Victory Read online

  Jake could feel his anger rising even higher. Perhaps Bud was right. He could single handedly destroy the place, but he wasn’t going to. No, he was going to head out to his father’s place and ask a few questions. Someone was going to give him some answers.

  Jake never went to his father’s house. He was actually lucky he even knew where the man lived. Byron Walker was known to move around quite a bit. Jake could only imagine he was forced out of each home.

  On more than one occasion, Jake had asked his mother what she saw in the man. The slight smile that crossed her lips lit in her eyes as well. “Oh, honey, he won me over,” she’d say. “I simply couldn’t resist him.”

  Jake couldn’t imagine. His father was divorced from his mother, his sisters’ mother, and never even bothered to marry Bethany’s mother—who was an absolute hot mess and in the end, it had cost her her life.

  Perhaps it was his father’s lack of conscience that kept Jake from seeking out companionship. Who truly wanted to put up with it? What if, deep down inside himself, he was like his father? He couldn’t even bear the thought.

  Jake pulled up outside his father’s small home on the edge of town. As was the norm, there was a pricey car in the driveway. No doubt leased, because his father couldn’t have afforded it. Sure, the family had money, but Jake’s uncle was wise to keep it safe from his father, especially after his father had nearly lost the family’s ranch gambling and losing.

  As he stepped out of his truck, his father opened the front door. Dressed as if he were headed out to play a round of golf, he smiled at Jake.

  “Well, well, well. To what do I owe the pleasure?” His father walked out to the front porch and stood between Jake and the front door, which he’d pulled closed.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “Okay,” he said crossing his arms. “Talk away.”

  Jake looked to the door. “You have company?”

  “I have a guest.”

  The thought made Jake’s insides tighten. Sure he had a guest. And that guest would of course come before his own son. Why had he expected anything different?

  Jake shoved his hands in his front pockets. It was best to do that when he was face to face with his father. He’d never—ever—hit the man, but it was safer this way.

  “I’ve had some bad luck lately.”

  “I heard that girl pushed you out of another race.”

  “Least of my problems,” Jake admitted. “I lost my sponsor this morning.”

  The lack of surprise on his father’s face was disturbing. “Oh, now Jake, you know I’d like to help but…”

  “I’m not here looking for a handout. What I want is some answers. Some straight forward, no B.S. answers.”

  His father’s eyes narrowed. “You have something to ask me then?”

  “How did you finance my garage?”

  His father’s eyes widened and quickly narrowed again. “Your grandfather arranged it,” he said, but the tone didn’t match the shake in his voice.

  “Grandpa gave you the money to give to me?” Jake winced. “If that’s the case, why is Eddie Justice trying to kill me on the track?”

  A crease formed between his father’s brows. “Trying to kill you?”

  “I’m told he was behind my crash.”

  “Now, Jake…” His father lowered his arms. “I’m sure he would never…”

  “Why would you say that? You know the man?”

  His father ran his hand over his cleanly shaven chin. “I’ve met him.”

  Chapter Nine

  Jake’s knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel.

  His father bet against him. What kind of money could that have possibly brought him? And what kind of man did that to his own son?

  Jake heard the sirens, and then saw the flashing lights in the mirror.

  “Are you kidding me?” he growled to himself as he pulled to the side of the road.

  He watched in the mirror as Officer Phillip Smythe walked toward him. There was a difference in the way the officer walked and how he walked when he was just a friend visiting.

  Jake rolled down his window. “Hey, Phillip.”

  “You in some kind of hurry?” he asked, and even his voice was different.

  “Just left my dad’s house. I guess I’m a little fired up.

  “License and registration.”

  Jake felt the heat in his cheeks. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to give me a ticket?”

  “Damn straight I am. You were doing fifty-six in a forty-five.”

  “C’mon.”

  Phillip held out his hand as if to wait for the documents.

  Jake lifted off his seat to grab his wallet and pull his license from it. Then he pulled open the glove compartment and fished for the registration before handing it all over to Phillip.

  He took the documents. “I’ll be just a minute.”

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

  “I can’t believe you think I wouldn’t. You need to slow down and check your anger. It only gets you in trouble.”

  “Yeah, well I just found out my dad bet against me in my races. He’s in with Justice somehow and…” He stopped and raked his fingers through his hair. “Write the damn ticket. It’ll add to my day,” he said throwing his head back against the head rest.

  Phillip stood there a few more seconds before handing him back his license and registration. “Slow down, okay?”

  “You’re letting me off?”

  “Next time I throw the whole book at you, but for now, yeah, I’m letting you off. I’m sorry your dad would do something like that.”

  “No surprise really. I lost my sponsor too.”

  “I guess you are having a bad day.”

  “I have two weeks to find a sponsor so I can race in Atlanta.”

  Phillip rested his elbows on the open window and leaned against the truck. This was now the friend and not the officer.

  “I have an idea. But I can’t help you with it.”

  “Okay. What’s the idea?”

  “Lydia.”

  Jake chuckled for the first time all day. “What, and have me paint my car to have some wedding theme?”

  Phillip chuckled too. “Maybe tie some cans to the bumper?”

  It turned to laughter and an easiness between them.

  Phillip nodded as if to a rhythm in his head. “I’m just saying, she has a lot to gain from the exposure. You need some help. Lydia owns multiple businesses around town. I’m sure she’d love to help out a friend.”

  “Should I tell her you sent me?” Jake joked and Phillip took a step back from the truck.

  “That might lose you any sponsorship before you even get started.” Phillip tapped his hand against Jake’s side mirror. “Be careful and slow down,” he said, his voice now filled with authority.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jake replaced his wallet in his pocket as he watched Phillip walk back to his car and drive away.

  Well, what would it hurt, he thought as he pulled back onto the road and headed toward the reception hall where he was sure he’d find Lydia.

  Jake pulled up to the building his sister owned with Lydia Morgan. He parked his truck on the street and looked at the sight before him.

  A year ago they’d settled on the building, and it wasn’t much of a sight, but now, it was a dynamic feature.

  They’d been working on it non-stop to make it the mecca they’d been striving for. A new parking lot had been paved behind the building for the reception hall. His sister’s store had a new hand crafted sign which was as elegant as the store itself.

  His cousin Russell had been in a horrific accident the past fall, and he was using his skills on the building as physical therapy. And it looked like he’d been doing a hell of a job. Lydia also had a new house, a cottage she called it, which Russell was working in. She helped everyone out.

  And that was funny too, when he thought about it. The Morgan family and the Walker family were what
one might call old enemies. They fought over land and rights for years. Then they fought over children who fell in love. Lydia’s grandfather Elias Morgan was as much an S.O.B. as Jake’s father.

  Now Lydia Morgan was in business with Jake’s sister. And Jake’s sister was married to Lydia Morgan’s brother, Tyson.

  He chuckled at the whole thought of it. Barriers could be broken down. Sometimes it took generations.

  He couldn’t be prouder of both his sister and Lydia. They were two of the strongest women he’d ever known. They’d pushed through those barriers and success was sprawled out at their feet.

  As he stepped out of the truck, his sister Bethany called to him and he looked up to see her waving at him from the flower shop.

  Jake gave her a wave and walked toward her. “Working today?”

  “What do you think of this?” She held up a bouquet as he walked through the door.

  He wrinkled up his nose and raised one of his eyebrows. “It’s nice?”

  She let out a grunt and went back to work. “It’s a centerpiece sample. Walker Ranch is having a spring ball.”

  “A what?”

  “We convinced Glenda that they should have a party, and it turned into a ball. Dancing, food, celebration—formal.” She continued to add flowers to the arrangement. “Find a date.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  She shifted a hard glance at him. “Find a date. All Walkers are going to be there.”

  “Even dad?”

  The happiness drained from her face. “I said all Walkers. What problems are you having with him now?”

  Bethany, the one child who had had the least amount of contact with their father for most of her life was the one who tried to extend the olive branch the most often. It was in her heart, he knew. Not having her mother, she wanted to cherish one of her parents, but he thought that maybe she was wasting her time.

  “You say that as if I’m the only one.”

  “I didn’t mean to come across that way.”

  Jake moved to the counter where his sister worked and sat down on the stool. “I just found out he bet against me in that race that nearly killed me.”

  Bethany put down the flowers she was holding. “He wouldn’t do that.”

  Jake let out a laugh. “Are you kidding? It sounds exactly like something he would do. You of all people know how unethical he is.”

  She moved around the table to him. “I don’t want to believe that.”

  “I don’t either.”

  She rested her hand gently on his arm. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that.”

  “None of us do.” He hopped off the stool and she stepped back. “I came to talk to Lydia. Is she around?”

  “Yes. She’s in her office at the reception hall.”

  He gave her a quick hug and turned to leave the store.

  “Jake,” Bethany called after him. “I know I wasn’t around for your accident, but I’m glad you’re racing. I can’t imagine you doing anything else than what you love.”

  He flashed her a smile and continued out the door and toward the reception hall.

  As he walked past the photography studio, he let his sister’s words sink in. What would he do if he couldn’t race?

  He’d had some time to think about that while he recovered from that accident. But even then, all he could think about was getting better so that he could race again. There never was a thought that he wouldn’t race.

  When he pulled open the door to the reception hall, the sounds of Air Supply filled his ears. The thought that Lydia sat in her office and listened to music from the eighties blaring on the sound system while she worked humored him.

  Jake pulled his phone from his pocket and texted Lydia.

  I’m in the reception hall. Wanted to talk. Didn’t want to scare you with this amazing music you have blaring.

  He chuckled to himself as he sent the text and then waited for Lydia.

  Not even a full minute later, Lydia emerged from her office laughing as she aimed the remote toward the DJ booth and the music became faint.

  “Don’t like my music, Walker?” she asked as she walked toward him.

  “I think I said it was amazing.”

  “You are a horrible liar.” She moved to him and pulled him into a hug. “What did you want to talk about?”

  One thing he liked about Lydia Morgan was her straight to business attitude. Perhaps that was why she was so good at negotiations, or so he assumed.

  “I lost my sponsor,” he began, but didn’t continue when he saw her wince. That wasn’t a good sign.

  “I have some beers in the office refrigerator. Want one?”

  “I’d love one. But it’s ten o’clock in the morning.” He watched her process that.

  “I’ve been here since six. I guess I lost track of time. Let’s make some coffee then. Something tells me this conversation is going to cost me.”

  She started toward the office, but Jake held back for a moment. He didn’t like that she quickly assumed, but then again, that was exactly why he was there.

  He followed her to her office and watched as she slid a pod into the coffee maker and brewed a single cup of coffee.

  “Would you like something rather than dark roast? I have a variety.”

  “Dark is fine. You don’t have an old-fashioned coffee pot?” he asked as he sat down in the chair in front of her desk.

  “This is easiest. I can cater to my clients this way. Your sister Audrey turned me on to it. She has one in the salon.”

  Lydia extracted the mug of freshly brewed coffee and handed it to him.

  “Thanks.”

  She slid in another pod and placed a fresh mug under the nozzle. “So tell me,” she began as she pushed the brew button. “What happened to your sponsor?”

  “Eddie Justice is what happened.”

  She narrowed her gaze on him. “He convinced them to drop you?”

  Jake set the mug on the desk and leaned back in the chair. “They picked him up and dropped me. The guy seems to be a pain in my ass lately.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Missy Sheridan pushing you out of races?” she asked as she retrieved her own mug and sat down behind her desk.

  “She says she’s pushing me out to save my life. Justice seems to have a beef with me and she says he’s the one that caused my accident a few years back.”

  “That was a horrible thing to witness. I’d hate to think someone did that on purpose.”

  “Yeah, well on purpose or not, my father bet against me in that race. Seems that’s how he got the money to lend me for the garage.”

  “Guilt money?” she asked and he could see the tension form in her neck.

  “Maybe.” Jake leaned in and placed his arms on the desk. “Listen, let’s not B.S. here. I’m fairly transparent. You know why I’m here. I need a sponsor for Atlanta. Smythe thought I should ask you.”

  He watched as the mild-mannered Lydia’s cheeks grew red with anger as she stood and began to pace behind her desk just at the mention of his name. “Oh, he did, did he? Because he thinks I’m made of money? I’ll help anyone in need? Where does he get off thinking…” She stopped, her eyes wide, and she looked back at Jake. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I guess I know where this is headed.”

  “No.” She eased back into her seat and took a sip of her coffee. “No, you don’t. He gets under my skin. I’m sure he had all the best intentions.” He watched as she took another long drink from her mug. “What do you need and how can I make it happen for you?”

  ~*~

  Missy drove down the street slowly once she spotted Jake’s truck outside his sister’s bridal store. Was it wrong to want to see him?

  She quickly slammed on her brakes as she noticed the light was red.

  Shaking off the fog that seemed to take over her mind, she took a deep breath to cleanse her thoughts.

  That kiss he’d planted on her hadn’t left the forefront of her mind since it had
happened. She’d been so angry with him when she’d sped away from him, but perhaps it was herself that she’d been mad at—because she’d wanted to continue that kiss and more.

  It hadn’t been the reason to drive out to his garage. She’d truly gone to talk to him about an alliance, but when he’d reached his hand into her hair, her mind had gone to complete mush.

  The sound of a horn behind her had her looking up to notice the light had turned green. She started through the light and that was when she saw him walk out of the reception hall with Lydia and he turned to hug her.

  But it wasn’t just a hug, she thought as she watched a Jeep speed by her and the driver flipped her off.

  They’d lingered, she thought as she tried to focus on the road. He’d held Lydia against him, just as he’d held her last night against him.

  She felt the burning of tears in her eyes, and she hated it. Missy wasn’t the kind of girl to cry, especially over a man.

  What did it matter if he was sleeping with Lydia? It would make sense, she tried to convince herself. Lydia was deeply imbedded in the Walker family. She, on the other hand, was nothing more than a competitor in his life.

  No—she was now an ally.

  And if he was with Lydia, why did he kiss her last night? She hadn’t initiated that, he had.

  Oh, she was looking for a fight again and Walker seemed to be the right one. She made a hard turn at the next light and headed toward his garage. Surely he was headed back there.

  As she hit the road that led to his garage, she could see him coming up from behind her. The dust kicked up from the gravel road as he came closer to her.

  Easing her foot down further on the pedal, she watched the speedometer needle move. The smile that tugged on her cheeks made her feel as alive as the speed at which she drove.

  His truck inched up next to her, and she turned her head to see him turn his head toward her. His eyes were shielded by his sunglasses, but the smirk on his face said he was enjoying the chase as much as she was.

  As they neared the entrance to the industrial area where his garage was located, they each eased back on their speed. Jake cut in front of her and she braked hard enough she could feel the truck fishtail. It gave her heart a little kick as she gained control and pulled into the back lot next to him.