I laughed. “When have I ever sabotaged him? I have wanted nothing but to get away from him, but he always finds ways to keep me under his thumb, but not anymore. I’m tired of hoping one day he would be proud of me or treat me like a son and not some pawn he could control. I was so close to being out on my own and he had one of his police buddies book me for a DWI because he couldn’t stand me being out on my own. Father loves control and I wish you would see that.”
“You wouldn’t even know how to be out on your own. You will always need me, Nash,” my father laughed. “I did you a fucking favor.”
“A favor? A favor?! You ruined everything!” I yelled, seeing Iris flinch out of the corner of my eye. “I had brand deals, I was on my way to the championships, I was doing so fucking good before you ruined everything.”
“You would have failed like?—”
“Father, please tell me that’s not true,” Brooks interrupted our father.
“Brooks, you know your brother. All he does is cause trouble.”
“So, you gave him a DWI?” Brooks scowled. “He mentioned he had his suspicions it was you, but I dismissed him because I didn’t think you would do that to your own child. I defended you.”
“Brooks, it was bound to happen.” My father rolled his eyes. “Now give me that damn deed, Iris.”
“Iris get in the car and go home,” I said, ignoring my father, nodding at Beau who was already walking towards us with his bag.
“Nash, not without you,” she said, holding onto my forearm.
“I’ll be right behind you,” I said, pushing her towards the driver’s seat.
“No, get into the car with us?—”
“That deed belongs to us, do not make me call the police,” my father snarled, grabbing my arm.
I turned around immediately. “Call them, Father, not even they can help you out this time.” I yanked my arm out of his grasp.
“Brooks, call the cops,” my father ordered.
“Nash, maybe we?—”
“No, he will buy that land from you or someone else will,” I said, ignoring the arguing happening between my brother and father. “That land is yours. Archie gave it to you when he passed, and it has nothing to do with the farm.”
I helped Iris into the truck as Beau shut his door.
“Nash, I don’t want to leave you,” she said again, panic in her voice. “I don’t trust your father.”
“I don’t want to leave you either,” Beau said. “Get in the car, please.”
“Dad!” Brooks yelled.
“Leave before he does?—”
The sound of a gun clicking made me freeze.
“The deed, Iris.” My father’s voice was steady with no room for discussion.
“Don’t give it to him, Iris,” I said, as Iris’ eyes grew wide. “He’s bluffing.”
“Dad, what the hell are you doing?” Brooks yelled.
“We need that deed or the entire Yarbrough empire we’ve worked so hard on doesn’t survive.” My father sounded desperate. “So, hand that deed over, Iris, so I don’t have to shoot your husband.”
“You mean your son, you fucking psycho,” Iris said, getting out of the car.
“Iris get back into the car,” I snapped.
“Iris,” Beau yelled.
