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She’s mine to protect.And I’m not leaving here without her.
Cassidy must sense what I’m thinking as I glare over her head and into the trailer at her back. At least seven people are lingering between the kitchen and living room watching me. And I can tell from here—the place is trashed. How long have they been partying for? All night and all day? My jaw ticks as I lock eyes with Garrett and the nearly empty beer bottle in his hand.
He looks like shit, and I’d love nothing more than to give him a black eye to match the rest of him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, bringing my attention back to the angel of a woman in front of me. “I forgot to text you, um…now’s not a good time.”
I take a step closer, crowding her with my body. I reach out, wiping away a stray tear before it falls. She leans into me as Frankie rubs against me, shaking like a leaf. The poor little guy. “You’ve got two choices here,” I growl, my anger rising. “I stay and beat your brother’s fucking ass, or you come with me right now. Either way, I’m not leaving you here alone.”
A brief war wages behind those deep ocean eyes before she nods faintly.Good.
I nod sternly in return, my hand going to her arm to steer her inside. “Let’s get your stuff.”
Garrett barges forward as someone finally turns the music down. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here, Montgomery?”
Cassidy stops, now pinned between us with Garrett at her front and me at her back. I wait to see if she has anything to say, but she doesn’t. I don’t want to get in the middle of whatever family shit they’ve got going on, but when she leans away from her brother and back into me, I know she needs me right now.
“Back off, Clark,” I say, attempting to keep my voice level to show I’m not here for a fight.
“You weren’t invited,prick. Get out of my house,” he shouts, slurring his words.
I grit my teeth, trying to keep it cool for Cassidy’s sake no matter how bad I want to shove my fist down his throat. I take a deep breath and guide her in my arms through the kitchen to head down the hall when I’m roughly grabbed from behind. I quickly release my hold on Cassidy so I don’t bring her back with me as I spin around and knock a pair of hands from me.
Garrett’s in my face a second later, pushing his chest into mine. I don’t budge. “You got something else you need to get off your chest there, Clark? Because if you’re lookin’ for another fight, you’re not gonna get one from me.”
He studies me with dark, glossy eyes. There’s no telling how many he’s had, and I’m not sure how this is about to play out. “Leave,” he grinds out, his breath reeking of booze.
I press back against him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
A few idiots sitting on the couch start to stand. And just when I think we’re about to have a real problem here, Cassidy takes my hand and places a strap of some kind in it. I turn, looking down at her and the light duffle bag she’s handed me. I didn’teven notice her walk away. Too distracted by her brother and whatever the hell he has going on in his head right now.
“I need a few more things,” she whispers. “And stuff for Frankie.”
I tighten my grip on the bag as she slips between her brother and me. Still clutching Frankie to her chest—which can’t be easy considering his size—she hands me his dog food off the counter and reaches into the fridge for a compact medical cooler.
Garrett’s eyes track her every move. He must have had a good bit to drink because it’s clear he’s trying to figure out what’s going on. Unfortunately, he catches on. “That’s right, Cass. Following in her footsteps now, huh?”
What is he even talking about?
His sister ignores him, hooking the leash to Frankie and handing him to me. “Can you take him to my car? I’ve got a few more things I want to grab.”
“You’re blocked in,” I say, snarling at the sea of drunks watching us. Not a single one of them is in any shape to be picking up a set of keys let alone moving their car. “We’ll figure something out tomorrow.”
She sighs. “Okay…”
“I’ll be right back.” I wait for a beat, glaring at Garrett to do something as she goes back down the hall. He does nothing, just stands there with his brows cast down and sways. I quickly head out to my truck and put Frankie in the front seat, tossing everything else in the backseat before going back inside.
As I walk in, Cassidy comes into view at the end of the hallway carrying a shotgun and a small fire safe you’d use to put important documents in. I keep a stern expression, not wanting to show my surprise at how little trust she truly has in her brother.
He notices, too. “Where the hell you goin’ with that?” he barks, taking a step forward and accidentally tripping on the leg of oneof the wooden chairs at the table beside him. He kicks the chair and stumbles. I reach out and grip his upper arm, holding him upright.
A moment later he gains his footing, yanking his arm away. But his focus isn’t on me, it’s on Cassidy as she speaks. “You want the trailer, Garrett? Fine. You can have it,” she snaps, fresh tears streaming down her face. “But you arenottaking everything Dad left us and selling it. I won’t let you.”
“Why not?” he demands. “Isn’t that what you’re doing? Cleaning up the place to sell it right out from under me. What? You didn’t think I wouldn’t notice all the shit you got rid of in Dad’s shed?”
Cassidy shakes her head and goes to the front door. “I’m done arguing with you, Garrett.” She pauses in the doorway, glancing back at him. “I’mdone.”
Rage flashes in her brother’s eyes and I hold out an arm to block him from taking another step in her direction. “You think I give a shit?” he shouts, waving his hands wildly as she steps outside. “That’s right—pack up and leave just like she did when the goin’ gets rough,” he spits, forcing a laugh. “Mom would be so fucking proud.”
