Renegade Hearts (The Kinnison Legacy Book 3) (17 page)

She responded with a snorting laugh. “You mean, I didn’t bow down and kiss your ass every time you decided to remember you had a family?”

His hand shot up, stopping short of smacking her across the face. She held his hard gaze with one of her own and saw the hate glittering in his black, soulless eyes. She’d discovered only recently the guilt her mother had carried inside her. Yet, for reasons unknown to Liberty, she wouldn’t leave him. Liberty had heard her mother’s pathetic attempts to appease his accusations from behind closed doors. She cringed at the anger in his voice, hated that her mother continued to take his abuse. So, she ran, as far away as possible. She’d never spoken to anyone about what she knew, fearing for her mother’s safety. That was weeks ago. Her mother had found a way out and Liberty was no longer afraid. “You touch me and I swear you’ll be on the headlines of every paper in town.” Her voice was steady.

He eyed her a moment, chuckled, and then lowered his hand, straightening his Armani tie. “Just like your mother.”

“Fortunately, she taught me more than you think, because I don’t need you, and I don’t need your money.”

He looked straight ahead, indifferent, in control. “You’ll feel differently when you see how much tuition is to that school of yours. Unfortunately, your mother, God-rest-her-soul, nullified her largely inadequate life insurance policy by virtue of how she chose to depart this world.”

She leaned forward and tapped on the smoke-glass window shielding them from the driver. The window rolled down. “Pull over here and stop.”

He looked over his shoulder, his expression hidden behind his mirrored sunglasses, but she caught the quirk at the corner of his mouth. She shook her head. There was nothing now holding her here. She wouldn’t bow to her father’s abusive control. “I said pull the goddamn car over.”

“Don’t be a fool. He can’t just stop. There are well over a hundred cars following us.”

Ignoring him, Liberty wrenched open the door. The limo came to an immediate stop. She stepped out, the mud from the rain earlier squishing into her heels and glanced back at the long procession of cars—not for her mother, but filled with those who bottom fed from her father’s many Vegas enterprises. She bent down, holding to the door with one hand. “You know, you may have given me your seed, but you have never been a father.”

He scooted across the seat; his dark, hateful gaze penetrated her heart. “You get back in the car, this instant you ungrateful—”

Liberty didn’t wait for the rest. She slammed the door in his face. A small victory in the memory of her mother against the man who’d pushed her into an early grave. The window rolled down part way as the car lurched forward. “You’ll regret this, Liberty. You could have had anything you wanted.”

“At what price?” she called out as the car carried him away. She didn’t care if anyone heard. They knew him well enough. She watched the faces of those in the cars that passed her. With each fearful glance, each look of pity, her resolve grew. Most of them lived in fear of his power. She’d just liberated herself from it.

Overhead a clap of thunder reverberated in her chest and another rain shower washed down. She turned her face to the heavens, letting the water free her with its cleansing freshness. Pain, fear, and an unfathomable sense of loss, pierced her to the core. Her tears were lost in the torrent. But she opened her arms wide and spoke to the sky. “We’re free, momma. We’re finally free.”

Other Books by Amanda McIntyre you might be interested in:

Historical Erotic Thriller:

The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane

Historical/Erotic Romance:

The Master & the Muses *

The Diary of Cozette *

Tortured *

The Pleasure Garden *

Winter’s Desire *

Dark Pleasures *

*Starred titles available in audio and international languages.

Contemporary Romance:

Rustler’s Heart, Book II

Renegade Hearts, Book III

Tides of Autumn

Unfinished Dreams

Wish You Were Here

Contemporary Adult Fiction:

Private Party

Mirror, Mirror

Naughty Bits, Vol III

About the Author

Amanda McIntyre’s passion is telling character-driven stories with a penchant for placing ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations. A bestselling author, her work is published internationally in print, E-book, and audio. She writes sizzling contemporary and erotic historical romance and believes no matter what, love will find a way. Learn more at:
http://www.amandamcintyresbooks.com
and
Amanda’s Amazon Author Page