“But nearly losing you because of my own agenda and shortsightedness revealed to me that I took it too far. I was so concerned with you being hurt by society, by this world, that I ended up being the one who hurt you. In my drive to protect you out of love, I forgot compassion. Understanding. Forgiveness. Mercy. All of those are elements of the love I touted. I also forgot that struggle often shapes a person, makes them stronger. It helps us be better. And while I detest what you went through, it did make you into a better, stronger person, and...” He shifted back to her and tears glistened in his eyes. “I love you. And I’m proud of you.”
He lifted his arms, slowly opening them to her, and without hesitation she flew into them.
And in that moment, as her arms wrapped around his waist, her cheek pressed to his chest, the sixteen-year-old girl and the adult woman converged into one. “I love you, too, Dad.”
Seventeen
“What the hell?” Ezekiel stared at the email from his personal accountant. More specifically, the numbers inside the email. There were a shit ton of zeroes in that number. “This can’t be...”
But even as he murmured the objection, he reread the message again, and there it was in black and white.
He was a millionaire.
For the first time since Reagan walked away from him and out of his house, he felt something other than a pain-infused grief. Like a death. Only difference, there wasn’t a tombstone to visit.
You did the right thing. The only thing you could do.
He repeated the reminder that had become a refrain in his head over the last week. Whenever he teetered on the edge of giving in, yelling, “Fuck this,” and going after her, he remembered that he was doing what was best for her.
Best for you.
The taunt whispered across his mind, and he flipped that voice a mental bird.
“What can’t be?” a familiar and unexpected voice asked.
Ezekiel jerked his head up and watched Luke close Ezekiel’s office door behind him and cross the floor to his desk. Even though the workday was only a couple of hours old, Luke had rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt to his elbows, undone the top button, and his tie knot was loosened.
Concern momentarily overshadowed Ezekiel’s shock. No one in this company was working harder than Luke to save it. And it showed in the faint bruises under his brother’s eyes denoting lack of sleep, the hollowed cheekbones and firm lines bracketing his mouth.
“When was the last time you went home and had a decent night’s sleep?” Ezekiel demanded.
Luke dismissed his question with a flick of his hand. “What can’t be?” he repeated. “You receive some good news?”
“Yes,” Ezekiel said, struggling against badgering Luke into answering his question. Shaking his head, he shifted his attention from his brother’s weary features to the computer screen and the open email. “I just received a message from my accountant.” He huffed out a breath, disbelief coursing through him once more. “I have a few personal i
nvestments outside of Wingate and apparently, one of the companies I invested in just sold for billions. Billions, Luke. And I’m a millionaire because of it.”
Joy lit up his brother’s light brown eyes, eclipsing the exhaustion there.
“Holy shit, Zeke!” Luke grinned, rounding the desk to pull Ezekiel up out of his chair and jerk him into a back-pounding hug. “That’s wonderful. Damn, I’m glad we finally have some good news around here.”
“I’m still in shock. I don’t even know what to do right now,” Ezekiel murmured.
“I do. Go get Reagan back.”
Ezekiel’s chin jerked up and back from Luke’s verbal sucker punch. “What?” Just hearing her name... It scored him, leaving red-hot slashes of pain behind. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about going to find your wife, get down on your knees if need be and beg her to come back to you,” Luke stated flatly. “I love you, Zeke, but you fucked up.”
A growl vibrated in his chest, rolling up into his throat, but at the last moment, he didn’t let his angry retort fly. Luke loved him and meant well. But still... Ezekiel didn’t want to hear this. “Luke, I appreciate—”
“No,” Luke interjected with a hard shake of his head. “You’re my brother and the most important person in the world to me. Which is why I can tell you the brutal truth even though you don’t want to hear it. And I can do it knowing it won’t hurt our relationship.”
Ezekiel almost turned away, but only his love for his brother kept him from walking away. Well, that, and he harbored zero doubts Luke would drag him back to make him listen.
Luke sighed, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I know I warned you against marrying Reagan when you first told me about the engagement. I was worried for both of you. But when I saw you two at the engagement party, I changed my mind. You belong together... You belong to her. And I say this remembering how you were with Melissa. I loved her—she was sweet, kind and loved you. But Melissa is gone, and you have the chance for a future with a woman who not only fiercely defended you like a lioness but who challenges you. Who makes you better. Who loves you. And you, whether you want to admit it to yourself or not, love her.”
“Love?” Ezekiel laughed, and the serrated edge of it scraped his throat. “You say that when we have so many examples around us of people who have been gutted by love. Like when you love someone, they don’t leave,” he snarled.