by M T Stone
Ryan’s stress levels were already approaching a breaking point, and now he would have to deal with him. Saving Summer was one more piece of leverage that Carson would undoubtedly use to force his way back into their lives. Life would be so much easier if Olivia had avoided that one mistake in her youth. “Of all the people who could’ve rescued you . . .” he said out loud, stopping in mid-sentence.
“I know, but I’ve never been more relieved to see anyone in my entire life,” Summer replied, tears instantly flooding her eyes. “I was tied up in the back of the van. I would’ve been dead by now if they hadn’t found me when they did.”
Ryan immediately moved to her bedside, bent down, and gave her a hug. “I know. I’m sorry. Nothing matters other than the fact that you’re here and getting well. I’m more grateful than you will ever know. I just can’t stand that guy.”
“What about Dylan?” She pulled back, giving him a pleading look through tear-filled eyes.
“I kind of thought that Dylan was your version of Carson, and I didn’t want you to make the same mistakes.” He took his thumb and wiped a trail of tears from her cheek. “But he does seem like a better guy than his uncle. If you want to date him, I’ll try to get over it.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Summer closed her eyes, seeming exhausted by their conversation.
“You rest. I’m going to go check on your mother,” he replied, leaving her with a kiss on the cheek. “I love you, baby girl.”
Chapter 19
Olivia was greeted by a frustrated Carson when she answered his call. He had been trying to reach her all morning, but she hadn’t been paying attention to her phone. In her mind, not answering her phone had nothing to do with him. She had been completely focused on Summer during this critical time. After the latest interaction with her, she was breathing a bit easier, convinced that Summer would make a full recovery. It was now time to deal with Carson, who informed her that he was outside in the hospital parking lot. She hung up the phone and strode outside to have a much needed face-to-face conversation.
“I figured you guys were just going to ignore me,” Carson sulked as Olivia approached his vehicle. “Is she doing better?” Carson opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle wearing a snug T-shirt and a pair of blue gym shorts that hit in the middle of his muscular thighs. He had obviously chosen this combination to show off his most prized assets. It worked momentarily as her thoughts drifted in a direction that she had been consciously avoiding.
“Summer seems to be coming out of it,” she replied, shifting her eyes to his. “We weren’t avoiding you, but things have been a little crazy. They thought Summer might have had brain damage and that she would need to be sent out on a life-flight this morning.”
“Well, I’m really glad that she’s going to be okay,” he replied, giving her a sexy smile. “I’m not sure how things would’ve turned out if we hadn’t found her when we did.” He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, making her feel a bit uncomfortable.
“Thank you, Carson.” She paused momentarily. “I really mean it. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done. She means the world to me.” Tears immediately rolled down Olivia’s cheeks at the thought of how close she had come to losing her. “You probably can’t understand the depth of a bond between a mom and her child.”
“I know exactly how much she means to you,” he replied, squaring off with her and putting both arms around her. “That’s why I was so damn determined to find her.” Olivia sobbed against his shoulder, not saying anything more in return. “You know, that’s how I feel about you,” he continued. “I would literally put my life on the line for you.”
“Would you ease off a little bit, please?” Olivia pleaded, pulling back a bit. “My nerves are completely shot, I haven’t slept in days, and I just can’t handle anything more at the moment.” She wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand and gave him a pleading look.
“Gotcha.” He nodded his head while moving his hand up and down the length of her spine. She could instantly feel a change in his energy, as if he was shifting back to the dark side. It was something he always did when things weren’t going his way. “I heard a rumor that your husband doesn’t have the money to back up the reward he offered,” he said after a moment of silence.
“It’s not that he can’t get the money, but he would have to sell his interest in both oil businesses at a huge loss in order to raise the money right now.” She stood there in silence, her eyes cast downward at the pavement, waiting for his response.
“How long will that take?” he asked coldly.
“I don’t know,” Olivia replied honestly. Based on the current state of the oil industry, she knew he would have a hard time selling at any reasonable price. “If I had to guess, I’d say at least a month.”
“A month for what?” Ryan asked as he approached the two of them. Carson had been so focused on Olivia that he hadn’t noticed his approach.
Olivia spun around on her heel. “He was just asking about the reward money,” she replied, instantly feeling even more frazzled. “I should let the two of you discuss it. I’ll go check on Summer.”
“Why don’t you do that,” Ryan scoffed, letting her know that he wasn’t happy about finding her alone with Carson.
The tension that instantly exploded between the two men was just one of the reasons she had been avoiding him. She hated the fact that she was the primary source of all that tension, even though their rivalry dated back to well before her. She had always suspected that Ryan’s initial attraction to her had been partially due to the fact that she was Carson’s girlfriend. After all, she was the first blonde that he had ever dated, having always preferred brunettes. He claimed that her personality had won him over, but she had often wondered about that. Especially in recent years.
She glanced back at the two men as she entered the revolving door going back into the hospital. Both men were posturing, and she could just imagine the tone of the conversation. They still looked like a couple of testosterone-fueled teenagers. Some things would never change.
Carson reveled in the fact that he was able to put Ryan on the defensive with just a few words and a slap on the shoulder. He knew that Ryan thought that he had won the war between them. After all, he had been cashing all of those monthly oil checks in addition to ending up with the girl. Those two facts had fueled many of Carson’s best weightlifting sessions in the gym. He knew that he owed his incredible physique to the Marine Corps and his unresolved anger toward Ryan.
“I should’ve known better than to offer such a huge reward,” Ryan finally admitted, obviously succumbing to a moment of weakness. He looked down at his shoes as if he was seeking a little mercy from his long-time adversary. “I just wanted to do everything I could to get her back. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her and spending the rest of my life regretting the fact that I hadn’t done everything I could.”
“If you’re willing to give me a hundred-grand upfront, I’ll give you sixty days to come up with the rest,” Carson replied, showing his willingness to be reasonable. He had Ryan bent over, grabbing his ankles, and he wasn’t going to let him off the hook without a fight. If he thought that a sheepish look would cause a change of heart, then he was crazier than a two-peckered Billy goat.
“I could probably get you a quarter-million by the end of the month if you would settle for that,” Ryan countered, obviously still seeking to negotiate a deal.
“I’ve got a proposal for you. You don’t have to pay me a dime if you file for divorce.” Carson stared intently at Ryan, who now looked as if he had gone into shock. “See, now that’s something to think about,” he added after a couple of seconds’ silence.
“Honestly. I don’t even know how to respond to that,” he gasped, slapping a hand across his forehead as if Carson had completely blown his mind. “You think I would be willing to give up my wife for the money?”
“Well, you stole her from me nearly twenty years ago,
” Carson hissed. “I don’t really see a big difference.”
“The difference is that you walked away, leaving her broken-hearted, you stupid ass!” Ryan clenched his fist, looking as if he wanted to throw a punch. In Carson’s mind, that was the only way this confrontation could become even more gratifying. The last time the two of them had been in a fist fight was in high school, and Ryan had gotten the best of him. Carson had put on a ton of muscle since those days. Meanwhile, the only thing Ryan had grown was a belly and plenty of gray hair. “You’re not worth it,” Ryan seethed through clenched teeth, lowering his fist and turning away.
“You know you wouldn’t stand a chance. I’ve always wanted a rematch.” Carson reached out for his shoulder and spun him back around. “You know you sucker punched me last time!”
“Last time? You mean when we were in high school?” Ryan’s expression changed from anger to one of bewilderment or maybe even pity. “I’m sorry you’re still stuck in the past, living twenty years ago. Why haven’t you ever moved on with your life?”
“Olivia is the only woman I’ve ever loved,” Carson countered, completely pissed off by the idea of Ryan having pity on him. “You know you stole her from me.”
“You’re right.” Ryan threw his hands up in the air in obvious frustration. “I saw how distraught she was after you shipped out, and I may have taken advantage of that. In fact, I’ll also admit that I gave her a ring the day after hearing that you were coming home on furlough. But I married her because I love her. It had nothing to do with stealing her from you.”
“I knew the timing of your engagement wasn’t a coincidence. You were scared that she would take me back if she’d been given a choice,” Carson pressed, still trying to make a competition out of it. “She wasn’t even your type.”
“She’s beautiful, smart, and funny,” Ryan responded. “Isn’t that everyone’s type? She might not fit the mold of what I once envisioned as my dream girl, but once I got to know her, I fell in love.”
“So, after all these years, she’s still worth a million dollars?” Carson crossed his arms, staring at him smugly.
“I wouldn’t divorce her for all the money in the world.” Ryan shook his head, still stunned by the thought of it. “Maybe we should ask Olivia what she thinks about that idea.”
In a split second, Carson’s hand was around Ryan’s throat and he had slammed him up against the side of the SUV. “If you breathe a word of this conversation to her, it will be your last. And trust me, I’ll make it look like an accident.” Carson kept pressure against Ryan’s jugular vein and carotid artery until his knees began to buckle beneath him. “You don’t look so good, buddy. You might want to go in and get checked out.” Carson chuckled as he retracted his hand and left him struggling to regain his balance. “I’m going to go to meet with an attorney to discuss my options.”
“You don’t need to do that.” Ryan struggled to reply. “You’ll have your goddamn money within sixty days.”
“And I still want a hundred grand of it by the end of the week,” Carson added, opening the door to his SUV and climbing back inside. He continued to glare at Ryan as he started the engine and threw it into gear.
After Carson tore out of the parking lot, Ryan rubbed his throat, feeling as if his wind pipe had been partially crushed. He spent the next few minutes trying to clear his throat while struggling to comprehend all that had happened during the brief confrontation. Even more absurd than the fact that Carson had nearly strangled him was the suggestion that he would give up his wife in exchange for the reward money. Just as things were beginning to look better for his daughter, his marriage was once again coming under attack. He had to wonder if he would ever be rid of the man. He turned and staggered back toward the hospital entrance, still feeling a big lump in his throat.
“How did it go?” Olivia asked as he rejoined her in Summer’s room and slumped into an open chair. “I’m sorry I mentioned a timeframe to him. I honestly didn’t know what to say.”
“He was feeling charitable, so he gave me sixty days as long as I give him a hundred grand by the end of the week,” he replied, rubbing his neck. As he sat there watching his wife and daughter interacting with one another, he began to think about how quickly the last eighteen years had gone. She had already graduated from high school, and in a few days, she would be turning eighteen. It seemed like yesterday that she was jumping up in his recliner each evening and begging him to turn on Sponge Bob. It was one of the few cartoons that they both enjoyed watching together. Now, he rarely saw her except for when she stopped home to change clothes or ask for money.
He got up from the chair and walked over to the mirror, checking for marks on his neck. Other than being abnormally red, there was no sign of trauma. He paused, looking at how gray he had become. At first, he thought a touch of gray made him look distinguished, but now, it was taking over and making him look old. He needed to start taking care of his face too. He was getting lines around his mouth and crow’s feet that matched his father’s. After seeing the shape Carson was in, he could no longer use the excuse that he was too old to get back in shape. He made a silent promise that he was going to start working out right after Labor Day.
“You guys don’t have to buy me anything for my birthday this year,” Summer mentioned out of the blue.
“Why would you say that?” Olivia replied, sounding surprised by the statement. Summer normally wasn’t one to turn down a gift.
“I heard one of the nurses talking about the reward you guys have to pay for finding me. I’ll drive the old car for another year.” She squirmed to sit up in bed, looking over at her dad.
He turned from the mirror and walked over to the side of the bed. “We’ll see, pumpkin. If the asset sales go well, I’ll get you something better to drive,” he told her. “For now, all you need to worry about is getting well.”
“I can’t believe you think I’m worth a million dollars,” she spouted, still sounding a bit loopy from the pain pills. “That’s a lot of money to pay for a lippy teenager.”
“You and your mother are both worth many times that,” he replied, squeezing her cheek and looking over at Olivia. “I’ve been taking both of you for granted, but not anymore.”
Olivia stood there for a moment, smiling at the two of them before walking around the end of the bed. “Let’s walk down to the cafeteria and see if there is anything worth eating. Would you like anything?” she asked, turning to Summer.
“I would love some chocolate pudding. With lots of whipped cream.”
Olivia smiled and patted her on the leg, knowing that her daughter’s mind was indeed intact. Chocolate pudding with whipped cream had always been her favorite, so the fact that she had requested it without the slightest hesitation had to be a good sign. She reached for Ryan’s hand and led him out into the hallway. She glanced into the family room and saw that it was vacant, so she pulled him inside. “What did Carson say to you?” She gave him an inquisitive look.
“What do you mean?”
“I just saw that look on your face when you said we were both worth more than a million dollars. That was more than a mere statement.” She squeezed his hand and looked him directly in the eyes.
“Let’s just say this whole experience has been an awakening for me.” He reached over and grabbed her other hand. “I have always loved you, but I think these past few days have made me realize just how empty my life would be without the two of you. I want to try harder.”
“We both need to try harder,” Olivia agreed. “It’s not just you. We have both taken each other for granted for a long time. The stress caused by the oil collapse and the death of my parents seems to have driven us apart when we should’ve been there to support each other.”
“I’ve spent way too much time and money trying to make more of it, and in the end, it’s probably going to cost me everything,” he replied with a discouraged look on his face. “I’m sorry that we’ll basically be starting over again in our forties.”
/>
“If that’s the worst thing that ever happens to us, I’ll consider myself fortunate.” Olivia slipped her arms around his waist and pulled him to her. It had been far too long since either of them had talked about their feelings. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time. Still feeling that lump in his throat, he made a silent promise to do whatever it took to make Olivia happy and keep Carson at bay. He, too, was capable of making it look like an accident.
Chapter 20
Dylan awoke to the sound of a slamming door. He squinted at his phone and saw that it was a few minutes past one, so he had managed to crash for a few hours after returning from the police station. Based on the loud noises emanating from the kitchen, he assumed that Carson was home as well. His mother would never slam the cupboard doors like that.
He rolled out of bed, grabbed his shirt from the back of a chair, and ran his fingers through his hair to get rid of the bed-head. He even thought about shaving, but after glancing in the mirror, he decided he liked the look of his five-day beard. It made him look even more masculine than usual, especially with his new short haircut. He had always let his hair grow too long in the past, but he went short when the weather turned warm. Besides, with all the gains he had made at the gym, the short haircut made him look like a real man.
“What’s up, little guy?” Carson asked him as he walked into the kitchen, always seeming determined to knock him down a peg.
“I’m two inches taller than you and I’m huge compared to what you looked at my age,” Dylan replied with a smirk. “You were like a hundred and fifty pounds when you joined the Marines. I’m surprised they even let you in.”
“I was one hundred forty-eight pounds when I weighed in for basic training,” he confirmed. “I’ve packed on fifty pounds of muscle since that day and actually have the same body fat percentage now. Few thirty-nine-year-olds can say that.”
