Page 101 of The Wrong Ride Home

“It’s the truth.”

Her breath quickened. “You think I manipulated you? That I used you? My own son?”

Yes.

But I didn’t say it because I didn’t have to. She could see it in my face, and that’s when she began to cryagain.

Tears welled in her eyes, her lip trembling. "I just... I don’t know why you want to hurt me like this, Duke.” She covered her face, shoulders shaking, voice breaking like glass.

I didn’t try to comfort her because I finally knew that she wasn’treallyupset. Instead, I rose.

She peeked up at me through her fingers. I realized she was waiting for me to soften, to crumble, to play my part like I always had.

“You’re on your own from now on,” I announced.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She wiped her tears.

“Nash left you money and?—”

“Not enough.”

“For what?” I demanded. “The house is paid for. Your insurance, cars, and everything is paid for from the account Nash set up for you.” It wouldn’t be enough to buy designer duds every season, but she would beverycomfortable.

The façade vanished! She got up and charged me, “I deserve a cut from the sale of the ranch.”

“I’m not selling.” Satisfaction raced through me when I saw her face fall. “Read my lips, Mama.I’m not selling the ranch. In fact, I’m moving to Wildflower Canyon. I’m going to work from there from now on.”

Her breath hitched. “No. You can’t do that to me.”

“And I’m not giving you a fuckin’ cent ever again, so don’t ask.”

“Nash told you to take care of me.”

“He’s dead, Mama, I don’t think he gives two fucks what I do.” My breath spilled out like a deflating tire. “It means I’m not playing this game anymore. I’m not going to be your lifeline, your excuse, your audience. I’m not going to be your Goddamn parent.”

She slapped me with force. I let her. "I raised you!"

“No.” I looked her dead in the eye. "Iraisedyouand not very well ‘cause you’re one spoiled little…bitch." Never had I spoken to my mother like this.Neverhad I imagined I would.

Her lips parted, but no words came. She didn’t know how to handle me—the Duke that other people got but not her.

I tipped my head. “Goodbye, Gloria.”

I stopped calling Nash Dad when I found out about Maria, and now I’d just lost my mother. I was an orphan, and maybe that was a better place to be than havingheras a parent.

I turned, moving toward the door.

“You’ll regret this,” she called after me, her voice cracking.

I paused, glancing back at her. "I doubt it.”

Then I walked out, leaving Gloria Wilder in the house Dad bought, in the life she built on broken pieces, with no one left to hold her together.

CHAPTER 31

duke

After I left my mother’s house, I called Hunt and asked for a favor, which he was more than willing to do.

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