Page 33 of Cruel Love

“Everyone makes mistakes, Aspen. What kind of life can you give the baby? You haven’t even finished your first year in college. And you shouldn’t let one indiscretion ruin both of your lives.”

Bile climbed my throat in an acidic burn. I swallowed multiple times, my mouth overflowing with saliva. If I didn’t, I would throw up in front of the vile man taking up too much space in my room. I wanted him out because I would be sick whether I wanted to or not.

“I need a day to think about it.” There was no way I would take his money. I would figure something out, but my father’s job was another story.

“Of course.” He stood, towering over me, and I fought the urge to shrink back. “A little word of advice.”

My gaze snapped to his for whatever fresh hell he was about to unleash, uncertain whether I could take any more of his nonsense.

“If you mention this to anyone, the deal goes away, and I will keep you in litigation for what my investigative team will find on your father. Embezzlement is a very serious crime, and something like that—stealing from my company—would adversely affect your family, up to and including bankruptcy.”

He would plant wrongful evidence on my father? I yanked open the door, holding it like a partial shield in front of my body.

His faded blue eyes, too sharp for a man his age, held mine as he stopped at the threshold. “You have one day. I expect your answer by morning.”

I shut the door then rushed to the bathroom I shared with my suitemates. My stomach churned, and I barely got to the toilet before throwing up everything I’d eaten. After cleaning my face and teeth, I crawled into bed and wrapped the blankets around my head, cocooning myself in warmth that didn’t penetrate the arctic evil emanating from that dreadful old man.

My phone buzzed, and Max’s picture lit up the screen. I couldn’t answer. I had way too much to think about. I knew one thing for sure, though—I would not have an abortion. Tears rolled down my face, and I turned into the pillow and sobbed. The stress and horror of the situation were just too much.

How can I tell Phoenix how evil his grandad is? I had been the one to seek Phoenix out, creating the opportunity for the old man to destroy his family, whether or not I could have predicted that outcome. His grandad was full of shit. I knew Phoenix wanted our baby and me, especially after all his talk about not disappearing as his dad had. But that didn’t stop a hint of doubt from sliding into my thoughts.

It took several minutes and an almost-complete soaking of my pillowcase for any clarity to return.

Did Phoenix really use me as Mr. Bennett had said? If I was honest with myself, I knew he didn’t. Mr. Bennett could easily have convinced me before the accident, but things were different now. This wasn’t coming from Phoenix. His grandfather had acted alone.

Not that it mattered. My dad would pay the price if I didn’t do something.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

PHOENIX

It was some bullshit that Shane wanted us to reconcile with our deadbeat-jackass father. I loved my brother, but he was susceptible to being used. Of the two of us, he had the bigger heart. I kept my affections reserved for our very small circle and didn’t need or trust outsiders. The day our dad had abandoned our mom, and essentially us, he no longer existed to me.

Fury churned through me as Shane drove us to the hotel where our father was staying. It was the nicest one in town, which only made me angrier. If he could afford that, he could have afforded to send Mom child support for all those years so she didn’t have to work so much.

Grandad had always helped financially, but Mom had alluded that his generosity sometimes came with strings, especially after Nona died. We hadn’t seen its effects, and Mom wasn’t interested in playing games. She was stubborn, independent, and a bit of a rebel, and I knew exactly how hard it had been for her to let him pay for our football camps and equipment.

We pulled into the parking lot, and Shane and I both remained seated and seat belted. “I’m doing this for you,” I said quietly, “but I can’t make any promises. He left, and as far as I’m concerned, he should remain dead to us.”

“Just keep an open mind.”

We both stared straight ahead for a few minutes. Shane unbelted and opened his door, but it took me another few seconds to follow suit. I knew I had to get it over with. We entered the hotel and went straight to the bank of elevators. Shane pressed the button for the sixth floor, and once it arrived with a soft ding, we rode in silence.

Shane turned to me when we were in front of the door to room 632. “Listen to what he has to say. Promise me that.”

“I already did.” Then things would go my way, and he would be gone from our lives for good.

The door opened a few seconds after Shane knocked. I didn’t move even when I came face-to-face with a man who had the same eyes as I did, a similar face, and an almost-identical build. Joe Wrenshall had basically been just a sperm donor, and it wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen him on TV or social media, but looking him in the eye came with a powerful punch to the gut.

The cast on his arm and sling around his neck were new, as were the thin pink scars on his face where the windshield must have cut him. In my opinion, he hadn’t suffered enough.

I closed my eyes briefly against the memory of a man lying partially through the shattered windshield and on the hood. Shane was missing, no longer in the passenger seat where he’d been. Nausea cramped my stomach. I didn’t want to be there. Images from the accident slammed into me too quickly. I took a deep breath, and when I calmed enough, the memories stopped.

I wasn’t ready for them—not here.

Shane went into the suite. I couldn’t move. Joe looked more like me than did Shane, who had our mom’s dark hair and blue eyes.

“Phoenix.” Joe stepped aside.

---