I released her hand and nodded. “Stay close to Tank.”
“I will.”
I walked around the limo and got in the back seat next to my father. The vehicle took off, and we were soon navigating the streets of downtown Los Angeles.
My father shifted to look at me, his firm jaw working. “Thank you for coming.”
“You didn’t give me much choice.”
“I needed to speak with you in person, and this was the only way I knew to do it.”
“What do you want?”
“In a week, Mitchell Manufacturing will have a moment with the press. I want to introduce you as my son…as my heir.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes,” he said, blank-faced.
“How do you plan to explain where I’ve been all these years? There will be questions. You know that, right?”
“I have a publicist to help with that. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“If it concerns me, I need to worry. I won’t allow you to put a spin on this—make me into some kind of circus animal you show off and then stick back in a cage.”
“Relax, Dexter. That’s not how it’s going to be.”
“How do I know that?”
“Because I’m giving you my word.”
I stared at him, measuring the gray eyes that were exactly like mine, the firm jaw that tightened on the sides, the salt and pepper hair and five o’clock shadow. It was like looking in a mirror and seeing how I would look thirty years from now. I made a noise in my throat and turned away. “There’s no way for me to know if you’ll keep your word. We’ve never had a relationship for me to refer back to.”
He winced. “You’re right. This is all my fault, and I accept full responsibility for the blame.”
“How can you not?” I spat. “You were never there.”
“I made choices I regret now. Choices I can’t undo.”
I glanced at George who was sitting next to the driver. He was the last person I wanted to have a front row seat to all my personal baggage. Turning to my father, I grimaced. “Are we really going to do this right now?”
He appeared to catch my meaning because he reached over and closed the divider, giving us more privacy. “Yes, I think we need to hash out a few things before we can move forward.” He licked his lips and leaned back uncomfortably. “Ask me anything. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
Since he was granting me that kind of freedom, I got to the point, anger simmering under the surface. “Why did you hate me so much?”
For a moment, he appeared stunned, but then he let out a long breath. “I never hated you.”
I pressed my lips together firmly and looked straight ahead. “Okay, perhaps you’re right. Hate requires emotion, and you never had any when it came to me. Why were you so indifferent all those years?”
He was quiet for the longest time, and then he glanced at me with sadness in his eyes. “Because I was selfish.”
I opened my mouth to speak but words evaded me. Yes, he was, but admitting it didn’t make it all better.
“I had an affair,” he said, “and I didn’t want it made public. The media caught your mother and me in a compromising situation, so I attempted to do damage control. I had my reputation to think about. Distancing myself from her seemed like the best option back then. I threw money at her, hoping she’d go away. And then you were born, and I had to deal with it.”
“Wow. We were problems for you,” I said, using air quotes. I let out a harsh laugh. “Why do I not feel sorry for the man who has everything?”
“I’m not asking for sympathy. I just want to make things right.”
“You probably felt like I screwed up your life. I was the unwanted son. The one you had to hide.”
“I did want you,” he said, voice trembling. “More than you realize.”
I didn’t believe him. “No, you didn’t, because if you had—”
“I had no choice. My wife found out about some illegal dealings and, she blackmailed me. Said if I acknowledged you publicly, she would go to the police. She was embarrassed, and she didn’t want anyone to figure out that I’d gone outside of our marriage. I looked up the sentencing terms for that crime, and let’s just say it wouldn’t have been good for me.”
“What kind of criminal activity are we talking about?”
He chuckled. “Don’t go there. All you need to know is I’m not doing it anymore—haven’t for twenty-some years.” His brows descended. “I wanted to contact you after my wife died, but the timing wasn’t right. There was that strike and—”
“I tried to talk to you that day. I walked right into your building and your security sent me away.”
“They did?” His forehead wrinkled. “I didn’t know anything about it. If I had, I would have told them to send you up to my office.”
“That wasn’t the only time, either. When I was twelve, I looked you up—decided I wanted to meet my father. The guy at the desk laughed at me. Said your real son was attending Stanford.”
He winced. “No one contacted me to inform me you were there. I wouldn’t have turned you away.”
“And you didn’t tell them I existed in case I ever showed up.”
His head dropped forward. “I’m sorry. I wish I could go back and do things differently.”
“I don’t know if that’s enough for me.” I grit my teeth, not sure how much more of this I could take.
“I can’t go back and fix it, Dex. I hurt you, and I’m sorry. Please give me another chance.”
I stared out the window, numb to everything he’d just said. The Bible spoke of forgiving those who hurt you, and I knew I would eventually have to get to that point because God wouldn’t let me harbor resentment. It didn’t make it any easier, though. “So, you’re telling me that if your wife didn’t blackmail you, everyone would know I’m your son?”
“Possibly.” His voice wobbled a little. “I could easily lie and say I would have handled it better, but you want the truth, so I’m doing my best to give it to you.” He shifted to face me. “I lost my way, put things that weren’t important at the forefront. Even so, it hurt knowing you were out there, and I was missing out.”
“You missed my high school graduation.”
His expression crumbled, and he covered his face with his hands.
I kept my gaze on him and refused to look away. “That morning while I was getting ready, I saw you and Garrett on a talk show. They were going on and on about what a great family man you were. Did you ever stop to think that I might see it?”
He let out a shaky breath. “No. I never allowed myself to think about things like that. If I had, I wouldn’t have been able to go on.”
“Mom sent an invitation. You never even responded to say you couldn’t make it.”
His eyes widened. “I never received that invitation.”
I stared at him, measuring his expression for any signs of dishonesty. “What are you trying to say? Mom didn’t send it? She told me she did, and I believe her.”
“I’m not saying she didn’t, but perhaps my wife intercepted it. We’ll never know what happened, but I did not receive it, Dexter.”
“Fine. I’ll let that go.” I pressed my back against the seat and shifted. “But you never allowed me the opportunity to meet my brother. No one stopped to think that I might want to attend his funeral when he passed.”
He was quiet for a long moment and then he finally sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what else to say.”
“There really isn’t anything you can say.”
He pursed his lips. “I hope you’ll put all of that aside because I want to move forward, to have you at my side in the business. One day, I’ll hand everything over to you, and you need to be ready.”
“See, I’d be more inclined to reconcile if you were focused on having a relationship, but this…” I let out a frustrated breath. “This is about your image. You don’t want your business going to a stranger.”
&
nbsp; “That may be part of it, but I want a relationship with you, Dex. I really do.”
I was silent for so long that I thought the conversation was over.
“I know about Tirzah,” he said out of the blue.
I jerked back. “What did you just say?”
“My investigators are very thorough. I’m aware you’ve been spending time with Carl Bailey’s granddaughter.”
“How did—”
“Like I said…they’re very thorough.”
“Keep her out of this. She has nothing to do with you and me.”
“I understand her parents sent her to California because a loan shark threatened her life if they don’t make good on the loan.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “What else do you know?”
“You have a sweet spot for her. You haven’t dated in years, but as soon as she came along, you’ve been acting like a love-sick puppy dog.”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you violated our privacy like that.”
“I had to find out what made you tick, Dexter.”
“This conversation is over. Just…stay out of my life.” I started to open the divider so I could tell the driver to pull over, but my father put a hand on my arm to stop me.
“I can help Tirzah and her family. If you agree to join me in the business… If you at least give it a try for a few months, I’ll pay off her father’s debt. I’ll make sure Harry stays away from them for good.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. “What does that mean?”
He gave me a look. “Nothing illegal. I’m not a monster, Dexter. I’ll offer him more than the twenty-five thousand to keep his distance. Trust me, he’ll do it. The money will be worth it to him.”
I didn’t know what to say, but how could I turn that down? Tizzy’s safety…it was more important than my stubbornness. I didn’t want her to have to always look over her shoulder, even after her dad paid off the debt. A man like Harry would torment that family, extorting them for more money, especially if it was available after they sold the house.
But then something occurred to me. If I made this deal with my father, Tizzy would probably go back to Pennsylvania, and I might never see her again. The thought was like a crushing weight, flattening my vital organs, ripping me open by the seams.
I cared about her. A lot. Who was I kidding? It was way more than that. I’d grown to love her with all my heart. To the point that when I thought of losing her, it hurt so much I… I exhaled and tried to get control of my breathing.
Stop. You always knew it wouldn’t work out.
But the thoughts refused to back down.
We hadn’t been together long, but there was no one else for me.
On some level, I’d known it the first day I’d seen her, stranded on the street during that riot.
I needed more time with her before she had to make a decision. She wanted to stay—I sensed that—but it was also clear she was torn between two choices. Her words from that day at the park came to mind. You don’t understand. If I don’t go back, it could cost me everything I’ve ever known.
She wasn’t ready to give up her entire world. Her life was on the east coast, and I needed to accept that.
I wanted to tell my father no, to get out of the car and find a cab to take me home. But if I did that, I would be no better than he was. He made decisions based on what he wanted, not considering the best interests of others.
Letting out a sigh, I leaned down and rested my head on my hands. Lord, there’s no other option here, is there? If I love her, I need to do this.
It felt like the right thing to do. Peace washed over me amidst the anguish. Love was not about possessing someone. It was about releasing them to go where they needed to be.
Before I could change my mind, I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to say the words. “Fine. It’s a deal.”
***
My father had insisted on driving me back. He filled me in on some of the things he wanted me to learn while we drove, and I was thankful for one thing. At least he wasn’t going to throw me into the manufacturing industry without help. I didn’t have business experience, but he had a plan. I would have an internship, and he would put me through business school and show me the ropes of upper management.
That plan entailed a lot more than a few months, but I let that pass for now. I wouldn’t commit to anything until I had a feel of the place and knew it was something I wanted for the long haul. If there was an upside to this, at least I would have a say in how my father’s employees were treated—I made sure of that. I’d told him I would have nothing to do with the business unless we improved conditions and valued the workers more. It wasn’t just about preventing another strike, it was about treating people with respect.
He said he’d already made some changes and would listen to any suggestions I had. I got the feeling he wasn’t thrilled about that part, but he wasn’t the only one who knew how to push. If I was doing this, he was going to have to compromise.
My decision weighed heavy on my heart that evening as I strode to the main house to talk to Tirzah and Tank.
When I knocked on the door, Tizzy answered immediately. “Are you okay? How did it go?”
I walked in, and we both sat with Tank at the kitchen table. “My father wants me to work with him.”
Tizzy put a hand underneath her chin and studied me intently. “What are you going to do?”
“I said I’d give it a try.”
Tank broke out into a huge smile. “Good for you. We’re all going to miss you at the shop, but you need to do what’s best for you.”
I wasn’t sure that was best for me, but I was doing it anyway. I wouldn’t tell Tizzy she was the reason I’d made this deal—that would make her feel guilty, and I didn’t want that. But I could at least share that I now had the resources to help.
“Tizzy, my father agreed to pay off your family’s loan, and he’s taking care of it today. Harry will never bother you again.”
Her eyes widened. “What? How does your father know how to find Harry?”
I grimaced. “He has investigators. He’s been keeping tabs on anything that has to do with me for a while now.”
“You sure you’re okay with this?” Tank asked, looking concerned all of a sudden. “The keeping tabs part, I mean.”
I ran a hand over the back of my head and nodded slightly. “Yeah. I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay.” He extended his hand. “Congratulations. Don’t forget us when you’re the big guy on top.”
I shook his hand and forced myself to smile. “Never. And I’m not leaving the club. You guys are family and always will be.”
Tank nodded and smiled. “Good.”
Tizzy rose from her seat and came to me, extending her arms for a hug. “Dex, I can’t believe this is over. Thank you so much.”
I stood and embraced her. “I’ll hang around for a few more days…until my father confirms Harry has been paid off.” I held onto her a little longer, not wanting to let go but knowing I would have to any moment now. I finally released her and ran my thumbs along her cheekbones. “Your parents will call to tell you the good news, and then I suspect… I suspect they’ll want you home.”
A wave of pain washed through me, and I stiffened my spine, wanting to be strong for her. She peeked up at me through her lashes and my breath stalled. How was I going to give her up? I didn’t know if I could do it.
“Yes, they will, but I’ve decided to stay in California.” The corners of her mouth curled up, and she took hold of my wrists. “Grandpa and I discussed it this morning. I meant to tell you sooner, but we were pretty distracted with the outreach.”
I had prepared myself to let her go if that was what she wanted, so it took a moment for those words to sink in. Once they did, it felt like my entire world shifted—in a good way. “You did?”
Her smile turned lopsided as she brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “Yes. I want to stay. I need more time wi
th you and Grandpa and…I couldn’t leave you, Dex. Not after everything we’ve gone through together. We can make this work.”
A feeling of elation spread through me unlike anything I had felt before, and I wanted to close the distance between us and give her the best kiss of her life, but Tank caught my eye and gave me a knowing look, reminding me of my promise. He must have sensed what was going through my head because he shook his head slightly. I grinned. Kiss or no kiss—it didn’t matter. I loved Tizzy, and I would wait as long as it took. I was about to tell her that when the phone rang.
We all froze, wondering if it was Tizzy’s parents.
“Guess I should answer it,” Tank said, but he stayed put.
“No, I probably should.” Tizzy slowly moved to the living room and lingered next to the phone. “Ugh. I’m not sure if I’m ready to have this conversation with them yet. I haven’t really considered what I should say. I thought I’d have more time.”
The answering machine picked up and her father left a message.
“Tirzah, Harry contacted me about the debt. He said some man named Weston Mitchell covered it because his son is in love with you.” He paused, taking a breath. “I don’t like the sound of that. What’s going on? Call me right now.”
Chapter 19
Tizzy
I’d dreaded this moment—knew it was coming but dreaded it all the same. I didn’t want to hurt my parents, but I had to face this. My decision would hurt them. They were probably going to think less of me.
They might even believe I’d fallen into sin.
View my choice as an act of defiance.
I would receive calls from other church members urging me to come home, to listen to my parents and follow the ways of our church. When I didn’t heed their advice, they would turn on Mom and Dad and make them feel like terrible parents. How could I let that happen?
I released a sigh. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I no longer wanted that life—the one where I had no choice who my husband would be. Where I had to wear dresses every single day, regardless of the weather. Where I had to bend to rules that weren’t even in the Bible.
Blind Date with a Billionaire Biker (Blind Date Disasters Book 3) Page 18