Page 126 of When We Burn

She blows out a breath, no sign of tears in sight, and pushes her hands through her hair.

“Are you sure I can’t haveyou?”

“Let me make this perfectly crystal clear.” I lower myself and get within a foot of her face. “There will never be a time or a circumstance where I would want you in Birdie’s or my lives. You’ll never touch me. You’ll never so much as breathe near me after this.”

“I need money, Bridger.”

At that, I stand back up and laugh.

“I tried to get my car fixed, but Brooks wouldn’t help me because you’ve turned your whole family against me.”

“You did that all on your own.” Jesus, she’s a piece of work.

“Look, I don’t want to stay in this shitty little town.” She stands and walks across the room to the other side of the table and sets her hands on her hips. “My parents sold the hardware store, and they’re going to spend every dime of that money, traveling and God knows what. They’re not going to leave anything to me. There’s no reason for me to be here. If you’ll give me some money, I’ll go, and you’ll never hear from me again.”

I want to laugh.

I want to rage.

Instead, I nod slowly, as if I’m actually considering this. “For the rest of Birdie’s life, you’ll stay away if I give you money?”

“Yes, I swear it.”

“How much do you think I should give you?”

“One million dollars.” Her face is perfectly serious. “And buy me a new car.”

I continue to nod, and she gets bolder.

“Come on, I know you can get the money. Beckett could take out a loan against the ranch, or hell, one of your good friends is a billionaire. Ask Ryan Wild. I don’t care who you get it from, just pay me, and I’ll go away.”

“And if I refuse?”

There’s so much coldness in her eyes.

“I hear Dani’s renting the house across from yours.”

My hands fist in my pockets.

“It sure would be a shame if something happened to her.”

“You’re so fucking stupid, Angela.” I start to laugh and enjoy the look of pure shock that crosses her face. “How did you think that you could show up here and make demands? How did you think that you could ask for anything from me?”

“I’m Birdie’s mother!”

“You’re nothing.” I don’t hold back the disgust anymore. “You’re no one. You signed away your rights tomydaughter years ago. Without hesitation. Without a flicker of emotion. You have no more claim to her than you do a stranger on the street.”

She huffs out a breath, and I continue.

“In addition, there is a restraining order that prevents you from going anywhere near BirdieorDani so you don’t try to pull any of your shit the way you did at the school. In fact, that order covers this fire station, and with one phone call, I could have you injail.”

“Like restraining orders do anything,” she mutters.

“I don’t give a shit where you go, where you live, or what you do,” I continue. “But you won’t come near my kid or my girl, or I’ll have you arrested.”

“You’d have the mother of your childarrested?”

“Without a second fucking thought.” I shake my head at her again. “Go away, Angela. Go find a life that makes you happy, and leave us alone.”

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