The Sound of Secrets (The Monsters Duet #2)

Chapter 14

Channing

“Give me your phone.” My father held out his hand and waited until I placed my cell phone in his palm. “Can’t have you trying to record this conversation or pull anything sneaky.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Sneaky is your wheelhouse. Not mine.” I looked around my childhood home and wrinkled my nose in distaste. Ever since my mom left, the small cottage had fallen into disrepair. It held none of the coastal charm I recalled. Archie paid off the mortgage as a wedding gift for Willow. I maintained the place for my mom, because if she was ever healthy enough to leave twenty-four-hour care, I knew this is where she wanted to return. I wasn’t sure how I knew I would find my father taking refuge in a place he avoided my whole life. But some inner instinct drew me to this house when I decided I had to confront him.

I pointed at the silent phones he placed on the kitchen table between us. “You’re brave. There aren’t many people who purposely choose to make an enemy out of Win. ”

My dad tossed his head back and laughed. “I didn’t think you were smart enough to see that everything I pushed out on social media was a direct challenge to him, and not a personal attack on you.”

“And I didn’t think you were smart enough to use influencers and social media instead of the typical press outlets to spread your lies. It was a clever workaround.”

He continued to chuckle. “Halliday has the press in his pocket. They print whatever he tells them to print. Social media doesn’t work that way. Whoever is the loudest and has the most followers guides the narrative. Now that opinions are monetized, people have no problem saying whatever will get them the most interaction. Even if what they’re saying is absolute bullshit.”

“You’re a terrible person.” I gritted the words through my clenched teeth and glared at the man who didn’t care if he ruined me as long as he profited from my destruction. “Haven’t you done enough damage to this family? Do you know how far back you set Mom with your little stunt with the cell phone?”

He rolled his eyes back at me. “Your mother is never getting out of that facility. You’ve always been guilty of seeing a nonexistent light at the end of the tunnel, Channing. Life isn’t like the movies. There is no miracle cure, and no one is going to show up and be the answer to your prayers. Especially not Win Halliday. While I’m impressed you managed to manipulate him into marriage after what happened with your sister and his brother, I know he’s got to be at the end of his rope where our family is concerned. Whatever he gained by marrying you is not worth what he’s going to lose by staying with you. Cut your losses now.”

I blinked very slowly and stared at him like he was out of his mind. I always knew he was messed up and thoughtless, but I had no idea his view of humanity was so broken.

“Dad. You know that not all men turn on their wives, right? Most marriages aren’t a battlefield. You’re an exception, not the rule.”

“Oh, really?” He scoffed and leaned forward on the table in a threatening way. “Then how do you explain your first marriage? If that wasn’t a battlefield, what was it?”

I stiffened involuntarily. My gaze landed on the black screen of my phone. I knew everyone who cared about me was probably climbing the walls with worry considering the state of my reputation in the digital realm. I tried to call Win before I left for the cove and my old home. I always played nice with my father because it was the path of least resistance, but after today I was done. If he wanted to drag my name through the mud, that was one thing. But using me to hurt Win — I couldn’t stand by and watch it happen. I wasn’t about to be a weakness others could use against him. If I did, what kind of example did that set for Winnie?

I was tired of letting the people who were supposed to love me take advantage of me.

“Did you know?” I narrowed my eyes at him and tried to still my shaking heart. “Did you know Parker was hurting me? Did you know he was grooming me to be obedient and silent before that night at the hospital?” He was never around, but he always seemed to know what was happening under this roof.

My father shrugged. “I didn’t know the details. I tried to keep my nose out of your sister’s and your business unless it benefited me.”

“If you knew the details, would you have done anything to stop him?” I knew the answer, but when he shook his head in a nonchalant manner, I wanted to flip the table over and crush him underneath it.

“You’ve always acted like you know best, Channing. Who am I to stop you from doing anything?”

I barked out a laugh and felt the center of my chest burn. “You’re my father — only when it’s convenient. Leave Win alone before he buries you. And stay away from my mom. I’m getting a restraining order against you. If you keep harassing her, I’ll put you behind bars for good.” I was also going to figure out how to dissolve their marriage even if my mother protested.

My father lifted his eyebrows in a mocking manner. “Being married to a billionaire has made you brave. You never used to have the backbone to talk to me like this.” He smirked at me. “Don’t forget that my grandson trusts me more than you. If you push me too hard, I’ll make sure he wants nothing to do with you. It’s your fault his life has been so shitty, after all.”

I leaned back in the wooden chair and stared at him until he shifted uncomfortably. I crossed my arms and told him, “Ky’s not your grandson.” My voice was remarkably calm and steady.

My dad frowned and asked, “Did you get a blood test? How can you be certain? ”

I tossed my head back and cackled like a madwoman. “I’m certain because you put in all this effort to push Win into action now. You want him to give you money. You can’t risk waiting for the results of a blood test, so you have to make these moves before the truth comes out. You’re impatient. When upsetting Mom didn’t get the desired results, you got desperate. I told Win that you underestimated me. I’m not my mother. And I’m not Willow. You have no idea what I’ve been through. It’ll take more than Mom telling me she hates me and the Internet calling me a gold-digger to get me to break down. And it’ll take more than my mental health to make Win surrender.”

My father slapped his palm on the table. The sound made me jump. I dug my fingernails into my arm and ordered myself to keep calm. I lifted my eyebrows in an expression that mirrored his own taunt and told him, “I had a lot of time to think on the ride down here from the city. That night, if Colette was involved, she would’ve used him to keep me from marrying Win. There was nothing she wanted more than to get me out of his life. If she knew where my son was, or had him to use as leverage, she would’ve. She was smart enough to understand the only way I would defy Win was if she gave me something he couldn’t. My child would be the only bargaining chip that fits the bill. I know without a doubt Ky is not my son. If I didn’t have a lifetime of experience as a pawn in your games, and being hated by that woman for no reason, I never would’ve recognized this was just another one of your schemes.” Rage choked me. Pure, white- hot fury filled me. I loathed this man. But I hated myself even more for the years of repressed longing and doubt.

I hoped the child I fought to bring into the world was out there somewhere living the best life. The sort of life that only someone in bed with the Hallidays could afford. If he was stolen from me, I comforted myself by imagining all the wonderful things his new family could provide. I assured myself the baby was better off without me. Like my father said, I kept my eyes locked on the nonexistent light at the end of a very dark, deep tunnel.

Facing reality was much harder. Dealing with that type of loss was impossible, on top of managing my mother and navigating everything happening with my sister. I fooled myself into believing the best scenario, because facing the truth was devastating. However, now there was no other option than to grapple with what really went down. I refused to be the only one suffering.

“I don’t know if you just came across Ky and noticed his age and appearance were a perfect match to absolutely fuck with my head. Or if you’re still mixed up with Parker and he pointed out the kid for you to use and abuse. Either way, you’re disgusting, and I’m done with you. Forget the idea that I owe you anything or that there is an ounce of familial affection left between us. You can consider me your enemy from this point. If you keep trying to fuck with me, Mom, or anyone else I Iove, you’ll be sorry.”

“Are you threatening me, Channing?”

I climbed to my feet and snatched my phone off the table. I pointed the device at him and warned, “Leave. Get out of this house. Put this town in your rearview mirror. Go as far away from me and my family as possible. Act like you did when I was growing up and forget I ever existed.”

I didn’t want to turn my back on him because I didn’t know what he was capable of. He’d never physically hurt me. He also hadn’t bothered to stop the man who had been. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, regardless.

My father got to his feet. “Do you think I’m afraid of you? You’re going to end up just like your mother. Locked away and out of your mind. You’re going to end up alone, living in a fantasy world, just like she does. I won’t have to fight you for a thing, Channing. It’ll all be mine for the taking.”

I scoffed as I drew closer to the front door. “I’m married. Anything I have goes to Win. Good luck getting anything from him.”

I put a hand on the doorknob and froze when I felt it turn underneath my fingers.

“How long do you think this marriage will last? Your history with matrimony is a failure. No one seems to want to keep you for very long.”

Before I could respond with a scathing retort, the door opened. I braced myself so I didn’t fall backward. I instantly recognized the large, warm body that stepped into mine. I couldn’t see Win’s face, but I felt his anger pouring out of him. He was like a coiled spring, waiting for the pressure to release so he could snap.

“Are you okay?” “What are you doing here?” the questions overlapped. I took a step back so I could see his face. His jaw was rigid, and his eyes looked like a storm brewing. All of his attention was focused on my father. There wasn’t a hint of tolerance for the older man anywhere.

“It’s hard to punish Winnie for ditching her security when her aunt does the same thing.” Win scolded me while staring down my father. “Whether Channing and I stay married for days or decades, you are not getting anywhere near her from here on out. I told you not to try me.”

The older man didn’t appear intimidated in the slightest. He smiled and sat back down at the table as if threats weren’t being thrown around like confetti. “And I told you, if you didn’t give me what I want, things were going to get very ugly for the both of you. How does it feel to have the entire world wishing for your wife’s downfall? Is this the first time anyone has dared to question the mighty Win Halliday’s judgment?” He snorted. “I bet your mother is rolling over in the grave you prematurely put her in.”

Win grunted and subtly moved me behind his broad back. He held my hand and faced my father unflinchingly. The truth was, the old man wasn’t his opponent. My father might be slick and underhanded, but he didn’t have the same innate ruthlessness as Win. No one raised by Colette Halliday was easy to handle. My dad poked the figurative bear, and he was about to find out what a terrible idea that was.

Before Win said another word, the open doorway was filled with a man and a woman in police uniforms. The woman looked into the home and her eyes landed on Win. “We got a trespassing complaint. We’re here to look into the situation.”

Win grabbed me and pulled me to the side. He waved a hand in my father’s direction. “He’s the trespasser. This house belongs to my brother. That man is not allowed to be here.”

The police frowned. The male officer kept his hand resting on the butt of his weapon. His defensive stance seemed like it was aimed more at where Rocco was leaning against the SUV than toward anyone in the small house.

My father frowned at Win. “This house belongs to my wife. Her name is on the deed.”

Win shook his head and coolly replied. “Archie bought the house for Willow. Her name is on the deed, which passed to Winnie when she died. I put everything Archie and Willow left for their daughter in a trust. With my brother back and involved in Winnie’s life, he’s the co-manager of her trust. This house belongs to the Hallidays, not the Harveys.”

The female officer motioned to my father. “Sir, I suggest you leave unless you can provide proof you live here. We don’t want this to escalate to breaking and entering.”

Win lifted a dark eyebrow and asked, “We don’t?”

As a lifelong criminal, my dad had a healthy fear of the police. He let himself be escorted off the property, but not without glaring at me and Win and muttering dirty words under his breath.

When things calmed down and I managed to catch my breath, I repeated my question to Win. “How did you know I was here? ”

I slipped out of the penthouse and ditched the security detail because I needed to face my father alone. I needed to see his face and pull back the curtain on any lingering sentiment I might have. I wanted him to know I wasn’t afraid of him, and that I wasn’t going to break no matter what he threw at me.

Win pointed at my phone. I looked at it but didn’t notice anything different from normal.

“Pop off the case.” He was obviously still angry but doing his best not to bite my head off.

When I peeled off the case, I noticed a plastic chip inside. It looked like something out of a spy movie. My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. “A tracker? Is this how you knew where I was the whole time I was in Europe?” It was an absurd violation of privacy.

Win grunted but refused to answer my question. I let him muscle me into the SUV while I tried to figure out how mad I should be over the fact he put a GPS tag on me like I was a wild animal.

“Why didn’t you wait for me? As soon as you saw that stuff on the Internet, you should’ve known I would take care of it — and you. You didn’t have to face your father on your own.”

I settled into the big backseat and watched him out of the corner of my eye. Winnie’s accusations about trust were still ringing in my ears. “I’ve been dealing with my dad my entire life. It was well past time I let him know I’ve had enough. I needed to stand up to him. For me and for my mom. He’s gotten away with playing us for too long.” Letting someone else mitigate my difficulties was easier said than done .

“Ky isn’t yours.” Win changed the subject so quickly it took me a minute to react. “I still need to verify a few things, but from what I understand, the baby never made it out of the hospital that night. There was simply too much damage done to the both of you to give him a fighting chance.”

We faced each other, both of us still angry and uncertain. Our emotions were too high to wade through the wealth of information captured in those three words.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against the passenger window. “I know he’s not.”

If only I’d managed to put two and two together before it came to this point. That poor kid got dragged into an adult mess for no reason. His life was turned upside down for nothing more than greed and selfishness. Thankfully, Win didn’t press me to tell him how I figured things out. He should’ve figured out the truth before I did. He knew his mother better than anyone. We were blind to overlook the obvious. It was wild to think how logic fell to emotions almost every single time.

Win put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me until my head rested on him. I let his embrace chase away the chill that had settled in my bones from dealing with my father.

“You don’t sound particularly relieved.”

I sighed and reached for his hand. I don’t know when feeling the scarred flesh had become my anchor in the whirlwind of emotions trying to suck me under.

“I’m glad there is nothing tying me to Parker. I’m happy Ky has a mom who loves him. I’m beyond sad that I have to grieve the idea of the child I always loved. I allowed myself not to think too deeply about what happened that night because my heart couldn’t handle another break. One can only play the fool for so long.” I was going to cry again. It felt like my life was flooded with tears ever since I married this man. Grief ballooned inside of my chest and made it difficult to breathe. I was mourning the loss as if my child died in my arms today rather than when I was too weak to fight for him.

Win let out a long breath. “Why won’t you let me protect you?”

I had no answer, other than I was accustomed to relying on myself for everything.

I whispered another secret so softly I wasn’t sure he could hear it. “I want to learn how.”

How to trust him. How to let him take care of me. And maybe, most importantly, how to let myself love him.