“Your father wants you to be good men. He’s asking you to show your mother that you are,” Sherman added.
“So, even in death, Father wants us to jump through hoops?” Ace snapped.
“No, son, even in death your father wants you to grow into the men you are meant to be,” Evelyn told them.
“I don’t need his stupid money. I have plenty of it that he’s already given me and besides that I have my own plans. If he thinks I’m such a screwup, then he can keep it all,” Cooper thundered.
“Agreed,” Nick snapped.
“I’m not doing anything because someone is trying to force it upon me,” Maverick said, joining his brothers.
“If he thinks we’re such screwups, he can go to hell,” Ace said, pushing it a bit too far.
“Ace . . .” Coop whispered.
“Save it, Cooper. You’re always trying to be the leader, but this is crap. Yeah, I’m the baby of the family, but that just means that I’ve had to try to make up for every mistake that you guys have already made. I’m done with it,” Ace bellowed.
“Calm down, son,” Sherman said, rising and resting a hand on Ace’s shoulder.
“No!”
Ace yanked away from Sherman and then moved toward the door.
“I love you all no matter what you choose, but I hope you’ll listen to your father’s last words and know he does this because he loves you,” Evelyn said quietly, stopping Ace for a moment. Then his eyes hardened.
“I’m out of here.”
Ace was the first to leave. He rushed from the attorney’s office, fury heating the very air around him.
Cooper stood there dumfounded. What was happening? They’d not only lost their father, but they’d all just found out that they had never been good enough in his eyes.
“To hell with Dad—and to hell with this place.”
Cooper followed his brother, though Ace was already long gone. It didn’t matter. Cooper would prove himself, but he’d do it because he wanted to. He would never be someone’s puppet—not even his father’s.
CHAPTER ONE
What in the world was he doing at the lavish Anderson wedding of Crew Storm and his bride, Haley?
He didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to be around anyone, actually, but he feared his friends were going to call in the National Guard at any minute if he didn’t come out and at least pretend he was still somewhat normal.
It had only been six months since his father’s passing. There’d been zero word from Ace, and though he talked to his other two brothers, the conversations were short. All of them were dealing with their demons and the final words of their father.
He hadn’t spoken more than a few words to his mother, which he knew was terrible, but he couldn’t see her while he was like this.
“It’s really good to see you out, Coop.”
Mark Anderson stood next to him as they scanned the merry crowd celebrating all around them. Cooper couldn’t even try to smile. His lips just weren’t turning up.
“I haven’t felt much like celebrating lately,” Cooper admitted to his friend.
“I understand that. I don’t know how I would survive it if my dad died. The man’s meddling and always in my face, but I love him. I think the old guy is too damn ornery to let go anyway. He’s gonna outlive us all,” Mark said with a chuckle.
“Yes, I agree with you. Joseph is a force to be reckoned with,” Cooper said, his lips twitching the slightest bit. It was almost a smile.
“Are you enjoying your new job?” Mark asked.
Cooper paused as he thought about the question. He was doing exactly what his father had wanted, even if he was doing it in spite of his dad. He was working for a small airline, using the skill that had been nothing but a hobby for him up until recently.
“I don’t know about enjoying the actual job and the paperwork that comes with it, but yes, flying is what I love. I can’t seem to get enough of it. Who knew that playing with planes my whole life would turn into a career,” Cooper said.
“Even without your inheritance, you’re a very wealthy man, Cooper. It isn’t as if you have to work. But before you say something, I know it isn’t about a paycheck. I don’t have to work myself. But choosing to work despite my fortune is a matter of pride,” Mark told him.
“I didn’t have much pride,” Cooper said with a shrug. “Or at least I didn’t think I did. Not until that reading of my father’s will. I guess he was right in the sense that we have all sort of skated through life. But he raised us that way. I don’t know what he expected.”
“I think when people know their time is coming to a close, they start to get scared,” Mark said. “Not that I would know from personal experience, but now that I’m a father, I get scared. I want my kids to grow into fine men and women. They work on the ranch, and they even go into the Anderson offices and are learning there.”