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He held me tighter. “I’ll tell him to meet us at Ma's. You’ll come with me, right?” He looked so hopeful I was pretty sure there wasn’t anywhere I wouldn’t go if he asked me to.
I cupped his cheeks. “Want me to drive?”
It was a bad time to joke, but I had to do something to loosen his tension.
He shuddered. “I’d rather go shopping in the women’s department.”
I slid my hand in his. “Be careful or you just might get what you wish for.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cal
“What areall of them doing here?”
Aaron glared at me when he walked in the kitchen and saw all our brothers and some of their wives.
“You keep breaking your promise,” I said calmly, keeping a hand on Beau’s thigh for support.
“Who the hell is she?” He flicked his chin at Beau.
“Your family.”
Bobby stood and pulled out his chair. “Sit down.”
I recoiled. He sounded so much like Pop it nearly knocked the breath out of me.
Aaron glared at him too and wouldn’t even look at Ma, who was seated in her spot at the head of the table.
“This has to stop,” she said in that tone that had always scared the crap out of me. “You think it’s fair to let your brother pay your gambling debt?” She pointed at me but kept her gaze locked on him.
He hung his head. “No.”
“That should be reason enough for you to quit.” She folded her hands on the table.
“I’m sorry.” Everyone looked at me. I let out a long breath. “I should’ve told you no. Tried to find you help. I didn’t do you any favors.”
“It’s not your fault,” Aaron said incredulously, eyes wide. “I stopped keeping count of how much I owe you after it went over six figures.” He dropped his chin to his chest.
Was it that much? I’d never kept a tab. There was no such thing when it came to them.
“You gave him over a hundred grand?” Ben asked in disbelief.
I lifted a shoulder and lowered it.
“Joe owes you at least that much for those damn fertility treatments. And you kept making payments on Ma’s house after Pop died. I’m not even gonna get into what you’ve spotted me.” He pointed at me.
Ma gasped.
“And me,” Bobby said.
“And me,” Mike added.
“This isn’t about me.” I focused on Aaron. “If I find you some help, will you take it?”
They had those phone numbers on casino commercials. There had to be somebody who could get my brother off this downward spiral.
I’d always managed to find more money to help him, but I was totally tapped out now.
