Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [102]
"From the people who were after me because of the photo you'd taken."
Alex hated being reminded that the photo was his fault. He'd blamed himself for his father's death even before this past week. He'd always felt that somehow he'd been responsible. Then when Stan and later Brady told him his father had been murdered… He shook his head as anger raced through him once again. "I can't believe I blamed myself for your fake death."
"Why would you blame yourself for my accident?" Charles asked sharply.
"Let's see-maybe it was because Daniel Brady told me yesterday that you were killed because of that picture I took."
"Brady told you that? Did he tell you I was alive?"
"No, he didn't mention that little fact." Alex's stomach burned once again as he remembered that Danie Brady had told them Charles was probably murdered, and he'd said it with a straight face. "That bastard," he murmured. "He knew all along you were alive."
"He helped me set up the crash," Charles admitted. "Brady was never supposed to tell you it was anything but an accident." He paused, his eyes serious. "He must have wanted to scare you off. Why were you talking to him?"
Alex ignored that. "Does Mom know that you're alive?"
Charles shook his head. "No."
That was a small consolation. At least he hadn't been the only one duped.
"After the photo was published, I received a death threat," his father said. "I knew you and your mother were in danger. The only way I could protect you was to die. If I was dead, you would be free."
"You're going to have to give me more than that," Alex said, pacing back and forth across the room, adrenaline rushing through his bloodstream. He couldn't handle the emotions ripping through him-anger, frustration, disappointment, sadness, bewilderment…
"It's too dangerous to tell you more," his father replied. "I've protected you all these years. I won't stop now just because you're grown."
"How dare you tell me that you've protected me! You left me fatherless and alone. You let me grow up thinking you were dead. Do you have any idea what that was like?" Twenty-five years of grief and rage for all that he'd lost with his dad drove him over the edge. Alex picked up the glass vase on top of the television console and heaved it toward the fireplace. The glass shattered into a million pieces. He felt only marginally better.
"Alex, calm down," Julia said, worry in her eyes.
"Why should I? He broke up my life."
"I know you're upset," Charles began. 258 "That doesn't even touch what I'm feeling. How the hell can you stand there and talk about protecting me when you walked out on me? I wanted to be just like you. God! I can't believe I ever thought that way." He bit down on his bottom lip so hard he tasted blood. "I'm not doing this," he said. He headed for the door, his only thought to get as far away from his father as possible.
"Wait, don't go," Charles said. "We need to talk this out."
Alex paused in the doorway. "How are we going to talk when you won't tell me anything? I'm done. You can keep your secrets. I don't give a damn anymore. I'm out of here." Alex slammed out of the door, striding down to the sidewalk so fast he barely felt his feet hit the pavement. He was so mad. His head was pounding, and his nerves felt as if they were on fire.
"Hang on, Alex," Julia yelled. She caught up with him at the car. "I'm driving."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am. You're in no condition to drive. You'«probably run us off the road."
"You must be mistaking me for my father. He's the one who runs off roads and pretends to be dead." H slammed his fist down on the hood of the car, relishing the pain that shot through his fingers and up his arm. He could handle that pain. He could handle what was real, what made sense.
"Give me the keys," Julia said, blocking his way into the car.
"I am fine."
"You're nowhere close to fine. And you know it."
He didn't want to waste time arguing with her. He tossed