Page 83 of Property of Legend

“Your daddy made a choice.And now that he’s awake, those debts come due.”He steps closer.“But if you walk away from the biker, we won’t take your father.Or the farm.You can stay the queen of Paradise Falls.Becki won’t marry your daddy.The legacy stays in your name.”

Jolene the nurse speaks for the first time, soft and shaken.“We’ve kept him under for months.He’s been lucid for days.They made me lie.Said it was for his own good.”

“You’re fired,” I say, automatically.

“I figured.But I didn’t think Mr.Montgomery would last long on trial or in prison.”

“Prison?”I back up, breath caught in my throat.

“Your daddy’s a felon, if anyone finds out, that is.Speaking of felons.”The Reverend hands me that file he gave me before.“Take another look.”

I flip through it with trembling fingers.Photos.Documents.Names.The Kings.Big Daddy.Connections to a cartel.Payments.Messages tied to the Depraved Sinners.

“This isn’t real.”

He smiles too big, letting me know I’m right.“May be.May not be.But it all looks very real enough.And it all leads back to the Kings.No doubt your biker prince is riding with devils.He might not know it, but if he steps out of line, I’ll burn them all.Starting with him.”

“You planned all this.The kidnapping…”

He nods once.“The Sinners did the deed, but we lit the fire.”

I close the folder, my hands shaking.“Fine.”

“Pardon?”He holds a hand to his ear, waiting.

“I’ll take the deal.I’ll walk away.I won’t see Legend again.But you stay away from my father.You keep your hands off this farm.And you destroy that file.”

He smiles, full of teeth and victory, as he tucks the file away in his jacket.“Smart girl.”

“Don’t you ever call me that.”

He turns to go, Becki trailing behind, smug as hell.She doesn’t say a damn word.

Why would she?She won.

But just before the door shuts, she glances back pleased as punch.

The door clicks.

And I’m left alone with the sound of my heart breaking into pieces.

If Legend shows up, I already know what I have to do.

I have to lie through my teeth.

Chapter 47

Sophie

When Legend shows up, I use all the real hurt I feel to make the lie stick.Then I’m left empty.I focus on dad.On the farm.Forget my heart.Try to forget Legend.But it’s real damn hard.

Weeks pass.

The Reverend’s off my back.For now.Becki too, though I know better than to think snakes ever slither far.They’re just waiting for another chance to strike.But at least the house is quiet.

It’s too quiet.I scared Legend off real good.Not seen hide nor hair of a biker on the farm, except Cornbread who’s been leaving his cut at home and working here for years.

Daddy’s awake.Really awake.Sitting upright in his chair by the window with a blanket over his knees and a half-eaten biscuit on the tray in front of him.I’m curled up in the chair across from him, going over accounts.It feels like old times, almost.Except now I’m the one talking numbers and making decisions.The roles have reversed.

---