Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
“She manipulated the system and put you and your wife in a bad situation,” Cooper countered, unwilling to give up on his anger. It felt good. It felt right to be angry.
His father’s brows cocked up. “My wife? You’re not calling her your mom anymore? It didn’t take much to shake you.”
He was screwing this up. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m only pointing out what happened.”
His father leaned forward, his eyes a steely green. “I’ll tell you what happened. I got the son I always wanted, and if they’d asked me directly if I would take you in, I would have. You know Ian and Charlotte pulled some shady shit to save Tasha. Should she be angry with them that they didn’t go through the most proper of channels?”
His father wasn’t listening to him. “Of course not. Tasha was in real danger.”
“Tasha was in an orphanage,” his father pointed out. “Your biological mother thought a cartel would take you in order to force her to do their bidding.”
“If she was so worried about it, why didn’t she make a move to protect Zach?”
“They already knew about Zach.” His father sounded deeply annoyed. “They didn’t know about you. I would bet she was worried about your biological father as well. From what I can tell, she spent time in jail for him. He could have threatened to hurt Zach to get her to do it. Look, we can argue all night about what they did, but all I know is the result. I got my son and I’m happy with it. Like I said, if they’d asked, the result would have been the same. I’m sorry if you feel like you missed out on something. I suppose deep down you’ve always felt that way, and I understand. The unknown can be intriguing, but I’m going to ask you to not talk this way around your brother. I assure you he’s already wondering if his place with you is about to be taken by Zach.”
“The only place I want Zach Reed is in jail, and that’s the only good thing to come out of this day,” he announced. He was feeling stronger now and got to his feet. “Dad, I’m not saying this the right way. I don’t want to have anything to do with Zach or Shannon Reed. I know Kala is upset that I didn’t react the way she wanted me to, but for fuck’s sake, can’t I have a bad reaction every now and then? I can’t walk on eggshells around her for the rest of our lives. I accommodate her on everything. Every single thing. It can be exhausting. I need her to be okay with this one thing that hurt the hell out of me.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” a quiet voice said.
Well, of course, she walked in when he was being an asshole. “Kala.”
She stood in the doorway, her hair up in a ponytail and dressed to fly. She’d changed into leggings and a long shirt, but she hadn’t put on makeup or jewelry. She looked younger than normal, and his father was right. There was a hollowness to her eyes. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I feel like shit,” he replied.
“The effects of the sedative should wear off completely soon. The doctor said getting some food into your system might help. I made some soup. It’s in the kitchen. Sorry it was all my dad had here.” She didn’t walk into the room, merely stood at the door as if she didn’t think she belonged here.
“I don’t want food. Kala, we should talk.”
“I don’t think that would be productive,” she said, her tone firming. “I think you said everything you needed to say, and I do not have a comeback. I heard you loud and clear, and we should both try to be polite from now on.”
Polite? There was nothing polite about her or their relationship. “Dad, could you give us the room?”
His father stood, but Kala held out a hand. “There’s no need,” she said. “I was just checking on you. Hunter should be here soon, and we’re going to head to Dallas. You two can stay here for the night so Cooper’s ready to fly tomorrow morning. I’m sure my dad will have a meeting on the schedule for tomorrow afternoon since everyone will be back in Dallas.”
“You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to sit down and talk this out with me.”
“I think I’ll go see what’s taking Hunter so long,” his father replied, his discomfort plain.
He eased his way around Kala and moved down the hallway.
“Cooper, don’t be difficult about this. I’m trying not to be,” she said with a sigh.
“You? Not be difficult?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I said I was trying. I didn’t say I was capable. I don’t want to have this fight. I don’t see the point in it. You don’t trust me. I get it. If there’s no trust, we have nothing.”