Page 108 of A River of Crows

Ridge jumped up. “Because I saw a normal life. Mom’s plan was sick. She was sick. She didn’t care about us, just getting back at Dad. He spent twenty years in jail for something he never did.”

“Oh, poor Dad; he was a real saint.”

Ridge threw up his hands. “No, not a saint, but he didn’t deserve all he got.”

“So, you’re telling me you wanted to stay with Libby and Vince?”

Ridge’s body relaxed; his voice softened. “Yeah, but I wanted you to come too. They told me they asked, and you said no.”

“No one asked me anything.” Sloan choked back tears. “Ever.”

“I know.” Ridge’s chin dipped down to his chest. “They came clean recently. There was a plan. Someone was supposed to talk to you, bring you to us if you wanted to come, but it all went wrong.”

Sloan’s heart banged against her chest. “Is this the guy who tried to take me? I remember that. It terrified me, Ridge.”

“I swear that’s not how they meant for it to happen,” Ridge said. “I didn’t even know about any of this. Not till a few weeks before my trip here. I’ve been wanting to see you and Mom for a while. I wasn’t sure how much you knew, so I asked the Turners. They told me the truth.”

Sloan chuckled. “How big of them.”

“Libby and Vince made mistakes, but they were great parents,” Ridge said.

“Oh, because they spoiled you? Because they have money? Because they gave you a life where you’ve made it thirty years without a job?”

The darkness that crossed Ridge’s eyes told Sloan she had hit the mark. “Oh, shut up, Sloan.”

“No, you shut up, Mister ‘I lived a life of privilege while my sister barely survived!’” Sloan’s breathing pounded in her own ears.

“They paid for your school, too,” Ridge said. “They’ve always looked out for you.”

Sloan was momentarily stunned into silence. She’d never dreamed Vince and Libby were the anonymous donors. They had been long out of her life at that point. She tried to hold on to her anger. Paying for her college excused nothing they’d done.

“The only thing they didn’t tell me is that Mom lied about your abuse. They didn’t want to turn me against her. Like good parents, they’ve only ever wanted to protect me.”

Sloan raised a hand to her throbbing temple. “They are not your parents, Ridge. Caroline Radel is your mother. Nothing can change that. Libby Turner is the woman who kidnapped you.”

“She didn’t kidnap me. She raised me.” Sloan saw ligaments bulge in Ridge’s neck. “Libby Turner gave me a normal life.”

“She manipulated you.”

“She loved me!” Ridge threw his hand backward, hitting the tree and knocking a few ornaments to the floor.

“Then why are you here?” Sloan stomped her foot. “If they’re your family, go back to them!”

“Great idea,” Ridge sneered. He grabbed his jacket from the chair, accidentally stepping on an ornament before walking out the front door.

Sloan looked down at the shattered ornament. It was the roller-skating rabbit, and both of its ears and one wheel were severed victims of the fall.

Given everything that had happened, a busted ornament should have been the least of her worries, but it brought her to her knees. She held the broken bunny and sobbed deep, gut-wrenching sobs for all she had lost.

Dylan called back at 5:00. “Where have you been all day?” Sloan asked, bitterness dripping from each word.

“I had a meeting with the district attorney and depositions. I told you about this.”

He had. But Sloan hadn’t realized that was already today. “That’s right.” She slumped into a chair. “I’m sorry, it’s been a terrible day. Can you come over?”

“I’ll stop by the house and change, then be right there. Want me to pick up dinner for you and Caroline?”

“Mom’s back in the hospital under observation.”

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