“Of course we are,” Lexi said. “Trust me. You’ll love it.”
He dropped his head to his hands again. “You’re killing me.”
“Then our work here is complete.”
GARTH EASED HIS CAR up the long driveway.
“Where are we going?” Kathy asked anxiously from the passenger seat.
“It’s a surprise.”
The look she gave him told him that in her world a surprise wasn’t a good thing. Something else Jed had done to her, he thought grimly.
“I have something I want to show you,” he amended. Kathy didn’t look reassured. He reached out and patted her arm. “It’s right there.”
He pointed to Glory’s Gate.
The large house stood silhouetted against the blue Texas sky. It seemed larger than usual, with windows staring down like eyes and a white fence that rolled to the horizon.
“Who lives here?” Kathy asked as the car came to a stop.
“No one, right now. I want to show you the house.”
It was something he’d been planning since he was fourteen and Jed had thrown him out of his office, he thought as he parked the car, then came around to the passenger’s side and opened the door.
Kathy got out slowly, cautiously. He held out his hand and helped her out of his car. She stared up at the house.
“It’s big.”
“Yes, it is,” he told her. “And very pretty inside.”
She didn’t look convinced.
“Jed used to live here,” he said.
That got her attention. She smiled. “I know Jed.” The smile faded. “He’s very sad. He cried. But he’ll be better soon.”
Nothing Garth was hoping for.
“Is he here now?” she asked.
“No.”
Jed was in jail. The judge had seized his passport and revoked bail. The list of charges grew every day. More people were coming forward with information to help the prosecution. It seemed that everyone Jed had ever screwed wanted payback.
“I knew him,” Kathy said slowly. “A long time ago.” She screwed up her face, as if trying to remember something, then shook her head.
Garth nodded, then released her hands. “Come see the house.”
She followed him up the stairs, then through the wide front door. He’d been by earlier, to make sure the place was clean and there were fresh flowers. Now he led her from the entryway to the living room. He started toward the kitchen, but she came to a stop and shook her head.
“I don’t like it,” she whispered.
“It’s my house, Kathy. I bought it for you.”
She shook her head again. “No. It’s too big.” Tears filled her eyes. “I want to go home. Please take me home.”
Anger filled him, quickly followed by helplessness. Why couldn’t she see he’d done this for her? He wanted her to have everything…
And then he knew. In one of those blinding flashes of insight that were never comfortable, he got it.
All these years and all the effort that had gone into winning, into beating Jed into the ground, had one purpose. He’d always believed that if he could defeat the man who had let this happen to her, if he could just hand her Glory’s Gate, then she would be healed. He’d allowed himself to think that simply stepping through the doors and knowing this was her home would be enough. That the magic of victory would replace the damaged cells in her brain.
He’d been wrong.
“Garth?” she whispered.
He crossed to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “I’ll take you home now.”
“Do I have to come back here again?”
“Not if you don’t want to.”
GARTH RETURNED AT SUNSET. It had been the kind of day moviemakers dream about. Clear and bright with a brilliant sun. He stood in the middle of the house, where his mother had stood. He stared at the walls.
How many generations of Titans had lived here and died here? How many lives had been altered? What secrets existed that he would never know? Glory’s Gate. After all this time and all the effort, it was just a house. Nothing more. He’d been the one giving it power it had never earned.
Kathy was back in her house, with her caretakers and her pet store. She was happy again, if still fighting the demons Jed had unleashed. The psychologists said it would take time. The one thing they all had.
He heard a car outside and crossed to the front porch. Dana parked her truck next to his BMW. The contrast made him smile, as did seeing her climb out.
She wore jeans and boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt. He couldn’t tell from this distance, but he would bet she wasn’t wearing any makeup. Which was just like her. Her gaze met his, then she started toward the house.
“You texted,” she said when she was halfway up the stairs.
He’d sent her a message earlier, asking her to meet him here. He hadn’t been sure she would show up, but he’d hoped.
He didn’t know why he hadn’t seen it before. He’d spent his whole life chasing justice, never realizing it couldn’t replace what had been lost. He’d been searching for the wrong thing. He should have been looking for love and connection. But until today, he didn’t think he would recognize love if it came up and bit him on the ass. He was hoping to change that.
Dana slowly crossed the porch. She didn’t know what to think, what to expect. Garth’s half smile was a little scary.
But seeing him was good. He was as tall and handsome as she remembered. He was the kind of man who made women look twice. The kind she never would have looked at even once, mostly out of fear. Now she stared hungrily, taking in all of him. Being without him had been harder than she would have thought. More painful. Being around him made everything easier…better.
She didn’t know why he’d gotten in touch with her. In a few minutes she would ask, but for now it was enough to be close. Which made her one sick puppy, but it was a weakness she could live with. She wanted to hope, but she knew better. His text message could mean anything. It wasn’t as if he’d sent her a message saying “meet me at Glory’s Gate. I can’t live without you.” Life wasn’t that tidy.
“I’m here,” she said when she reached the front door.
“Thanks for coming. Tell me what you think of the house.”
She looked at the place where she’d spent so much time growing up. “It’s big and I’m sure it’s a bitch to heat in the winter.”
He led the way inside. She followed.
“I brought Kathy here,” he told her. “I thought being here would fix her.”
Pain sliced through her. “It didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“I’ve spent most of my life fighting ghosts,” he said, staring at the large rooms around them. “I told myself if I won, if I could defeat Jed, then things would go back to the way they were before. I didn’t even know that’s what I believed until I brought her here. But she doesn’t want this. The house only scared her. It’s been a hell of a day.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated. “Is she okay now?”
He looked at her. “Yes. I took her home.”
“I know it’s hard, but in the end, you got everything you wanted.”
“Did I? I’m not so sure.”
He stared into her eyes. She looked back, wanting to protect herself, but knowing there wasn’t much point. She
