Page 58 of The Contractor & the Entrepreneur

She could only stare at him. He’d been willing to kill Rhett and claimed he would break her neck to protect himself. She started shaking, the realization of what could’ve happened to Rhett slamming into her. Tears streamed down her face. It would’ve been all her fault.

Sirens blared through the night. Ron stirred and groggily sat up. Rhett released her, ushered her behind him, and pulled out the pistol.

“Move away from the door,” Rhett commanded Ron.

Ron had blood streaming down his face. He shuffled farther into the room on his rear. He looked miserable and disoriented.

“They’ll never believe you two over me,” her father taunted. “Let me go or you’ll regret it. I’ll make both of your lives miserable. Sloan, you will always need me. You know you can’t survive without me.”

Sloan couldn’t stop the tears tracing down her face, the churning of her stomach, the bile crawling up her throat, or her body shaking uncontrollably. Her father would accomplish whathe was threatening. He’d make their lives miserable, somehow plant lies and ruin Rhett’s career and his life. She’d brought this misery on Rhett. He was her own personal superhero, the only man she had ever wanted to love, but she didn’t know how to stand by his side.

She was born of the evil spouting threats from the floor and if her father had controlled even her college and work experiences she’d done nothing on her own. She needed to talk to Kathy. Her dad couldn’t be using Kathy, could he? She didn’t know what to believe any longer.

Rhett was from a protective and loving father and an angelic mother. He was brave and perfect.

She hung her head, relieved they’d survived and wishing the nightmare with her father would end but knowing it never would.

How could she feel she was worthy of Rhett when her confidence was a charade and everything she’d done was a farce? Her father controlled everything. When it counted she’d broken down and submitted to him, like she’d always feared she would.

She didn’t even know who she was.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Rhett was relievedwhen Sheriff Pollard and three deputies arrived. He was able to turn the gun over to them, watch Ron Lewis and Eric Jensen be arrested, and relax a fraction.

He and Sloan were separated for questioning, and he didn’t like that. He worried about the despondent look in her eyes and the rounded set to her shoulders. Her father had threatened to kill her tonight. It still made Rhett want to vomit when he thought about her being in her father’s grip and the man threatening to break her neck. He loathed Eric Jensen and wished he would’ve shot him through the heart.

Not a very charitable thought to have about your girlfriend’s father.

He could understand now why Sloan hadn’t wanted to talk about her dad. She’d gotten away from him and his controlling influence, but he feared the man was still messing with her mind.

Finally, the sheriff and detectives left. He and Sloan were alone, but something was deeply wrong.

He turned to her, wanting to hold her close and comfort her.

“Rhett …” She held up a hand and backed up before he could wrap her in his arms. “I need to … go back to Nevada. I’ve got to see Kathy, figure some things out.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze, and that terrified him.

“Okay.” He nodded and took a breath, searching for the right response. “I can come with you. Andy can take care of the other projects we have. I doubt we’re going to be building on your property now.”

She finally met his gaze. The crushing weight in her dark gaze terrified him.

“What’s going on Sloan?”

“I’m a mess,” she whispered, looking away.

“You’ve been through a nightmare,” he said. “No one would blame you if you’re struggling.” He wanted to reach for her but something held him back.

“Thank you for understanding.” She finally focused on him again and he could see how much she was struggling, how low her dad had taken her. “I have to sort out my dad’s control over me, that he’s been pulling the strings all along, that he could really almost kill me. I don’t know what I am or how to find myself.”

Rhett wasn’t certain what she meant about ‘pulling the strings all along’. “You are a brave and incredible lady, Sloan.”

“I’m not brave,” she said harshly, her dark eyes flashing. “I’m a fake, Rhett. I’m terrified of him and he was still in control of my life, even when I thought I was free.” She shook her head, biting at her lip. “Even if he’s in prison, I don’t know that I’ll ever be out of his power. I stood up to him to save you. Now he’ll find ways to make both of our lives miserable.”

Rhett had to reassure her that she wasn’t in her dad’s power and they could stand up to him together.

“I’m sorry.” She shook her head before he could say anything. “I’m sorry. I need some time. I need to sleep. I need to pray andfigure this out. I claim I trust my Savior, but do I really? If I’m all a lie, can I really trust you and be worthy of you?” She wrung her hands together. “I’m so sorry. Can you please leave?”

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