Page 46

James tells me Daddy's awake and for a moment, everything else falls away.

I take the stairs two at a time, my heart hammering like a Derby drumroll, thinking maybe this nightmare's finally over.

That Daddy's eyes are open and I'll get to see his crooked smile and hear him grumble about the nurses fussin' too much.

Maybe I can tell him about Paradise Falls pulling through, about Ribbons, the Derby, everything he loves.

I shower all the sex and heartache away, first.

But the second I step into that hospital room, my whole body locks up.

Because Becki's standing there.

In my mama's wedding dress.

White lace, high collar, tiny pearl buttons down the back. I remember that dress. Remember watching Mama pull it out for anniversary photos. Remember tracing the sleeves with my little fingers. Now it clings to Becki's curves like it belongs to her, and my gut twists like I swallowed barbed wire.

The Reverend stands beside her, calm and smug like a man sealing a deal with the devil.

And Daddy… he’s awake. Sitting up. Blinking slow. Confused.

"What is this?" I ask, my voice scraping raw in my throat.

The Reverend answers like it's the most normal thing in the world. "Your daddy's been blessed with a second chance. Praise be. And now it's time for him to honor his commitments."

"Commitments?"

"To the Pearly Gates community. When times were hard, he came to us. Took our help. Our money. Signed over the farm, the land, the legacy, should the debt be called."

I look at Becki. She’s smiling like the cat who ate the goddamn canary. "We’re fixin’ to be wed."

"You’re marrying my father?" My voice cracks. "You’ve lost your damn mind."

The Reverend doesn’t flinch. "It’s a spiritual union, child. One way to keep the land in the fold. But there’s another option."

I cross my arms, every nerve in my body on edge. "Go on. Let’s hear the con."

"Walk away from the Kings. From that outlaw. Renounce him publicly. Promise never to lay with him again, and we’ll reconsider. You can make good on your father’s debt in your own way. In cash. Keep the land, the name, the power. But only if y’all come home."

“Home?”

“Back to the church.”

I feel sick. Like the world’s tilting. Like everything I’ve done, fought for, survived, they're trying to erase it.

"So what, I give up Legend and you let my daddy off the hook?"

The Reverend nods solemn. "You know what kind of man he is. What his club does. You saw the darkness. Sweet child, this is your way out."

My chest cracks open. I think of the rope around my wrists, the bruises, the blood.

I think of Becki smiling in the church pew when we were little.

Of the stories whispered in barns and backrooms. I remember the document I found.

The one, I showed Legend that got burned when the barn went down.

The one with Pearly Gates letterhead and a forged signature.

I know what this is.

Blackmail dressed in scripture.

And then Becki speaks, soft and slow like she’s reading from a eulogy. "Me and Legend lost a baby, you know. A little girl. He promised me forever. We buried her behind the church."

I stop breathing.

"He named her," Becki adds. "Said he’d never love another woman like he loved me."

It’s a gut punch. One that hits so deep. I don’t know if I’ll ever come up for air again.

And in that moment, standing in that room with my daddy half-conscious, my enemy in my mama’s gown, and the devil himself preaching scripture wrapped in chains, I make a decision.

But I don’t say a damn word.

Not yet.

James walks into the room like he feels right at home, like he hasn’t just let the devil in the front door.

I round on him, teeth bared. “How could you let them in here?”

He doesn't look me in the eye. “I didn’t have a choice. I’ve been getting letters. Threats. Someone’s blackmailing me, Soph. Why do you think I sent Lucy to her mom’s?”

“So, you let them put Becki in Mama's dress like they already own’s the farm?”

The Reverend clears his throat behind me. “No one owns anything yet. That’s what we’re here to discuss.”

I spin around, nostrils flaring. “I won the Derby. I saved this farm. What more do you want from me?”

“That race was a test,” the Reverend says smoothly, folding his hands. “Your daddy doesn’t have the strength to run this place. We had to see which of you had it in you.”

“And?”

“You passed. You’re strong. You’re capable. And with the right influence, you could keep Paradise Falls alive for another fifty years.”

“You’ll be dead and gone by then.”

“But Becki won’t. And then her kin and so on... You’ll still own the farm.”

“But only if I swear off Legend.”

The Reverend smiles like I’m a child who finally did the math right. “Exactly.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I won’t make deals like that. I’m not selling off pieces of myself just to keep the lights on.”

“Then you better ask yourself what daddy will do when people learn the truth,” the Reverend says darkly.

James shifts, guilt plain on his face. “Sophie, Dad… He’s the one who mutilated those animals. The monster people keep whispering about? That was him.”

I scoff. “From his death bed?”

“No. Not recently. We hired out for that. Some big, slow fella that does odd jobs around the farm under the table. I’m talking about Midnight Glory.”

“He framed Legend’s dad.” My voice is hoarse. “He ruined his life.”

James can’t even deny it. “It was supposed to be a clean job. Insurance money. A win. But the Reverend... he used it.”

The Reverend holds up his hands like a preacher at the pulpit. “Your father made promises back in the day. To me. To the community. That land, your horses, your legacy, they were pledged to Pearly Gates. When times were tough, we helped.”

“You brainwashed him.”

“Your daddy made a choice. And now that he’s awake, those debts come due.” He steps closer. “But if you walk away from the biker, we won’t take your father. Or the farm. You can stay the queen of Paradise Falls. Becki won’t marry your daddy. The legacy stays in your name.”

Jolene the nurse speaks for the first time, soft and shaken. “We’ve kept him under for months. He’s been lucid for days. They made me lie. Said it was for his own good.”

“You’re fired,” I say, automatically.

“I figured. But I didn’t think Mr. Montgomery would last long on trial or in prison.”

“Prison?” I back up, breath caught in my throat.

“Your daddy’s a felon, if anyone finds out, that is. Speaking of felons.” The Reverend hands me that file he gave me before. “Take another look.”

I flip through it with trembling fingers. Photos. Documents. Names. The Kings. Big Daddy. Connections to a cartel. Payments. Messages tied to the Depraved Sinners.

“This isn’t real.”

He smiles too big, letting me know I’m right. “May be. May not be. But it all looks very real enough. And it all leads back to the Kings. No doubt your biker prince is riding with devils. He might not know it, but if he steps out of line, I’ll burn them all. Starting with him.”

“You planned all this. The kidnapping…”

He nods once. “The Sinners did the deed, but we lit the fire.”

I close the folder, my hands shaking. “Fine.”

“Pardon?” He holds a hand to his ear, waiting.

“I’ll take the deal. I’ll walk away. I won’t see Legend again. But you stay away from my father. You keep your hands off this farm. And you destroy that file.”

He smiles, full of teeth and victory, as he tucks the file away in his jacket. “Smart girl.”

“Don’t you ever call me that.”

He turns to go, Becki trailing behind, smug as hell. She doesn’t say a damn word.

Why would she? She won.

But just before the door shuts, she glances back pleased as punch.

The door clicks.

And I’m left alone with the sound of my heart breaking into pieces.

If Legend shows up, I already know what I have to do.

I have to lie through my teeth.