Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,295

to their name.”

Everything, every single little look or side comment or holier than thou attitude landed in her lap and fiery anger filled her chest. He had fucked over so many people that he was going on trial in a federal court. There wasn’t a person in Boston who would give him the time of day unless they owed him something.

He had ruined countless lives by stealing money from people and he thought he was being wronged? That he actually deserved to come out of this by getting something?

Harper pushed back from the table so fast that her chair fell behind her with a thud. She leaned over, gripped the edge of the table until her knuckles went white.

“I feel sick,” she all but growled at her father.

“Is something wrong?” her mother asked.

“I feel sick from listening to him,” she replied, pointing at her father.

He glanced around then glared at her. “Sit down, Harper.”

But his command was drowned out by the thundering in her ears. People were staring openly now, but she didn’t care. Enough was enough.

“No. I won't sit here another second and listen to you act as if you did nothing wrong. You’re a crook and a liar. Do you really think you can get away with what you did--”

“Harper, just stop—“

“What you did to all of those innocent people? How could you do it, Dad? How could you steal so much money when we had more than we ever needed? And why won’t you just stop lying and admit that you did it?”

Her father narrowed his eyes. “You will sit down and you will stop making a scene or so help me…”

“Or what? You going to sue me too? Christ, you already illegally stole money from the Wentworth’s and now you think you should get more because they called you out on it? I honestly thought you couldn’t stoop any lower. What a piece of work you are.”

Harper stood up and sucked air into her lungs. Her entire body felt as though it was on fire and her arms and legs shook so badly, she thought she might fall over. Throughout it all her phone kept buzzing with texts and missed calls.

“Harper,” her mother gasped. Her gaze darted furtively around the dining room before settling back on her wayward daughter. As if Harper were in the wrong, just like always. “Please sit down. We can talk this over. You don’t understand...”

“Why can’t you see what’s right in front of your face, Mom?” she exploded. “He stole their money. He. Is. Guilty.”

Silence finally echoed in her head and she realized that every head in the restaurant was turned toward them watching her outburst. Even the staff had stopped moving. Her father’s jaw ticked and he sent an icy glare to the people behind her as if he could make them look away.

Fat chance. The people of Boston had been watching him for months. This scene that she had created would be all over the media in no time.

Fallen rich girl goes crazy, accuses father of being a bastard over pasta primavera.

At least it would be true. Just like everything else that they had published about the man she was biologically related to. It left a sour taste in her mouth. Her stomach twisted and she felt a little sick.

She wasn’t this person. The one who caused scenes in public, but tonight she had reached her threshold and couldn't hold her tongue anymore.

Her mother’s face went white and she grasped her linen napkin. “The papers are spreading vicious…”

“Lies?” Harper spat. “The only lies here are the ones you tell yourself. I will not stand by and pretend that I think what he did was okay. I’m tired of being found guilty by association. If you can’t see the truth, then there’s nothing left to discuss.”

Harper grabbed her purse and righted the chair.

She spun on her heel and walked from the restaurant, her head held high and her purse buzzing like an angry wasp. Hot tears burned her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Not there, not in front of everyone.

She wanted to get away. The last time she’d felt any semblance of freedom was in Tahiti. Maybe she could go back and try to recapture that feeling. A half laugh, half sob lodged in her throat and she tried to swallow it away.

Because that had worked out really well for her the first time.

Chapter 4

Her phone buzzed.

Again.

She lifted her arm to hail and cab and hit Accept.