Falling to Pieces Read Online Free Page B

yourself into thinking you can stop me, Joe. Are you really willing to risk it?”
    I gripped the edge of the chair, my knuckles turning white. “What the hell do you want? That I run in this asinine race?” I swallowed, trying to settle my frayed nerves. “Fine. I’ll run, but I’m still marrying Rose.”
    His lips pursed with a scowl. “Not acceptable.”
    “The only way I do this is with her. I know you find this impossible to believe, but I actually love her. Genuine love, not the political for-show marriage you and Mom put on.”
    “Joseph,” Mom gasped.
    “Genuine love?” Dad shouted. “What the hell does love have to do with anything ? You marry for money and power. Hell, even that Fenton County tart has figured that one out.” He took a breath to settle down. “I’ve tolerated your rebellion for years thinking, ‘let the boy get it out of his system before he runs for office.’ We couldn’t have you creating a scandal once your political career began, so we gave you a free rein. Overachiever that you are, you’ve done your level best to sow as many wild oats as there are fields to plant ’em in. You, me, and God only know the messes you’ve created that I’ve cleaned up over the years. But I did it, literally banking on the payoff at the end.” He pointed his finger at me, the veins on his temple throbbing. “ You owe me, Joe . I’ve been cleaning up your shit for years, and now it’s time to pony up, boy. And I swear to God and all that is holy, if you don’t, I will bury that girl .”
    I stood, my stomach rolling, and I took in several deep breaths as fear flooded every cell of my body. I wanted to protest that she was innocent, and that she’d never done anything to him, but when had that ever stopped him before? J.R. Simmons was ruthless.
    My mother watched me, a war of emotion battling on her face.
    I swallowed a cry of anguish. What the hell had I expected? He was right. I’d created more scandals than a person had a right to. I might have sailed out of every single one unscathed, yet with every transgression, I was one foot deeper in my father’s pit. I’d dug the very hole I was trapped in.
    I walked over to my father’s minibar and poured a glass of whiskey, taking a gulp.
    “J.R.,” Mom said softly. “I’m telling you, he’ll never win against Delany.”
    “What the Sam Hill are you talking about, Betsy?” My father bellowed.
    “You’re not giving the family angle enough credit. Not in this district. Not where sponsoring your local Little League team can increase your business fivefold.”
    I took another swig, letting the liquid warm its way down my throat.
    “And what the hell do you want to do about that?” he asked.
    My mother hesitated. “Let him make his engagement public.”
    I swung around to face her.
    My father’s stunned face gaped at both of us. “To that….that…”
    I slammed the glass down on the table. “ Her name is Rose ,” I forced out through gritted teeth. I took a step toward him. “And she is good and decent and a better person than you could ever hope to be.”
    He shook his head with a sneer. “That may be true, but we all know what they say about nice guys finishing last and the same applies to her.” He rested his forearms on his desk and leaned forward. “She may be good and decent, but you need cunning and resourceful. You need Hilary.”
    I shook my head, barely containing my horror. I’d always known this day of reckoning was coming, but I’d never had anything worth standing up for against him. Not before Rose. But then again, that was exactly why he chose now to spring this on me. When I had too much to lose to say no. “I will never marry Hilary.” My voice shook with emotion.
    “J.R.,” my mother pleaded. “Listen to me. You can use that Fenton County girl to your advantage. She’s lower class like half the population of the county he’ll represent. Delany’s going to use his humble roots against our money as