A man in an expensive suit knocked on his open door.
“Mitch Cassidy?” he asked as he entered.
Mitch frowned. “Who are you?”
“Garth Duncan. Does that name mean anything to you?”
“No. Now get out.”
“I will, in a minute. I would like to discuss a little business with you.”
Mitch wasn’t interested. “Unless you want to buy a whole lot of free-range poultry, this conversation is going nowhere.”
“I understand you used to date Skye Titan.”
Mitch looked at the other man. There was something familiar about him, although he didn’t think they’d met.
“What business is that of yours?”
“None, really.” The man pulled up a chair and sat down. “I’m Jed Titan’s bastard.”
The last of the drug-induced fogginess faded. Mitch pushed the button to raise the bed and he stared at Garth. Now he realized why Garth looked familiar. There was plenty of Jed in him, at least physically.
“I never heard about you,” he said.
“No one has, although it’s a pretty common story. Jed knocked up my mother and bought her off. Now I want payback.” Garth leaned back in his chair. “I thought you might like a piece of the action.”
“You want to bring down Jed?”
“I want to bring down all of them, Mitch. Every last Titan.” Garth tugged at the sleeve of his jacket. “Not the kid. Erin doesn’t interest me. But the sisters and their father? I want them ground to dust.”
He spoke casually but there was intensity in his words.
Mitch felt a flicker of interest. “What makes you think you can do it? The girls might be softer targets but Jed’s another matter. He’s a mean old son of a bitch and he doesn’t care who he hurts.”
“Like father like son,” Garth said. “I have unlimited resources. I have people in places that would turn Jed Titan’s hair white. I’m going to win this and when I do, I’ll be the one sleeping at Glory’s Gate. I’m offering you a chance to get even.”
Mitch was less sure about that. “Why would I need to get even?”
Garth shrugged. “Skye dumped you.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“Jed screwed over my mother before I was born and I’m still pissed. It’s your call. If you’re not interested, so be it.”
“I could tell them all you’ve been here.”
“You could. It wouldn’t change anything.”
Mitch had to admit Garth had a pair on him.
Hurt the Titans. He’d never considered it an option, but he sure could warm to the idea. Not so much the rest of them, but bringing down Skye had a certain appeal. She was in the middle of all this, he thought grimly. He wanted her to feel as helpless as he did, as angry, as unable to make things right. Screwing Jed would be a nice by-product.
“What would you want from me?” he asked.
Garth gave him a slow smile. “Just listen, pay attention and report back to me. I want to know vulnerabilities. What makes them bleed. Information is power.”
Mitch knew Skye’s greatest vulnerability was Erin, but he wasn’t going to say that to Garth. Despite everything, the little girl still mattered to him.
“I’ll pay you,” Garth began.
Mitch’s gaze narrowed. “Don’t make me kill you.”
Garth held up both hands. “Sorry. I have people who are only in on this because of the money.”
“I’m not one of them.”
“Fair enough. I’ll be in touch.” He stood and crossed to the bed, then offered his hand.
Mitch hesitated a second before shaking it.
“Good to meet you, Mitch.”
Garth left.
Mitch turned away from the door and told himself he should feel better about finally having a plan. He was going to help destroy the Titans.
But as he lowered the back of the bed and tried to find a more comfortable position he found himself wondering if he’d lost more than a part of his leg in Afghanistan. Had he also lost part of himself?
CHAPTER SEVEN
IF THIS WAS a family dinner, Skye thought, it certainly wasn’t greeting-card material. The table in the dining room groaned with food, but no one was eating. She and Izzy still weren’t exactly friends. Jed was distracted and Lexi and Cruz only had eyes for each other. Erin alone was normal, chatting about how school was almost over, the things she wanted to do on her summer break and how high she could jump now.
“You should come see me jump, Grandpa,” she said cheerfully.
Jed managed to look up and frown. “You win any medals?”
“I’m just starting, but I will.”
Jed grinned. “That’s my girl. You’re going to be the best. Bring home an Olympic medal and we’ll put it front and center.”
Erin looked pleased and attacked her mashed potatoes.
“I was a barrel racer in high school,” Izzy told Erin. “It was a lot of fun. We could practice together sometime.”
“Okay,” Erin said, always happy to spend time with her aunt.
Lexi whispered something to Cruz, who grinned. They were crazy about each other, Skye thought, trying not to be bitter. She didn’t begrudge her sister her happiness-she just wanted a little of the same for herself. Someone to lean on. Someone to share with. Someone to help and laugh with and smile at for the rest of her life.
Even knowing it was stupid, her brain turned immediately to Mitch. She hadn’t seen him since he’d found out the truth about Erin. Fidela had told her he’d landed in the hospital and was now on crutches. Apparently he hadn’t been ready for all the walking he’d done.
She wondered how he was and wanted to go see him. Not that she would. He would only try to beat up on her again. She shouldn’t think about him at all.
He wasn’t her ideal man. He was just some guy she used to know…and couldn’t stop thinking about. But who needed lust? She had loved her husband. Maybe their relationship hadn’t been all fire and passion, but it had been strong and admirable. She winced inwardly knowing no one who wanted to be in love was looking for “admirable.”
People wanted the fire, although in her opinion it was highly overrated. She burned for Mitch and what did that get her? A giant pain in her butt, that’s what.
“The teacher at school said you have mad cows, Grandpa,” Erin said into the silence. “I said our cows are very happy.”
Jed looked up, his expression furious. “What stupid bi-”
“Dad,” Skye said sharply. “She was just expressing an opinion and she’s Erin’s teacher.”
Jed glanced at Erin. “She’s an idiot.”
Erin put down her fork. “She knows a lot. She’s a good teacher, Grandpa. She just doesn’t know our cows.”
Izzy’s mouth twitched. “Perhaps we should invite her over. They could have tea.”
Skye ignored that. “She’s not saying the cows are unhappy. Mad cow is a kind of sickness cows get. If people eat the cows, then they can get sick, too.”
