“She would’ve done anything in her power to protect Geraldine! She was her favorite anyway. Rick and I had a discussion through our attorneys, and he was more than happy with five million bucks because the money was going to help him stay afloat. He didn’t give a fuck about his daughter.”
Bile rose, and Dane breathed harshly through his nose. “You knew all that and you were still going to make her your mistress?”
“Who said anything about her being my mistress?” Salazar gestured violently with his hands. “I’m not interested in her that way.”
“Then what? You took her in—”
“She asked for a place to stay!”
“—flaunted her in my face. What was your plan then?”
“I’m going to marry her.”
Dane stared at his father, feeling like somebody had just delivered a kick to his head. “Are you out of your mind?”
Salazar gave him a dangerous smile. “No, not just yet. Sophia isn’t the type to take my money. I already considered offering her some. But marriage….that would be different. Respectable. I’m old, and I’ll probably die soon enough. That would leave her young and oh so rich. Unlike Rick, I’ve been judicious with my investments.” Salazar placed both fists on his desk and leaned forward. “She’ll be a Pryce, not that loser Rick’s daughter. The name, even if she marries into it, will open a lot of doors for her. Especially combined with wealth, youth and beauty.”
“That’s your brilliant plan?” Dane was shaking so hard, he could barely get the words out. “How can you even attempt to say that you’re doing it for her?”
“My plan’s a hell of a lot better than yours. What are you going to do for her? Keep her in that dead-end job that pays like shit? Buy her things until you get bored of fucking her?” Salazar laughed. “Or are you going to marry her, now that you know? Do the honorable thing? That might work…except who’s going to believe that you, Dane Pryce, Mr. Permafrost, Mr. Emotional Glacier, would be capable of caring enough for a woman to actually want to marry her?
“And when Sophia learns the truth—and she probably will, because the truth has a way of coming out—she’ll hate you forever. Then you can see what it’s like to go through the divorce of the century.” He took a swig of scotch. “Hopefully, I’ll be dead before that happens.”
Dane clenched his hands, but still he couldn’t stop the tremors running through him. Jesus. Fuck. Fuck! “I’d call you a son of a bitch, but that would be demeaning to your mother.”
“Call me whatever makes you feel better. I’m not the one who shattered a young girl’s lifelong dream trying to make a light!” Salazar spread his arms, then chugged down the rest of his scotch.
Dane’s nails dug into his palms until it hurt. “Shut your fucking mouth! The only reason I haven’t destroyed you is Shirley.”
All the nasty mirth vanished from Salazar’s face. “You already have…the moment you were conceived. It destroyed everything!”
Fury exploded in Dane’s chest. He picked up a white porcelain ballerina and flung at his father. It shattered a foot away from the target. “You should’ve told her to abort me then! If no clinic would do the job, there were wire hangers!”
“Believe me, I regret not doing that every day of my life! If I had, I would’ve been happier, freer, without the woman who never wanted anything but my money. So yes, next time, I’m going to be with a woman I actually want to leave my fucking money to, even if it’s your damn mistake I’m cleaning up!”
The report still clutched in his hand, Dane spun around and left the study. He had to get the hell out before he did something he’d regret. Like murder his own fa—
Sophia was in the hall. Her eyes were wide as she stared at him.
Apprehension slithered down his spine like an icy snake. “How much did you hear?” he asked, his lips barely moving.
“I…” Her throat worked. “Just…some yelling.” But the glassy look in her eyes said she was lying.
He walked past her to Al, who was standing there, his face pale but impassive otherwise.
“Send my things to my penthouse,” Dane said.
“Yes, sir.”
Dane made his way down the stairs, wanting to rip the portraits from the walls, wanting to tear the bannister from the staircase and use it to beat his father to death. He couldn’t stay in this house a moment longer.
“Dane!” Sophia called out. “Wait!”
He didn’t stop. “Don’t come to the office tomorrow,” he yelled over a shoulder and jumped into his car.