Read Online High-Sided: An Armed & Dangerous Novel by L.P. Dover - Free Book Online

giving me a small nod. I nodded back and marched into the office.
    “I can see you’re not happy with my decision,” he said, shutting the door. “I understand your feelings, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
    I turned my back and looked out the window. “There’s nothing you can say that’ll change things. Just know that once you retire, he’s gone.”
    “You won’t be saying that when you hear what I’m about to tell you.”
    I glared at him over my shoulder. “Doubtful.”
    Circling around to his desk, the chair creaked as he sat down. “I loved your mother, Kassidy. She was the most amazing person I ever knew.”
    I scoffed. “So amazing you had to get a divorce.”
    He shook his head. “I didn’t want a divorce, peanut. She was the one who couldn’t stomach being around me.”
    “Why? And don’t give me that bullshit about having differences.” Which was all my mother ever told me at the time. I’d been in high school so it wasn’t like I was a child who couldn’t understand. I kept waiting for explanations and never got them. Over time, I gave up.
    He held up his hands. “I won’t. I’m ready to tell you everything, if you’ll sit down and listen.”
    Crossing my arms over my chest, I stood firm. “I think I’ll stand.”
    “Fine,” he said sadly. “Your mother and I were happy for a long time. It killed me not to be by her side when she was sick.”
    “You had a new wife by then,” I replied blandly.
    He nodded. “I know, but I never stopped loving your mother. It was my extracurricular activities that broke us apart.”
    I felt the bile rise up my throat. Did I want to know? “Were you into hookers? Drugs?”
    “Hell no,” he exclaimed. “Although, what I was involved in might be considered worse to some.” He took a deep breath. “I had a problem with gambling. There were times when I lost everything and didn’t have the money to pay it back. I had to sell your mother’s jewelry and other things around the house just to help.”
    I closed a hand over my mouth. “Oh my God. Is that why you got rid of my toys?” I remembered when he went through mine and my sister’s rooms, packing up some of our belongings. He’d said he was giving them to a charity for other kids. When he told us that, I let him take my favorite bicycle. I thought another child in need would want to have it, even though I loved it more than anything.
    Tears pooled in his eyes and he nodded. “I’m still ashamed of what I did to our family. I’ve tried so hard to make it up to you ever since.”
    “When Ethan said you had enemies outside of the racing world, he was right, wasn’t he?”
    “Yes,” he choked out. “There was one night they’d beaten me up pretty badly. Your mother told you I was in a car accident.”
    My knees grew weak and I felt sick. I melted into a nearby chair. “I can’t believe this. Does Maddie know?”
    He shook his head. “No. I didn’t want you or your sister to find out. Your mother helped me keep the secret.”
    As a kid, I thought he was superman. There was nothing he couldn’t do. I understood his reasoning, but I didn’t like being lied to, especially from my mother.
    “It wasn’t until Logan joined our team when I was able to pay back my debt. I owe him so much.”
    “What about now? Do you still have debt?” I asked incredulously.
    “No, of course not. I cleared that up almost nine years ago. I don’t know what’s going on now. I just don’t want anyone getting hurt. That’s why—”
    The door to his office opened and Angela strolled in with a stack of papers in her arms and earbuds in her ears. She was dressed in her yoga pants, most likely about to go on her morning run after she filed our expense receipts in the file cabinet. Her eyes went wide and she shrieked when she saw us.
    “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry,” she said, taking out her earbuds. “Usually, no one’s in here at this time.” She held up the papers. “You had