Chapter 27 Stetson #2
I take a slow step forward, already hearing Nate charging in on me from behind.
So much for waiting for the grand finale.
I knew I’d snap sooner or later. With my finger pointed inches away from his face, I shout, “I don’t know why that beautiful woman over there has been sleeping on the floor in my home while you sleep your lifeless brain away, but let me tell you something, and you hear me loud and clear.
You let me find out you made her uncomfortable in any way, and you’re gonna have a much bigger problem than that cracked nose of yours.
I want you gone. Out of my fucking house and off my fucking ranch. Do you hear me?”
Austin spits words and blood. “You broke my nose, and now you want me to leave? What’s your problem?” he sneers before turning to Cove and holding out his hand. “Cove. Pack your things. We’re leaving.”
I hate that he singled her out, but this is Cove’s moment to stand up for herself. “Cove? Stetson?” Nate intervenes. “Anyone wanna tell me what in the hell is going on?”
That’s when my eyes take in the most beautiful woman in my world, standing tall against the man she pretends to love, the father who abandoned her, and every watchful eye in this barn.
She’s ethereal. Her strapless minidress is covered in three-dimensional flowers of every color, while bright aqua, red-bottom Louboutin stilettos line her feet, only highlighting the delicacy that is her legs.
Her long black hair hangs in waves down her back, and I’m worthless to any cause right now, lost in heavenly admiration of her.
Austin could punch me back, and I likely wouldn’t flinch.
Not when she is the moment. The view. My everything.
Cove holds her shoulders back, dirty martini raised high in her grasp as she looks my ex-best friend head-on. “Austin was just leaving.”
I never meant to start a big commotion. Actually, that’s a lie. I never meant to start a commotion of something bigger than simply putting Austin in his place. But the gaping and oohs and ahhs filling the barn have my overly protective side raising fences.
I remind myself that no one knows about Cove and me.
Despite how livid I am, I need to remain strategic. Save my words of fury for Nate.
A dry chuckle leaves Nate’s lips at the same time my sister joins my side.
Good. She needs to see this. “Cove, my dear daughter. Austin said you are leaving. It’s in your best interest to listen to him.
” And in this moment, the rage Cove has shared with me about her experience with Nate comes to the surface.
I witness the backhanded side of him that he’s kept hidden.
Fuck him for hurting her. And fuck him for being a misogynistic son of a bitch.
But she needs this moment to defend herself.
To put the man who should have been the one to love and protect her in his rightful place.
I see confidence wash over Cove at the magnitude of his vile words.
She takes a small step forward, putting herself more in Nate’s space than I’m sure she prefers.
“What’s in my best interest is you no longer telling me what I should and shouldn’t do.
I said Austin was just leaving.” Every single word is enunciated with meaning and bold truth.
I’m a proud man.
Nate steps closer. “You are my daughter,” he seethes, and I’m confident no one is breathing. “You will do as I say and obey your soon-to-be husband. Or else…consequences will be made.”
Andddd that’s my cue to interve—
“Let me make something abundantly clear, dear Father,” Cove proclaims in her fullest voice, her firmness halting all movement.
“I thought I could come here and play the role of dutiful daughter for you, but I was wrong. How silly of me to have forgotten that for someone to even remotely consider himself a father requires time. Time invested in their child, something you’ve never done, and by choice.
So, yes. I may be at rock bottom with options so limited that disappointment will most likely be the result, but I refuse to be another pawn in your selfish game.
I don’t deserve that, and it took spending less than a week with you for all my imaginary moments with my dad to be destroyed right in front of me.
You’re my greatest disappointment, and I see so clearly now how much better off I am without you.
So thank you for leaving Mom and me all those years ago. You did us a big fucking favor.”
“Is this about Stetson and his need to control things?” Nate cocks his head back, spitting hate. “He knows nothing about our family. Give me ten minutes to set the record straight, and you can leave with Austin. We’ll forget this ever happened.”
He’s still not hearing her.
Tell him, baby. Tell him.
“Stetson has nothing to do with this!” she shouts, and pride thunders through me as Cove finally gets her moment.
“This”—she waves her hand between them—“is about us. I’m your daughter, and you abandoned me.
For twenty-one years, I’ve been without a father.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching my closest friends with their dads and seeing how cherished they make them feel.
I’ve lived with this ache in my chest from missing you.
Missing out on what they have. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that maybe, just maybe, there was a legitimate reason for you leaving.
But I saw you that day in Key West with your new family.
I was on a weekend getaway and watched you intentionally love your new wife and daughter.
I promised myself from that moment on that all I could ever do was hate you.
But desperate times call for desperate measures.
I needed help, and if anything, you owed me.
But now…I want nothing from you. So, good luck with your business deal, Nathaniel, because my time here is finished. ”
Without giving him a chance to respond, Cove takes off toward the house, heels clacking against the wood flooring while guests chatter uncertainly about what just happened.
“Austin. Go get her—”
I reach for Austin’s arm and squeeze tight. “You take one step forward, and it’ll be your last.” I turn to Nate. “A word.”
I expect him to follow behind me, because he better fucking follow. The moment we exit the back barn doors, I spin on him, fist gripping his dress shirt and pinning him to the metal wall. “It’s time my best friend and I have a little chat,” I growl at the side of his face.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he hisses. “I knew something was off with you. You touch my daughter, Stetson?”
“You don’t get to call her that!” I roar. “She was never your daughter. You lost that right when you abandoned her, you selfish bastard.”
“Ah,” he gloats. “Have a heart-to-heart with her, then? I’m assuming the little whore spilled all my dirty secrets, huh?”
My punch comes quick, a slew of spit flying in the air. “Better watch your fucking words, Nate.”
He lifts his head, fighting to resume full power. “Go ahead, Stetson. Ask me what you want. I’ll answer it all for you. Hit me. What’s the worst that could happen, I bleed a little?”
I step back with my arms above my head, hating him more and more the longer I’m near him. “You never told us about her,” I rush quietly before raising my voice in a near scream. “You never told us about her!”
Pure evil spills from his lips. “There was nothing to tell. I was courted by Camille and never wanted a child. I never wanted her. I wanted my father’s business. Money. I wanted power.”
Motherfucker.
“How…” I croak, picturing Cove as a little girl learning her father would never return. I know the heart she has now, and I can imagine how badly that destroyed her. The repercussions of it are still ripe to this day. “I thought you were better than that. After everything you did for Abigail.”
“That’s because I actually loved Abbi! There’s a difference. McIntosh Motors was blowing up. I couldn’t risk losing it all for some child and her needy mother. Not when I could have an empire.”
I shake my head, dumbfounded by what I’m hearing. “That child…has become the love of my fucking life. The most incredible woman I’ve ever met, no thanks to you. But you wasted no time at all finding yourself a new family once the deals were made and signed in permanent ink.”
“I fucking knew it!” he roars, charging toward me, but his balance is still off, swaying as I step to the side.
“I told you to stay away from her. She’s bad news.
The girl called me, asking for money. I don’t know why, but she sounded desperate.
There was no way I was helping her without there being something in it for me.
This”—he waves his hands around the ranch—“was our agreement.”
“She told me everything days ago, Nate.”
“So you figured you’d take advantage of the sad girl who needed money? Make her vulnerability something to benefit you?”
Rich fucking bastard.
“I loved her before she showed up at Coleson! That woman has been my every waking thought since the day I met her months ago. I never knew she was your daughter because—jokes on me—you never told us!”
“I didn’t need to. We aren’t family, and if I had it my way, I’d never see her again. You can hate me all you want for that, but I have a family. Misty and Emma…they’re my family. And pretty soon, Cove will be gone for good.”
I exhale, my disbelief turning into pathetic disappointment for someone I thought I knew.
“You’re right about one thing…we aren’t family.
In fact, we aren’t even friends. Brothers.
None of it. I’m going to marry her someday, Nate.
I can promise you that. And you’re going to wish you did better, but don’t come pleading for forgiveness when that day comes because you won’t find it.
I’ll take care of her. I’ll love her the way she deserves.
I’ll give her everything. So much so, she’ll never need a dime from you or anyone else, for that matter.
My love for her has no conditions. You can take that reassurance to your goddamn grave. ”
“I see,” he mumbles, and for a second, I think he cares.
“I can’t say I ever saw this coming, but so be it.
” Nate stands and attempts to adjust his tie and dress shirt.
“And just so we’re clear, the deal is off.
She can find her savior somewhere else. Have Abbi call me.
I’ve got damage control to do with acquisition, and that’s if Austin hasn’t already bitched to Harrison about this catastrophe.
I never should have even considered this mess. ”
And he still only cares about business. How was I so blind?
A feminine, yet no less angry, voice chimes in from behind us.
“Abbi will not be calling you. I heard everything. And just so we’re clear, Nathaniel,” Abbi expresses from the threshold of the barn, mocking his own words.
“If Stetson loves Cove, I love Cove. End of story. We choose her. Now, get the fuck off Coleson Ranch.”
With the shake of his head and an inaudible mumble under his breath, Nathaniel storms off. I hardly have a second to recover before Abbi calls my name, snapping me out of the fog I’m in. “Stetson.”
Anger like I’ve never known stews inside of me. “Sorry you had to hear that.”
She shakes her head, a bit of panic laced in her voice. “Cove just left. Have you spoken to her?”
Fear quickly replaces anger. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet. I knew I needed to deal with Nate before going after Cove. “Not yet. I needed Nate to know I knew everything. He deserves to suffer the consequences, Abbi. I’m just sorry it had to be tonight, of all nights.”
She waves me off. “Don’t apologize to me. It’s your party, brother. You can cry if you want to.”
I pull her in for a hug, thankful to have a sister like her, before reality snaps me back into place. “Cove left?” She nods steadily. “I sent Granger after her. He’s got the main jet on standby. She’s safe.”
Thank hell.
“Stet, she left you this.” Abbi hands me a folded lime-green Post-it Note with Cove’s rushed handwriting written across it. “I didn’t read it, but you should.” I peer down at her words, and comfort calms me in the midst of sudden worry.
I need to see my mom. Thank you for defending me and showing me I can trust you. I love you beyond the stars and moon. Oh, and Happy Birthday. I owe you a celebration.
xo, Cove
She’s okay. I can breathe.
But also, communication. We’re communicating. This is good.
I’m glad she felt safe enough to tell me where she went without leaving me to panic. Now that the deal has been dealt with, it’s time I put my plan into place.
Surely, Cove hasn’t forgotten my words to her just last night.
I’ll chase her until the end of time. However and wherever needed.
And that includes today.
“Clay!” I shout from across the courtyard as I stride to the house.
“Right here, boss.” Clay runs to my side, phone ready to go. This is why I could never operate efficiently without him. He knows I’m in ‘go’ mode.
“Book the spare jet.”