn’t going to do this anymore. She wasn’t going to be his employee or his bitch.

“No,” she said firmly. “I won’t unpack. I’m not staying. I wanted this to be different. I wanted us to be a family. But that’s not possible with you. You want to take it all and give nothing in return. No one else matters.”

“Oh, my poor little girl. Has your life been hard? Too many ponies to look after?” He stalked toward her. “I’ve taken care of you and you have wanted for nothing. All I want in return-”

“Is my soul.”

“You’ve always been overly dramatic. You get that from your mother.”

“A woman you drove to suicide.”

“She was always unstable. And an idiot.”

“She loved you so much that when she found out you wouldn’t love her back, she killed herself.”

“Not my problem.”

“I agree. It’s not. But it should have been. When I was little, I thought you were amazing. You could do anything. Now I realize you’re nothing but a selfish jerk who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. The only way you can keep me in line is to threaten me. What does that say about your parenting skills?”

“I swear I’ll lock you up, Skye. You’ll wish you were dead. Maybe you’ll try to kill yourself, like your mother.”

She ignored the words because they didn’t matter. He couldn’t hurt her unless she let him. And she wasn’t going there.

“You can’t lock me up. You have only yourself, because that’s how you’ve always wanted it. That’s your game. I have sisters who will scream from every street corner in Dallas. They know what you’re trying to do and we’ll work together to stop you. You have doctors? Fine. I’ll get more.”

“You don’t have the money.”

“I have plenty. Besides, it’s going to be a little difficult to fight me from jail. That’s where the government likes to keep traitors.”

He swore. “You know I had nothing to do with that.”

“You’re right. I do. But does anyone else? If your family doesn’t support you, what will the public think?”

He flushed. “You’re threatening me?”

“How does it feel, Dad?”

She wouldn’t go through with it, but it felt really good to say the words.

“I’m not running,” she told him. “I’m moving in with Lexi until I can find a place of my own. I want you to know that so it’s clear you haven’t scared me away. I’ll fight you and I’ll win because I love my daughter and that’s not anything you could possibly understand.”

“You won’t last a second without me.”

“Then you have an exaggerated sense of your place in my life. I’ll be fine. I have a foundation to run and a daughter to raise and a man to win back.”

“You can’t mean Mitch. Why would you want him?”

“Because he’s my world. I’ll do whatever is necessary to convince him that I had a moment of weakness and I acted out of fear. He’ll forgive me.” At least she hoped he would. In truth, she wasn’t as confident as she sounded.

“Don’t be so sure,” Jed sneered.

“She can be sure.”

The voice came from behind her. Skye caught her breath then turned and saw Mitch standing in the foyer.

“You’re leaving?” he asked her.

“Just Glory’s Gate. Not Dallas.” She swallowed. What did it mean that he was here? “I’m moving in with Lexi.”

“She didn’t say anything.”

“You saw her?”

“I’ve spent the afternoon with her.” He held up a folder. “Interesting piece of information. Those so-called experts of your father’s don’t exist. Lexi came in this morning and copied down the names.” He looked at Jed. “It’s fancy printing and nothing else. Or as we like to say here, all hat and no cattle.”

Her breath caught. “They’re not real letters?”

Jed stared at her. “I’ll still annihilate you.”

“I can’t believe he fooled me,” she told Mitch ignoring her father as he stalked out of the room. “I’m an idiot.”

“He threatened Erin. You weren’t expecting that.”

“Wait a minute. How do you know what’s going on?”

He looked a little sheepish. “Your daughter stopped by this morning. Talking to her made me realize this had Jed written all over it. He was faking you out.”

“And I fell for it. I’m so sorry.”

“I know.”

She moved toward him. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was scared and I reacted and I hurt you. Mitch, I’m sorry. I feel horrible. I didn’t mean it. You know that, right? I know that doesn’t take away the words.”

She wanted to sink into the ground. Humiliation clawed at her.

“I’m sorry.”

He dropped the folder onto a chair and wrapped his arms around her. “I know.”

“Really sorry. I was so stupid and I didn’t think.”

“I know.”

“I love you. I’ll do anything to convince you. Even beg.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “I can’t see you begging. Well, maybe naked.” He tucked her hair behind her ears. “Skye, I get it. Jed knows how to push your buttons.”

“I won’t let it happen again. I swear.”

He stared into her eyes. “Next time come to me. We’ll work it out together.”

“I will.”

“Good. So are you really moving in with Lexi? Won’t that be crowded, with Cruz there and all?”

“It’s actually Cruz’s house and it’s huge.”

“I thought maybe you’d want to stay with me.”

“Really? You still want me.”

“Skye, I love you. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

Relief and happiness rushed through her. She leaned in and kissed him.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I’d love to stay there and Erin will be thrilled.”

“Good. You know that I would build you a house as big and fancy as Glory’s Gate, if that would make you happy.”

He would. Mitch was a man of his word.

She stepped back and turned in a slow circle, taking in the high ceiling, the antique furniture. She’d grown up here. The house represented so much to her. She’d lost Mitch once because of it.

“It’s just a house,” she told him. “I don’t want another one like it.”

He looked confused. “But you love this place.”

“No. I love you. I don’t want a house. I want a home, and that’s where you are. The ranch.”

“You know we have certified organic cattle and free-range chickens? We’re practically tree huggers.”

“I’ve heard, but I’m good with that.” She kissed him again. “I love you, Mitch.”

“I love you, too. Now get the rest of your stuff and we’ll go get Erin. The three of us can ride into the sunset, just like in the movies.”

She laughed. “That would be a perfect ending.”