Saving Dallas 2 Making the Cut(8)

“The land on ninety-eight.”

“But, I just purchased that land from him.” I thought back to Mason and Nathalie’s engagement dinner. I had purposefully worn that particular dress just to woo the mayor out of that property. I had a client begging to put a strip mall out there and I had convinced the Mayor that it was for personal use.

“No, you bought a fraction of the land from the Mayor, and let me guess, he wanted Carmical Construction to clear the timber? Said he owed me a favor? Well, let me tell you something, sweetheart, Paul Kirkley knew that this would happen. It just so happens that I was the lucky guy who ended up in your bed and not some other shithead. That’s why he wants me to cut the timber. He wants you to think we’re friends. He wants me to get close to you, so that I can gather as much information about what you plan to do with that property. Your tight lipped assistant won’t tell anything and we all know that trying to get something out of you is like trying to chisel cement with a spoon. So, what does he do? He waits ‘til I get in your panties and goes in for the kill.”

I couldn’t breathe. This was not happening. Luke loves me. I know he loves me. Why is he talking to me this way? Why was that property so important to Kirkley? I started to ask him, when he interrupted me.

“Regardless of what you think, Dallas, your dad was not a good man. He was a fucking crook. You were just a stupid, naïve little girl. You thought your daddy hung the moon. He was a murderer. A thief. A-”

“Shut-up!” I couldn’t take anymore. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You think, I was naïve? Do you really think that I didn’t see through all his bullshit? I know who he was, but I’ll be damned if I let you stand here and slander his name! You have no idea what really happened!” There it was. I said it. All these years, I had kept shit bottled up inside me, knowing, that if it ever came out, it would destroy me. I had secrets that I never wanted to be discovered. I had shit that I never wanted anyone to know, yet here I was exposing myself. I had become vulnerable and now Luke knew that I knew the truth. I could tell by the surprise on his face. Of course I knew my father was not a good man. He was good to his family. He was a wonderful father, a wonderful husband and a wonderful friend. But even though he tried to hide it, he couldn’t. He climbed his way to the top by stepping on other people. But, the world was not a fair place and he did what he had to do to get by.

“What do you know, Dallas?” Luke asked. His voice just above a whisper. I shook my head at him.

“No, I’m still asking the questions around here. Why the fuck did Kirkley want that land so bad?” I spit between my teeth. I was angry at Luke. I was angry at Kirkley. I was angry at my father, but most of all, I was angry at myself. I wanted Luke to believe that I was naïve and stupid, but now that the cat was out of the bag, I had no other options.

“The pipeline. They have been trying to lay one across that highway for years, but it keeps getting rejected. As promised, your dad got Kirkley in as Mayor and he passed it. They are supposed to begin construction next year. He wanted to know what business you planned to put there so he could invest in businesses that would coincide with yours, pulling everyone from downtown, out to the highway. He knew you wouldn’t fail, you never do,” Luke said seriously. I could see respect and approval written on his face. I didn’t need either one.

“I just did,” I said, turning and placing my full cup of coffee in the sink. My mind was blank. Fun, flirty Dallas was gone. It was time for me to go back to being the cold bitch that I was. For years, it helped me avoid shit like this. It was my shield, my armor, and I knew that the moment I let my guard down this shit would happen. Luke Carmical would be a memory of mine. Just like all the others.

When I turned, Luke was standing at the bar. The look on his face let me know that he knew he fucked up and that he was sorry. It was a little late for that.

“I assume Red knows the details,” I stated, giving him a cold stare. He nodded, confirming my assumption. I didn’t need a friend or a confidant. I needed the fucking truth and she would give it to me, if I had to beat it out of her.

“I’ll call her. She can come over and fill me in. I want you to leave. I want you out of my life and out of my business. I know what you are going to say, but I don’t want to hear it. I have had enough of this shit with you. I don’t need anything else. I want my dog and you can leave the box that contains my information. I don’t see where it’s any concern to you anymore. You don’t have to tell Kirkley anything. I’ll call him myself and fill him in. When Red comes, you can send my dog with her.”