Rebel Heart

"I'm here for you. And for Brady. I'll get those later," Mr. Tim replied.

Lana looked up at him in surprise.

"I know you probably still hate me right now. What kind of father treats his daughter as a servant her entire life and lies to her about pretty much everything?"

"I understand why you did it," she said, looking away. "You needed access to everything the government had. Who better than your own daughter to plant as a mole?"

"I wanted to protect you," he countered. "Greene and any of the others couldn't know you were my daughter. And yes, everything and everyone in my life has a function and purpose. I live by a certain creed, one that runs in our family."

His words reopened the wound she'd tried to heal too quickly. He waited for her to speak.

"I don't want to do it anymore," she said at last. "I don't want anything to do with your world."

"Does that go for me as well?"

She hesitated then shook her head. "I've always admired you, Tim. You are cut out for politics and betrayal. I am not."

"This is the family business, as they say."

"I want out of it. I want to be with Brady."

Tim drew a deep breath and sat in the chair beside hers. She searched his youthful face. Even knowing their relationship, he was hard to read.

"Very well," he said at last. "I'm disappointed in your decision, but I respect it. I had thought it might come to this."

"You can send me overseas, like the elite do their unwanted children."

"Of course not," he said with a smile. "One of the family's estates is here in Montana. You've accompanied me there on the few days I've gotten to relax over the past few years."

"I know it," she said, recalling the rustic mansion nestled among pine trees next to a lake.

"I was saving it for you. As my companions had children, I gave each an estate. Ran out of estates after the fourteenth and stopped having children. You were the last." He flashed one of his contagious smiles. "The one here in Montana has always been my favorite. Fitting that my only female child was named its mistress."

"You're giving it to me?" she asked.

"Not officially until my death. But it's your new home in the meantime. I'll call ahead when I plan on visiting," he said. "And I'll ensure Brady follows through with his promise to marry you. I can think of no one better to take care of you."