Take Down

by Mallery Malone

  His friends were apparently also keen on the possibilities. Lunch with Renata and Macy at Macy’s causal bistro Lovelace became a triple date when Raphael, Sebastian, and Gabriel took a break from corporate domination to join them. They’d laughed about it, of course, and agreed that his friends’ blatant setups shouldn’t be counted as official dates. But as he’d escorted her back to her hotel room the last two evenings, as he’d kissed her good night with the same overwhelming thoroughness he’d demonstrated on the yacht before saying good night and walking away, she couldn’t help wishing that all of the dates were real dates, leading to something more.

  The room phone rang, breaking into her reverie. “Yes?”

  “Ma’am, this is Donovan Lane, the assistant manager. I apologize for disturbing you, but there are some visitors down here for you.”

  Kari frowned. She had a travel alias that she used and changed frequently. Everyone that she knew and wanted to talk to had her personal cell phone number. Her publicist had set up some phone interviews, but those went through a teleconference line. Macy had her cell phone number, but she wasn’t due to meet her friend until later. “I’m not expecting any visitors today, Mr. Lane.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I understand that, ma’am.” A pleading edge filtered into the manager’s voice. “However, the gentleman is being particularly insistent.”

  She heard raised voices coming through the line, one familiar one in particular. She groaned. The last thing she wanted was a family reunion, but by extending her stay in New Orleans, she’d all but guaranteed that her father would make demands to see her. It was best to get the meeting over with and send him back across the lake as soon as possible.

  “Thank you. I’ll send someone down to escort my father up.”

  “Of course, ma’am. We’ll see to it right away.”

  Karina set aside her guitar and notepad, then reached for her cell phone. Daniel answered on the first ring. “Is everything all right?”

  “My father is in the lobby, being … well, my father,” she answered with a humorless laugh. “Is Henny with you?”

  “I’ll send him down to the lobby immediately. Do you want to see Mr. Armistead?”

  No, she didn’t. There were worse things than talking to her father—or rather, listening while her father railed at all her supposed shortcomings—but it was a small list. “If I don’t get this over with, he’ll just make things worse. I don’t need him going to the press and acting like I did him wrong for refusing to see him.”

  “I’ll have Henderson bring him up to your room. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

  She disconnected, relieved and slightly chagrined that she needed her bodyguards present to talk to her father. Neither man liked her father, and Peyton Armistead had done little to change their opinion over the last few years. They’d had occasion to see Peyton Armistead in all his righteous fury and she knew they wouldn’t hesitate to take him down if she gave the word.

  Problem was, she was never able to speak that word. She might not have forgiven him for what he did to her and Gabriel, but the man was still her father. She still owed him the lip service of respect.

  The click of the lock signaled Daniel’s arrival. “How do you want to play this?” he asked as he entered.

  Karina looked around the serene sitting area. She would have preferred to meet her father in some public setting, but seeing as how none of their infrequent conversations ended without a diatribe, she’d have to deal with the hit to her serenity.

  “No more than half an hour,” she finally said. “We can fake a phone call or an appointment. You guys need some time off before we head out to dinner, and I’ll need time to decompress.”

  “You shouldn’t do this at all. It never goes well.”

  “I know,” she answered, exhausted already as she returned her guitar to its case and placed it out of harm’s way. “Maybe we should skip dinner with Gabriel’s friends and go down to Bourbon Street for hurricanes and some blues.”

  Daniel snorted. “He’d show up. Hell, knowing him, he’d be there before we arrived.”

  “True.” The thought made her smile.

  A knock at the door had her gut tightening with anxiety she tried not to feel. She planted herself in the center of the room then nodded to Daniel. He opened the door then stood aside as her father swept into the room followed by her brother, Paul, with Henderson taking up the rear.

  Her father must have been a striking man once. How else could she explain why her lighthearted mother had given up her burgeoning opera career to marry him? For Karina’s entire life, Peyton Armistead had always been a stern man who rarely showed softer emotion. After his wife died, he’d become worse.

  “Paul.” She greeted her brother first, giving him a warm hug. “It’s good to see you.” She stepped back, then faced her father. “Hello, Father.”

  Peyton Armistead frowned at her. “You’ve been in New Orleans for almost a week, yet never once attempted to contact your family. I suppose your singing career is more important than family?”

  “Taking the gloves off already?” Karina asked with dark humor. “I thought you’d at least wait until refreshments arrived. Besides, I seem to recall you putting business before family my entire childhood.”

  “You didn’t complain about the clothing and gadgets you were able to have thanks to that business. Show a little respect.”

  “I’m painfully aware of everything you did for me, Father,” she murmured as she sank into a side chair, leaving the sofa to him and Paul. “I haven’t forgotten a thing.”

  The coffee service arrived then, and they spent a tense silence preparing their drinks. Daniel moved to stand beside her chair, while Henderson took a position opposite the coffee table facing her father. They shifted to what she called “standby mode,” where it seemed like they weren’t paying attention but were actually aware of every movement that everyone made. They’d protect her from any physical challenge. Unfortunately, no one could protect her from emotional harm.

  “What brings you to New Orleans?” she asked, ready to get the family reunion over and done. “It’s not like either of you to take a workday off.”

  Peyton Armistead cut to the chase. “I saw some disturbing pictures of you and that Devereaux boy. I heard that you’re dating him again.”

  “You heard wrong,” she replied calmly. “What you should have heard is that I donated a date to a fund-raiser, and Gabriel Devereaux had the winning bid.”

  Peyton Armistead’s expression sharpened with distaste. “So now you’re offering yourself to the highest bidder like a common—”

  “Sir.” Henderson stepped closer to Karina’s father. “I can’t have you speak to my employer with so much disrespect.”

  Peyton tried to ignore her bodyguard, but Henny was six feet six and topped three hundred pounds. Satellites could spot him from space. “I’ll speak to my daughter any way I choose!”

  “Then I’ll have to ask you to leave, sir.”

  Her father turned to her, his expression one of disdain. “Is it too much to ask that I speak with my daughter without an audience?”

  “Yes,” Karina answered. “It is too much to ask.”

  “Dad.” Paul touched his father’s arm. “Remember why you’re here.”

  “Yes, Father,” Karina said. “Get to the point of why you’re here. Though I have to say, if it’s about Gabriel or money, you can leave now.”

  “You were always an ungrateful, headstrong girl,” her father declared. “You sent your mother to an early grave with your antics.”

  “What antics?” she shot back. “She gave up her opera career to marry you and become a businessman’s wife. I wanted to become an opera singer because of her. But you ruined that, just like you ruined my relationship with Gabriel.”

  Peyton Armistead leveled a finger at her. “You stay away from him. He’s a bad seed from a bad tree.”

  “How would you know?” she countered. “You never gave him a chance
!”

  Her father shot to his feet, his face reddened with rage. “I will not have my daughter involved with that man!”

  “That man is more honorable than you’ll ever have the chance to know,” Karina said, shaking with anger. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m no longer sixteen. You haven’t controlled any part of my life in more than a dozen years. I’m not going to let you dictate who I see, or what I do.” She rose. “I think it’s time for you to go.”

  “We’re losing the company,” Paul announced before Henderson and Daniel could guide them to the door.

  “What do you mean, you’re losing the company?”

  Peyton puffed himself up again. “Your family’s legacy—”

  “Dad, please,” Paul said, his voice tired. He’d always had to play referee between Karina and their father. Peyton had never raised a hand to any of them, but why would he use his fists when his words were more potent?

  Paul turned to her. “The company’s being taken over,” he said quietly. “We no longer own majority stake in Armistead Manufacturing. The holding company that does wants to push Dad out as CEO. If he doesn’t step down, they’ll break the company up and sell it off.”

  Karina glanced at her father. From the set expression on his face, she already knew the answer to the question she was about to ask. “So he’d rather destroy the company than step down as CEO?”

  “Armistead Manufacturing has been in existence since the dawn of the Industrial Age,” her father blustered. “An Armistead has always headed the company. I will not give up our livelihood because some foreign investor wants to make a point!”

  “What about the livelihood of everyone who works for you?” Karina asked. “Don’t they matter?”

  Peyton waved a hand. “Of course they do. That’s why I’ve come to you as a last resort. You could save the company and preserve our family’s legacy. If you weren’t so stubborn, this wouldn’t be an issue.”

  “Dad.” Paul sighed. He looked far older than his thirty-two years. Karina remembered what it was like to have her father as a daily presence in her life and was suddenly oddly grateful that he’d ruined their relationship years ago. She’d gotten out and stayed out. Paul had had a brief respite while at college, but he’d returned home and never left.

  “What does the board say?” Karina said, directing her question to her brother.

  “The board wants to preserve the company,” he explained. “They gave Dad a week to come up with an alternate plan. He only has a couple of days left.”

  Which was why her father had made the trip to New Orleans to see her, but couldn’t get past his blind anger toward Gabriel and her relationship with him. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t do what he wanted.

  “I’m sorry.” Karina shook her head. “I know the company is important to you both, but I agree with the board. Armistead Manufacturing is more important than one man, even if that man is an Armistead. It will be better to keep the company intact and protect the employees.”

  Peyton didn’t even look at her as he headed to the door. “I knew this was futile. It was Paul’s suggestion that we approach you, but you are a disappointment as always. An Armistead would do whatever it took to protect our legacy. Sometimes I wonder if you’re even my daughter.”

  Karina gasped, taking a step back. Her father had always been harsh, but this took it to a whole new level.

  Daniel and Henderson were already hustling her father out the door. Paul gave her a sad look. “I’m sorry, Kari,” he said, reaching out to her. “He doesn’t mean it, you know that. He’s just been under a lot of stress lately.”

  “He means it,” she said thickly. “He always means it. He just forgets that he says it or thinks it doesn’t hurt us.”

  She looked at her brother. “I’m sorry you’re caught in the middle, Paul, but I can’t let him do this to me anymore. He’s my father and I love him, but I don’t like him all that much.”

  “I understand,” Paul said. “I’m sorry he did that to you. You don’t deserve it. Gabriel Devereaux doesn’t either. I’ll try to talk to Dad, make him see reason. At least, I’ll try to find out why he’s so antagonistic toward your guy.” He walked out.

  Daniel and Henderson immediately came to her side. “Are you all right?”

  She forced a nod, then dredged up a smile. “I guess it’s a good thing I dropped my last name for professional reasons, right?”

  Henderson, sweet, kindhearted Henderson, actually growled. “I’m not gonna let him near you again.”

  “That’s probably for the best.” She rubbed her arms, needing warmth, needing comfort. “You know, I think I’m going to stay in instead.”

  “You could come to my mama’s house, Ms. Karina,” Henny suggested. “You know she’d love to have you.”

  Henny’s mother was the sweetest woman she’d ever known, with a laugh as big as her heart and a firm belief that happiness came from food, fellowship, and family, blood or chosen. As much as Karina wanted to be caught up in one of Mrs. Henderson’s back-cracking hugs, she couldn’t summon the energy needed to be Karina. Right now she was just Kari, and Kari wanted to crawl under her blankets for a good cry.

  “I’ll take a rain check on that,” she assured them. “I need a veg-out night. I’m going to stay in, order room service, and rent some movies. You guys should take the night off. I’ll call you if I need you.”

  She shooed them out the door then crossed the suite to her bedroom, stepping out of her skirt before crawling beneath the bedcovers. Years ago she’d given up on trying to understand the source of her father’s anger. Yet she always carried a secret hope that one day they would reconcile, that he’d be pleased with her and for her, that he’d be proud. That hope shriveled in her chest and died in a burst of pain.

  Hugging a pillow close she finally gave in to the tears, vowing that this time would be the last time she’d cry over her relationship with her father.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Gabriel stalked down the hallway to Karina’s hotel suite, not surprised to find Daniel standing outside her door. “What happened?”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know already—you’ve got eyes all over this city.”

  Gabriel didn’t bother denying it. “Was it bad?”

  Disgust rolled across Daniel’s face. “The usual Peyton Armistead dog-and-pony show yanked up a notch because of your charity dates. Full of criticism of her, of you, and the biggest superiority complex I’ve ever seen—and I’ve been around some of the biggest egos out there. Then he has the nerve to demand money from her as if it’s his due.”

  He gave Gabriel a flat stare. “I’m only telling you this because I dislike you less than I do her father. You don’t pass the smell test, in my opinion. But Ms. Karina defended you to him, so she obviously sees something in you that the rest of us don’t.”

  Gabriel clenched his jaw. He didn’t give a damn what Daniel or anyone else thought of him. Only one person’s opinion had ever mattered to him, and she was on the other side of a hotel room door, hurting because her bastard of a father had a huge fucking chip on his shoulder for Gabriel. He needed to deal with Peyton Armistead once and for all, but taking care of Karina came first. “I need to see her.”

  “Not angry, you don’t,” Daniel said bluntly. “So calm the hell down or you’re not getting through that door.”

  Gabriel spun to the bodyguard. “Don’t let the suit fool you. I only fight fair in a sanctioned fight. You want to keep using that hand to jerk off, you’ll back the fuck up.”

  Daniel stood his ground. “Don’t let my suit fool you, Devereaux. I only fight dirty. Ms. Karina gave this ex-con a chance when nobody else would. I owe her everything and I will protect her and hers with my dying breath.”

  “Good to know.” Gabriel grinned. “I’m glad Karina has someone like you in her corner. That kind of loyalty is hard to come by. Maybe before this is over, you and Henderson can come down to Hard Knocks Gym and work out with me and my team.”
<
br />   Daniel shook his head as he extracted a key card from his pocket. “You are some kind of crazy, but I think she needs you right now. Just don’t hurt her. If you do, there won’t be enough of you left to identify.”

  Gabriel didn’t bother to answer, focusing instead on getting to Karina. He’d been worried when he received the call from Hotel du Mont’s security. Right on the heels of that Macy had called him saying Karina canceled their meet-up and planned to stay in for the night. It didn’t take much to realize that Kari’s meeting with her father had been antagonistic.

  Damn Peyton Armistead. What the hell gave him the right to treat Kari so badly? She had the sweetest soul of anyone Gabriel had ever known, an inner light that that had instantly attracted him.

  “Kari?” he called as he stepped into the darkened suite, fighting to keep his voice gentle. “Kari, it’s Gabriel. I just want to make sure that you’re okay, sweetheart.”

  “I’m in here.” She shuffled into the doorway leading to the dimly lit bedroom, wearing only a pair of pale blue bikini panties and a white camisole that showed off her long legs, bare midriff, and luscious cleavage. She’d pulled her dark hair into a loose braid that lay over her right shoulder. It was her face, however, that captured his attention.

  She’d been crying. Anger swamped him as he took notice of the tears drying on her cheeks, the way she hugged herself as if trying to contain the pain. The urge to find her father and beat a lesson into the man burned through Gabriel but he forced the rage down, concentrating on Kari. She needed someone to be there for her. She needed someone to care.

  God help him, he wanted to be that someone.

  “Babe.” In two strides he crossed to her, scooping her up and carrying her back into the dim bedroom. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You know?” She buried her face against his throat, sending a bolt of lust shooting through him that contrasted sharply with his desire to protect her. “Of course you know. You probably have a guy staked out in the lobby. My father was loud enough for Nashville to know by now.”