Page 171 of Three Reckless Words

“Stupid? You want to know what stupid is?” I clench my teeth. “Keep pushing me and you’ll find out, Carroll.”

“Carroll?” Anger seeps into his voice now. “Now see here—”

“No. When have you ever acted like a dad to me? There’s no point in calling you that anymore.”

“I understand you’re very angry—”

“Fuckyes,I’m angry. But if you don’t stop this, if you don’t stop protecting that abusive little creep because you’re scared for your career, I’ll do some lawyering up myself. I promise you, I’ll seek a full restraining order against Holden, and you can bet the media will hear about it. Along with the disgusting way he trespassed and destroyed Archer’s property.”

As soon as I say Archer’s name, I regret it.

Dad doesn’t need the gory details from me, no. I doubt he’d believe them anyway.

Of course, he just clucks his tongue. “Find your brain soon, young lady. I’m imploring you. Otherwise, you will make a grave mistake. I suspect an antitrust probe is hardly the worst of Higher Ends’ issues.”

My heart nosedives.

“What do you mean? What are you getting at?” For the first time, panic stabs through me. Dad would do this if he’s decided to fight, turning over every rock until he finds vulnerabilities his lawyers can go after.

“Since you’re an insect aficionado, you’ll love this.” Victory creeps into his tone like poison. “I decided to take the matter of those bees up with a contact in the Department of Conservation. Evidently, there are a few rare subspecies of honeybee in thisregion with federal and state protections. They’re prone to producing that royal purple honey I’m sure you admire. If you think Holden Corban is such a threat—well, wouldn’t it be wise to protect your specimens by re-examining Higher Ends’ claim on the land and its property? Perhaps the company failed to do proper environmental research before it developed the land.”

“You wouldn’t.” My voice is a whisper.

“I think you know there are no limits to what I’ll do for the law. If you want a war over this, sweetheart, I can gladly deliver.”

My heart clenches.

Jesus, he really is insane.

Fleeing a bad marriage for my life wasn’t a declaration of war, it was an escape. Not just from Holden, but from a life filled with this type of drama and my control freak father throwing his weight around.

But I should have known better.

Dad never takes losing well.

Having me slip out from under his thumb after I torched the arranged wedding he staked our entire future on hits like a slap in the face.

Not because of me.

Never because of me.

It’s the principle, losing control.

“Don’t do it,” I whisper. “Don’t bring the bees into this.”

Don’t use my one love against me.

“The law is the law, my dear. Perhaps you should have thought harder before your friend attacked Holden.”

“Dad, please!” Here it comes. I’m going to pieces, fighting to strain out words around my closing throat.

“Next time, I sincerely hope you’ll weigh your choices more carefully.” And the line goes dead.

I stare at it, waiting for my screen to light up again.

But it doesn’t.

That’s it, conversation over.

---