Wild at Heart (4 page)

“
R
eagan
.”

If looks could kill, both of us would be on our way to the morgue right now.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked through gritted teeth, my hands fisted at my sides. It was taking every ounce of self-control to keep my voice steady. “No, wait. A better question is: what the hell did you do?” I motioned in the direction of Dare’s room.

“I am glad to see that you have finally come to your senses and returned home,” he said coolly. “Although, I do not appreciate being addressed in such a tone or with such language.”

Was he fucking kidding me?

“How could you let that animal out of prison?”

My father shook his head and sighed. “I see some things have not changed. You are still as hysterical as always. I do not have the slightest idea what you are talking about, Reagan.”

“I’m talking about a murderer and a drug lord who is now running free on your streets,
Mayor
McKinley.”

“Keep your voice down.” He took a step forward and grabbed my shoulders, towering above me. “
Now
.”

“Let me go or I’ll scream.” I bit off each word. “NOW.”

A couple of nurses had stopped in the hallway and were eyeing us.

“Mayor!” The older one gushed. “What an honor!”

“The pleasure is all mine, ma’am” he said in that smooth political drawl he always used when talking to The People. “I am just visiting my youngest daughter who’s volunteering while on sabbatical from Harvard.”

Motherfucker.

“Oh?” The nurse’s silver eyebrows rose as she turned to me. “How nice of you, dear.”

“I suppose,” I said, matching my father’s fake smile. “If you call seeing my
boyfriend
volunteering.”

The younger nurse seemed to perk up at the mention of a guy. “Oh, does he work here? Don’t tell me it’s Doctor Rivers!”

I shook my head. “He’s a patient. Interesting story, actually. He was just—”

“
Excuse us
.” My father took hold of my elbow with an iron grip, and began to pull me away. “It was lovely to meet you, but we must be on our way.” He dragged me around the corner before I was able to finally pull my arm free.

“The volunteer lie was ridiculous enough, but did you really have to throw Harvard in there, too?” I snapped. “Talk about overkill.”

“It was no lie,” he said. “You will be going to Harvard next semester. I cannot even bear to discuss how much this little European stunt you pulled has cost me. You are twenty-two years old, Reagan. It is time for you to start behaving like an adult.”

I scoffed. “You mean ‘behaving like a McKinley,’ don’t you? Because that’s who you want me to be, isn’t it? Your
perfect
daughter who does everything you want, no questions asked. Well, you already have one of those. Her name is Quincy.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “And, sorry to disappoint you, but Quinn and I are nothing alike.”

My father flexed his jaw and took a deep breath before responding. “Do not be difficult, Reagan. You are only making this harder on yourself.”

“THIS? There is NO
this
! Especially not after what you did to Dare! If you think I’m going to do anything for you then you’re out of your fucking mind. I have my own life now. One that doesn’t involve the McKinley name. I’ve already dropped Reagan and I’m strongly considering adopting a new last name. What do you think about Ree Wilde?”

I laughed at my father’s outraged expression. Truth be told, I’d never given marriage any thought. Dare and I had only just begun this journey toward a solid, stable relationship. We had a lifetime to contemplate where it was going.

I’d simply said it for shock value. And it clearly worked.

Game, set, and ma—

“That degenerate is going straight to prison.”

I laughed again because the man was CLEARLY insane. “For what? Getting almost killed by the convict that you released?”

“The boy has blood on his hands,” he said, his face stony. “Two bodies were found at the scene. The police suspect Daren Wilde Sr. but that can be changed with a simple phone call. So if you want your little fling to have a chance at freedom, you will do as I say. I am in the middle of my campaign for governor, and I need the entire family to present a united front.”

“You’re blackmailing me into playing house?” All laughter was gone. In its place was incredulity. “Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?”

“You are giving me no choice. I am done tolerating your juvenile games. McKinleys are conquerors—not
quitters
. Time to come home, Reagan.” He reached for me again, but I took a step back.

“It’s Ree. And I’m not going anywhere with you.” I would NOT let history repeat itself. I was done letting my father control me. “You don’t own me anymore,” I said coolly. “And there’s blood on your hands, too. Do you think your beloved fans would support your run for governor if they knew about all the filthy under-the-table dealings you’ve been involved in over the years? Not to mention, you’re the one who let that monster out of jail.
You
did this. And if you even dream of fucking with Dare, I’ll tell everyone what I know.” I pushed past him, but he caught my arm.

“You can’t prove it,” he said, squeezing hard.

I shook my head. “I don’t have to. Like you always told me, perception is king. If people
think
you did it, that’s all that matters.” I glanced down at his hand still gripping my arm. “And if you don’t think I’ll actually do it…
just try me
. Now let go of my arm.”

His eyes narrowed, but he released me, and I ran back to Dare’s room.

I paused outside his door, leaning against the wall for a moment to compose myself. Squeezing my eyes shut, I breathed deeply to stop the nausea rising up in me. All the adrenaline that had been coursing through my body during the fight with my father seemed to leave me at once, making my knees weak and my head spin.

Dare
was my first thought.

Pills
was my second.

Thank god the first one was stronger a thousand times over.

I could do this. I could be brave enough for both of us.

Even if it meant picking a fight with fucking Goliath.

six

M
y memory returned in pieces. Unwelcome, fragmented pieces of failure. I’d been stupid enough to go after my father unarmed, unprepared. Why hadn’t I anticipated the ambush? My hatred had blinded me and made me forget that I wasn’t dealing with a man, but an animal. My fear for my family’s safety had forced me to act in haste. But I’d just wanted him gone. Out of our lives once and for all.

I’d had something on him—enough to make him disappear. Of that, I was certain. Except, I couldn’t recall a single card I’d been holding that day. It had been a little over a week since I’d woken up, and the whole deck was still strewn all over the place, my ace nowhere in sight. My mind refused to cooperate, and my body was even more useless.

Especially my hand.

“Stop worrying, Dare,” my mom said when she caught me staring at the splint for the hundredth time today. “The doctor said the surgery was a success. You’ll be painting again in no time.”

She had a permanent smile tattooed on her pale lips. Her eyes, though, were as empty as when she used. Cleary, the fantasy land she was living in had unrealistic happy endings no matter what. But at least she was no longer calling me Daren. She never did after a trip to the hospital. For a while, at least.

“He hasn’t tried to contact you, has he?” I hated to ask, and I despised even more that I wasn’t sure I’d believe her answer.

She shook her head. “No. And even if he did, I wouldn’t…” She pressed her lips together, unable to finish the sentence.

We both knew she would. Because she
had
. Time and time again, she’d allowed him back into our lives. Even when four-year-old Dalia cried and begged her not to “let the scary man come home from the place bad people go to.” Even when seven-year-old Dax had suffered a broken arm while trying to be his strung-out mommy’s hero.

“You can’t let him intimidate you, mom,” I said. “You have to be strong this time or we’ll never be rid of him. I’ll find a way to send him back where he belongs. I promise.” I had something on him. I was sure of it. I just needed my fucking brain to catch up and remember
what
.

“You’ll find a way to send him to hell?” Dax arched an eyebrow from across the room.

“Hell would be Club Med for that monster,” Dalia said with a bitter laugh as she propped her legs up on a chair.

I pointed at the acting book in her hands. “You need to get back to California. Back to work and classes. Back to your own life.” Turning my gaze to Dax, I added, “And you’re not gonna have another record-setting year if you don’t get your ass on the field.” His body was constantly in motion, his hands restless for a football the way mine were for a paintbrush.

Dax cracked his knuckles and began pacing around the room. “No way. We’re not leaving you. Not with him out to get you. I’m no longer some little kid, Dare. I can help.” He fisted his hand and pointed it at me. “I can fight.”

“You have school,” I said. “There will be no fighting on anyone’s part. The police are taking care of things.” No one believed that, but it had to be said. There was no way in hell I would let Dax anywhere near our father. The prick fought dirty.

My mind chose this particular moment to mock me with snippets of the attack. Three of my father’s goons had jumped me before I even got to him. They’d ensured I was broken and unable to fight back before delivering me, so he could finish the job.

“The police?” Dalia snorted. “Yeah, right. Sure they are. The way they always take care of
things when his tainted money is involved.”

“Mom?” Dax looked to our mother for help. “We don’t have to go back, do we?”

“Well…” Her eyes widened as her gaze flitted between Dax and me. “Maybe they can stay a little longer.”

“This isn’t some slumber party, Mom. We’re dealing with real danger and real responsibility.” Something she knew very little about. She’d been high for half of my life. Keeping my siblings on track had always fallen to me—she wasn’t qualified to make this call.

“I have to go back to L.A. for a while,” Dash said from the doorway. “Take care of some…stuff.” He was back to scratching his wren tattoo. If I hadn’t done it myself, I’d think the damn thing was infected. “Why don’t you guys come back with me?”

“Great. It’s settled then.” I had no idea when or how my father would strike again. Once I got the twins out of New York, I’d have two less people to worry about as I tried to get my shit together.

I looked up at Ree. She stood next to Dash, a tray with four coffee cups in her hands. A soft smile was painted across her lips.

My heart ached. She’d been taken in by my family and accepted as one of us. It was like she’d been made not only for me, but for all of us, the way she fit in so easily. And she’d barely left my side since I’d woken up.

She was the light of my days and nights. I needed her with every beat of my heart.

I glanced down at my mangled hand, then back up at Ree again, worry washing over me.

My dad finding out about her scared me shitless…and I had no idea why.

I bite back a groan as he continues to pound on my face. There’s a sickening sound of bones shattering, but I’m unable to process the pain. My mind is numb, and my body has gone into shock. At least this way the sadistic prick isn’t getting the satisfaction of hearing me suffer.

“You think YOU can threaten ME, you piece of shit?” My father’s voice is strained and rough, and though one of my eyes is swollen shut, I can clearly see the veins in his temple and neck bulging. “Did you forget who I am?”

“You’re an old fuck,” I said through a mouthful of blood. “You were always a cheap fighter, but now you need others to do your dirty work because you can’t perform.” Those words earn me another hit across the jaw. There is something metal wrapped around his knuckles—a rusty chain that stings like a sonofabitch. I smile despite my busted lip. “That’s why you had your men string me up like some captured animal instead of facing me like a man.”