The thought of actually sleeping with Wendy Madigan made my skin crawl, but I had no intention of doing so. It was clear that my father had been able to manipulate her, as I was doing now. It was also clear that she was unstable and this so-called love for my father had blinded her to everything else. Had blinded her into orchestrating the kidnapping of an innocent ten-year-old boy, if what I suspected was true.
“No, Brad. You give me the child first. Then I will tell you everything.”
Time to act the domineering male again, an act I was no stranger to. I stood, pulling her up next to me. I looked her straight in her blue eyes, which were now no longer blurry, thank God. “You seem to be forgetting who makes the rules around here. In case you need an answer, I do. Not you.”
She fell against me, weeping. “Brad, of course you make the rules. I would do anything for you. You know that.”
I pushed her away from me, again meeting her gaze. “Then you will tell me right now. Tell me exactly how Talon was taken and who orchestrated it.”
“You know already. You knew what kind of men the future lawmakers were. You joined their club anyway, like I did.”
“Refresh my memory. Tell me what that club was about. Tell me why you joined, Wendy.”
“You know why I joined. To be near you.”
“What about Rodney Cates? Why did he join?”
“He had the hots for Theo’s sister. You know that.”
Of course. Gina’s mother, Theodore Mathias’s sister. Things were starting to fall into place.
Sort of.
Why would my father have joined the club? He wasn’t a future lawyer or future lawmaker. He was heir to the most profitable ranch in Colorado. What was that club truly about?
“Wendy, I’m losing patience quickly. You will tell me right now what the future lawmakers club was about and how and why the attack on my son was orchestrated. Am I making myself clear?” I gripped her upper arm harshly.
“Yes, Brad. I love it when you get rough with me. Squeeze my arm harder.”
Okay, not where I wanted to go with this. “I will not get rough with you. I will not do anything you want until you tell me what I need to know.”
“Why? Have you somehow lost your memory? You know how that happened. You were a big part of it. Remember?”
She was lying. No way had my father been involved in any way with Talon’s abduction. I gripped her other upper arm and shook her. “Goddamnit,” I said through clenched teeth. “You will tell me the truth. Now.” I threw her down on the bed.
“Yes, Brad, take me.” She began unbuttoning her blouse. “I’m yours. Only yours. Take me now.”
I needed to get hold of myself. Getting rough with her was not getting through to her, clearly. Plus, even as angry as I was, I wasn’t comfortable roughing up a woman, even one who deserved it as much as Wendy Madigan did.
No. That was not who I was. I could never get violent with a woman. Especially not now. I would never be able to look my sweet Melanie in the eye.
And then another thought occurred to me. If she liked me roughing her up, I would do the opposite.
“No.” I looked straight into her eyes. “I will not take you. I don’t want you, Wendy. I love Daphne.”
“Need I remind you, Brad, that talk like that is what got your son taken in the first place? You have two other sons, you know. Aren’t you concerned about their safety? Especially the young one?”
“Why you little bit—” I stopped myself from finishing the sentence. Although the rage and ire were consuming me, I had to keep my head. I had to figure out how to get her to talk.
She finished unbuttoning her blouse and pushed the pieces of fabric to each side, showing her bra. “You always loved my breasts, Brad. Don’t you remember?”
“We were just kids, Wendy.”
I fervently wished she would leave her clothes on. “Button yourself back up. I don’t even want to look at you anymore.” I turned and walked toward the door.
To my surprise, it opened. I rushed down the hallway and down a flight of stairs to the first floor of the house.
I raced through what appeared to be a living room to the front door and turned the knob. Locked. From the fucking outside. She had locked me in.