Debt

"Let's not bother with pleasantries," he said, his voice dark, lethal.

"Look, I get you're pissed. But it was in the best interest not only for you and me, but your daughter too."

"I'm not talking about treatment. We all know that was long overdue, St. James."

"Then what is it?"

"You seriously think there is any God damn universe in which you could possibly deserve to put your hands on my daughter?"

"Mack..." I said, shaking my head. How the fuck he got wind of what was going on was completely beyond me, but I intended on finding out where I had a leak, that was for damn sure.

"No, Byron," he cut me off. "Don't. Don't you dare try to tell me it's none of my business or insult me by trying to convince me it hasn't taken place. I might be a lot of things, but I'm not stupid. And I get that Prudence is a grown woman and she can choose who she wants to be with. Normally, I don't step in. And, let me tell you, she's dated who I am convinced were the most bland and boring men this world has to offer. But those were her choices, so I kept my opinions to myself. But not this time. Not you. You can't have her."

"I don't think you under..."

"Don't. Just don't. I know what kind of man you are, Byron. I might like to sit at your tables, but that doesn't mean my focus doesn't drift elsewhere. I've seen you down on that floor, every single night leaving with a different woman. And I get it. You're a man. You're successful. You're busy. I get it." He fisted his hands on my desk, leaning half over it, and it was the only time I had seen a side of Mack that wasn't fun and jovial, charming, and carefree. This wasn't Mack, the gambler. It wasn't even Mack, the ladies man. Hell, it wasn't even Mack, the down on his luck fool. This was Mack, the father. I'd never seen something so fierce in my life. It was right then that I learned where Prue got it from- her loyalty, the strength of her love. She got it from her father. "But. Not. My. Fucking. Daughter," he enunciated carefully, making each word its own sentence.

I sat back, keeping my tone calm, knowing what I was about to say wasn't going to go over well. "I can't undo what has been done, Mack."

His eyes closed for a second as he exhaled hard. When his eyes opened, they were fire. "End it."

"Look, I know she's your daughter and you want to prot..."

"I've done a shit job of taking care of her. Her entire life has been stunted by her taking care of me and my problems. Now, Prue being Prue, kept those cards close to her chest. She's the best God damn bluffer I have ever come across. But that night in your office, she laid it out and I saw all the ways I have failed her in her life. So I took the opportunity to go away and fix it, get my head and life straight, be a better man... for her. I won't fail her again. Letting this little... fling... go on, that would be me failing her yet again. You aren't good for her. You'll do nothing but hurt her, Byron. You know it and I know it. She deserves so much fucking better."

At that, a clear image of her sad, lost face that morning flashed across my eyes. It hadn't lessened, let alone gone away. She was unhappy. And, somehow, I had a part in that. When she came into my house, she hadn't exactly been happy, but she hadn't been wholly unhappy either. On the trip in Florida, I had seen a hint of happy. But it was gone. And I had no fucking idea what I had done to make that happen.

I knew myself. I knew that, while my intentions toward Prue were good, that my actions might not always make that clear. I was a dick without realizing it at times. She absolutely deserved better, but I was probably too selfish to let her go just because it was right.

"You're out of your mind," I heard Prue's voice say, coming in from the front door, plastic bags from the shopping trip rustling.

"Prue," I called, watching Mack before looking toward the doorway to see Prue move inside.

Her eyes went to me immediately, as they always did, before they shifted. She stopped moving instantly, her mouth falling open, her perfect blue eyes going wide. "Dad?"

"Dear Prudence," he said back, all the viciousness out of his voice. His face had what seemed to be a tentative smile and I guessed that was likely due to the emotional ordeal that had been their last encounter.