“I had nothing to do with that. I wanted to come and see you when you were in the hospital, but I didn’t think you’d want to see me. I was so worried. Are you okay now?”
“Yes.”
“I hated to think about you alone in there.”
“I wasn’t alone. Hawk was with me.”
“Hawk?”
“My…boyfriend. I’m living with him now after Desiree tried to burn down my cabin with me in it.”
“What?”
“Yeah. It happened right after I got out of the hospital. I know she drugged me at the bar, then you came. What happened after that?”
“I demanded to see my daughter. She refused just like all the other times.”
“What did she want you to do?” Lucky figured there was always some angle Desiree was playing with everyone.
“What she always wanted. For me and her to raise Krystal together. To show you that she took me from you and we had some happy life together.”
Lucky couldn’t even fathom her making that proposition to the man she’d blackmailed and raped. “Saying she has a screw loose doesn’t even cover half the crazy she’s got going on.”
“Tell me about it. Which is why you’re never going to prove she did anything.”
“I don’t need to prove it. I’m going to get her to confess.”
Neil shook his head. “She’s too smart for that.”
“I think she wants to brag about what she’s done to me. How she got away with it. How nothing and no one can touch her.”
“She’ll be suspicious as fuck. And a recording won’t be admissible. Montana is a two party state. You’d be breaking the law if you recorded her without consent.”
“I don’t plan to record her, just to get her to confess in front of the right witness.”
“You’ll only get one shot at it. If she figures it out, you’ll never get another chance.”
“I know. But it’s worth the risk. Either way, I’m going to get all of this out in the open between us. No more lies and manipulations. No more attempts on my life. I’ll know she’s coming and she’ll know I’m expecting it and looking for any evidence to take her down.”
“I’m happy to help in any way I can without breaking the terms of my parole. I can’t go back. Not ever again.” Pain and fear flashed in his eyes.
She couldn’t imagine prison had been anything other than a nightmare for him. “Maybe we can use that to our advantage as well.”
“I just want to end her reign of terror and have a real chance to be a part of my daughter’s life.”
“We’re owed some real justice and I plan to get it one way or another.”
Neil rested his forearms on his thighs and looked her in the eyes. “Are you happy?”
Her smile came so easily when she thought about Hawk. “Very. And it’s all because I found someone who really cares about me.”
Hawk and Lincoln stepped out from opposite sides of the shelves and closed in on her and Neil.
She smiled up at Hawk as he stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder. “This is Hawk, and his brother Lincoln.”
“Watching her back, I see.” Neil stood and held his hand out to Hawk. “I’m glad she has someone who puts her first.”
“Always.” Hawk shook his hand. “I thought you were the bad guy. Now I see you were trying your best to save her in a shitty situation.”
