My own anger bloomed. “No, I’m not.”
“I trusted him, and he violated you. I’m going to ruin him.”
Panic flared in my gut. “No, you can’t.” I wasn’t sure what he could do, but I knew this was exactly what Mo was afraid of. I had to wonder why Mo didn’t call me to tell me he’d been here. Had he told my dad, or had the reporter, or Stark?
Surely, Mo would have told me if he was coming out here to make a confession to my father. The fact that he didn’t suggested he was blindsided like I was. It also made me think that since his worst fear came true, he was done with me. Whether my father forgave him or not, Mo wouldn’t feel right being with me in these circumstances.
Tears formed as I realized I’d been so close to having what I wanted, and now it was ripped away.
“He’ll pay for this, Brooke, with God as my witness. Thank God your mother isn’t here to know about this.”
I wished she was here as she’d know what to do. I started down the steps with the intention of finding Mo.
“Where are you going?” my father called.
“I need to talk to Mo.”
“You will not go back there, Brooke. I forbid it.”
I whirled on him. “I’m a grown woman, Dad. You can’t forbid me.”
“If you go back there, I’m going to expose him.”
I was going to say he’d already threatened to ruin Mo, but then I got the idea that perhaps I could protect Mo.
God, my heart broke at what I was about to do. “I won’t go to him if you promise to leave him alone.”
“He needs to pay. People in this town need to know he’s a predator. That he’s willing to use his friends to get at their daughters.”
“Good God, Dad. I seduced him. I threw myself at him.”
“Stop!”
“If you expose him, I’ll tell the truth, and the whole town will know that I asked the mayor to touch me,” I said, hating to say that, knowing it would hurt and embarrass him. But it was the truth. I’d made the first move on Mo four years ago.
My father fumed, and for a minute, I thought he might stroke out.
“You leave him alone, and I’ll stay away from him.” I felt sick at having to make that deal, but knowing Mo, he was already planning to stay away from me, so I didn’t have much choice. “What will it be, Dad? The town thinks I’m a skank, or you leave Mo alone.”
He pointed a finger at me. “You’re not to go back there.”
“I won’t go to his house. I do have to go to work.”
My father’s jaw tightened, and he looked out over the land for a moment. “He’ll be out soon, anyway.” He turned back to me. “I’ve called Jeannette about getting you unhitched from him.”
“What?” Oh God. Now for sure he won’t get the rest of his inheritance.
“That was the plan, anyway. The sooner you’re free of his influence, the sooner you can go on living your life, sweetheart.” My father huffed out a breath like he was calming down.
Me? I was just getting started. “You’re ruining my life. I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”
“And you need to decide that this is the right course of action. Mo is not the man for you. I’ve agreed to leave him be if you let him go. That means divorce, and you have to stay away from him.”
I stared at the man I loved so much, and yet right now, I hated him. I hated that he couldn’t see the pain he was causing me. Or maybe he didn’t care.
“I know you feel betrayed by Mo, but blame me, Dad.”
He shook his head, refusing to hear my plea. “You were an innocent young woman.”