But before he can say another word, Emmy places a hand atop her brother’s, where he’s gripping her shoulder. “You told him to disappear?”
Her voice breaks, and she inhales a shuddery breath, shaking her head as tears fill her eyes. “Youknew.”
She wretches out of his hold, brushing away her tears in frustration before she meets his gaze with accusation. “You told me he didn’t care. That he used me and left me when it suited him. You let me think he never loved me.”
Easton opens his mouth to defend his actions, but Emmy cuts him off with a snarl that’s so inherently unlike her that he physically steps back.
“Youwere the reason he left without a word, and even afterward, when you came to see me as I lay broken and sobbing in that bed, you kept us apart. Even when youknewabout the baby.”
Fury surges through my veins, and I take a step forward, fists clenched at my sides, but Sully’s hand on my shoulder holds me firm.
Easton raises a pleading hand to his sister, and she smacks it away, her eyes filled with determination as she grits through clenched teeth, “I hate you, Easton. I’ll never forgive this.Never.”
She gives him her back, marching toward me and the guys from Whispering Willows, but stops when Easton speaks. His voice is low but filled with malice as his eyes hold mine over Emmy’s head.
“His father’s the reason our mother’s not here, Em.” The entire place is so quiet you could hear a pin drop when he raises his voice, anguish dripping from every word. “He’s the reason she’sdead. Did you know that?”
CHAPTER 32
EMERSON
“Haven’tyou ever wondered why Dad felt to blame? Why he could never love us the same after her passing? It’s becausehis fatherused details from the security contract he had with our family to try to blackmail Dad into laundering money for some big-ass clients of his.”
My breathing is labored, white noise buzzing in my ears as I blink soundlessly.
Easton’s voice drops to a rasp. “And when Dad took a stand, Mom was mysteriously killed the next day. A convenient hit-and-run driver who was never found.”
My blood turns to ice at Easton’s words, and I raise my eyes to find Ford’s. Confusion mars his brow as his chest rises and falls rapidly, understanding dawning on him before me.
His father’s the reason our mother’s not here.
Self-recrimination fills Ford’s gaze, and Iknowprecisely what’s running through his mind. The demons that plague him surely rising to the forefront as they constantly threaten to. The inner battle this man wages with himself every single day.
And despite the painful knowledge that Jasper Holloway took yetanotherthing from me, I pivot on my heel, spearing my brother with eyes that only now see the real Easton.
The one embroiled in bitter hatred, the brother from my youth well and truly gone.
“The sins of one man are his alone.” My voice rings out clear and true, every person present hanging on my every word. “His family doesnotneed to atone for choices that were not theirs. They are his victims, just as much as we are. Or are you too blinded by your own prejudice to see that?”
Easton’s face scrunches up in disbelief as he throws his hands up in exasperation. “Even faced with the truth, you still fall for his lies?—”
“He’s not the one who lied to me, East.” My voice is firm, my tone unwavering as I pierce him with a stare that dares him to continue. “That honor belongs solely toyou.”
Then I give him my back once more and stride toward the Whispering Willows crew to slip my hand into Ford’s, squeezing reassuringly, knowing we’ll have time to talk it all out later, away from prying eyes.
“Let’s go home, Cowboy.”
As a unit, we all turn, every one of us moving to leave Rebels as a united front, even as Sutton reappears with a frown. “Where are you guys going?—”
Jesse grabs his sleeve with a stern whisper, making Sutton’s eyes fly open wide, almost comically. Both men join our exodus until Easton fires one last parting shot that might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
“Do me a favor, Holloway?”
Ford’s feet falter, and his shoulders bristle with barely coiled tension that threatens to spring free at any moment until Easton speaks again. His voice is tinged with smug satisfaction, which immediately sets my teeth on edge.
“Tell Fallon she’s good, but I’ve had better.”
FORD
