“I don’t need luck. I got this.”
“Whatever,” he says, hanging up. I do the same, putting my phone in my pocket and heading towards Cammie. I actually like that my family is coming. It might be interesting to see how they deal with the Rivertons. Maybe I can get Petal’s little boy to pee on Cammie and her father. CC would enjoy that.
At the thought of my woman, I grin, even as Cammie smiles at me.
“What, did Tarzan forget he had to have a card to make the doors work?” I laugh when there’s pounding on the door. I heard it when I was in the shower and jumped out, wrapping myself in a towel and half-jogging to the door. When he pounds on the door again, I open it. “Really, Gray, give me a minute, I was taking a—” I stop when I look up to see David Riverton standing there. “What are you doing here?” I ask, frozen because he was the last person I expected.
“I can see you are just like your mother. Really, Claudia, this is an upscale hotel. You could at least wear a robe when answering the door.”
“What do you want?”
“I think it’s time we had a talk.”
“I think we said all we had to say to each other when Banger got sick.”
“Apparently not because here you are causing problems yet again.”
“I don’t see how. I’ve barely spoken to you. Now, if you’d be kind enough to leave, Gray will be home in a little while. You’re welcome to return then and talk to him,” I tell him, moving to close the door. I knew I wouldn’t get off that easy when he raises his hand and keeps me from closing it in his face. I’d force the issue, but I’m holding onto the towel with my other hand.
“That’s just it, Claudia. This isn’t a home. This is a hotel. You’re here not because you are a guest of the hotel, but merely because you’re sleeping with a guest. You being here puts your face and your very existence too close for comfort for my business, and that can’t happen. We had a deal. Do I need to remind you?”
I really don’t want to have this conversation. I don’t want to have my air mixing with the likes of David Riverton. Apparently, however, God isn’t looking down deciding I need a freak tornado to swoop down and suck the asshole into another universe. So, I back away. If I have to talk to him, I’m at least doing it with clothes on.
“I remember every detail of our last meeting, daddy dear. I don’t need a refresher course,” I tell him, flippantly going to the bathroom. I jump when I hear the door slam behind me, but luckily, I’m in the bathroom and my reaction is hidden from him. I guess the “daddy” barb struck home. Good.
“I told you to never fucking utter those words. Your slut of a mother trapped me, thinking she could use you as leverage for money.”
Oooh, he cursed! I guess I did score a direct hit.
“Well, I guess you showed her. Oh, wait. You did give her money. Tell me again, how much did you pay my mother to skip town with her mouth shut?”
“Apparently not enough to make sure she took you with her.”
“Yeah, you totally overestimated good old Margaret’s maternal instinct with that one,” I half-joke, coming back through the room with a t-shirt and shorts on. I’m running a towel through my hair, wondering how long it will take before Riverton grows tired and leaves. I really can’t handle him. Today started off so well, too.
“How sad it must be to know that no one really wants you. Even that broken down old biker mostly just put up with you. He felt sorry for you, I suppose.”
And just like that, his words strike like a dagger into the pit of my stomach. David Riverton is a king at knowing exactly how to wound an opponent. It’s how he got to where he is in life.
“I’m not discussing Banger with you. You don’t deserve to even mention his name. If you came here to remind me that I’m the scum beneath your gardener’s fingernails, I got it. I got that message a long time ago, Daddy. I don’t need it again. You’re just wasting your time.”
“I came to tell you that you need to tell Gray you’ve changed your mind and leave him alone and return to Kentucky.”
“What? Why in hell would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, I’ll destroy that damn garage you came and begged me to save years ago.”