She nodded.
I stopped, thinking maybe I should tell Brooke before I spoke to her father. “Is Ms. Campbell in her office?”
“I haven’t seen her,” Trina said. “She usually likes to go to the coffee place up the street.”
I nodded as I thought about what I should do.
“Is there something you want me to tell her?” Trina asked.
“Ah…no. Thanks.” I left the mayor’s office and headed to my car. I drove out to Frank’s place, trying to work out in my head what I’d tell him. By the time I pulled into his drive, I still had no clue as to what I should say.
“Here goes nothing…everything,” I said under my breath as I exited my car.
Frank burst through the door holding his shotgun. I stood and realized I was too late. Stark must have called him. And Frank believed him.
“Get off my property before I castrate you with my shotgun,” he bellowed.
Instinct had me holding my hands up. “Frank…let me explain.”
“Explain how you took advantage of my baby girl? I didn’t want to believe it, and yet, here you are, admitting it.”
“She’s not a child,” I said, wincing that perhaps that wasn’t the right answer.
“She’s my child. I trusted you, you asshole.” He waved the gun, and I flinched.
“I care for her, Frank. I really do.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Jesus, you’re like her uncle. What sort of pervert are you?”
I shook my head. “I’m not her uncle, Frank. I…I’m in love with her.” Part of me felt like I should have told her that before Frank killed or maimed me.
“Bullshit. You’re getting your rocks off. You promised this was a marriage on paper only. You fucking liar.”
I shook my head but didn’t explain that I’d never made such a promise. I thought about reminding him that she was my wife, but that seemed like a guaranteed way to get my dick blown off.
“I didn’t set out for this to happen. It just did. She’s a smart, beautiful woman, Frank.”
“You don’t talk about my girl. You hear me.” He waved the gun again. “I knew I should have taken Stark’s money. I sold my daughter to you, and I’ll have to live with that. But now it’s done, Mo. When I’m done with you, you’ll be nothing. You’ll have nothing.”
I wondered if he knew about the part of the trust that said I’d have to pay the money back.
“Frank—”
“Get out. This is your last warning. I’m well within my rights to shoot trespassers on my property.”
I nodded. “Okay, Frank.” I moved back toward my car. I’d come to do w
hat I intended, and it didn’t go well, just as I was afraid it wouldn’t. In his shoes, I’d probably react the same way. I needed to talk to Brooke and let her know what was going on.
I got into the car and backed out, keeping one eye on Frank in case he changed his mind and decided to kill me after all. I couldn’t go back to the office yet, so I headed home. From my home office, I called Trina.
“Is Brooke in?” There was no reason to keep up airs of formality by calling her Ms. Campbell now.
“She was, but then she got a call from her father and rushed out,” Trina said. “It seemed serious.”
It was nearly life and death for me, I thought. “Thank you. I’m at my home office right now if you need me.”
“Is everything alright?” she asked.