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“You’refucking sorry?”I closed the distance, grabbed him by the filthy shirt, and glared into his eyes. How I'd ever seen this man as powerful was beyond me.
He wasn’t powerful in this moment…he was a scared little boy. I took in the exhaustion in his gaze, then the filthy shirt fisted in my grip. “How about you tell Ryth that?”
“Tell Ryth what?” Caleb asked, stepping down the stairs behind me.
My older brother shot me a glance, one filled with panic, before he turned to dad.
“Tell her he’s sorry for almost fucking killing her in the car this morning,” I clarified, easing my brother’s conscience. “Drove like a goddamn maniac and left her fucking terrified.”
“What the fuck for?” Caleb moved to stand at my side. “And why the hell is there blood splatter on your damn shirt?”
Dad raked his hand through his graying hair and shook his head. “Nothing.”
“What the fuck aren’t you telling us?” Caleb took a step closer, bending to meet his gaze.
Lawyer versus lawyer. I knew who I’d put my money on.
“What the fuck did you do, dad?” Caleb searched his face.
But our father wasn’t about to be cornered, not by his own sons. Anger flared deep. “Get the fuck out of my goddamn face, Caleb…and you—” he shot a glare my way. “Stay out of my goddamn business.”
But his business was our business…especially now, where Ryth was concerned.
“What the fuck are you still doing here, Caleb?” Venom etched dad’s words. He was a viper in that moment. One already bitten and hurting, ready to strike. “Don’t you have a home to go to?”
“You want to talk about home?” That darkness rose in Caleb’s eyes. “Or would you rather us just ignore the fact you brought a strange woman and her daughter home before the dirt had settled over our mother’s coffin? What kind of fucking home do you think that is?”
Heat flared in dad’s eyes “It’snoneof your concern.”
“It is when you terrorize a young girl, one who’s about to be our stepsister.” Caleb never budged. When I looked at him, all I saw was mom.
Dad’s shoulders slumped, the fire that’d been there a second ago snuffed out in an instant. “It was a mistake, okay?”
“One you won’t repeat,” I added. “I drive her to school and I pick her up. Me, or one of the others.”
Surprise filled him and he scowled, then glanced at Caleb, who just met his stare with stony silence.
“Fine,” dad muttered. “Whatever you want. I need a damn shower and some fucking sleep.”
He headed for the stairs. I swore I saw him pause for a second as though there was something he wanted to say. But then he was gone, with the heavy thud of steps.
“What the fuck was that about?” Caleb muttered softly.
I shook my head as my phonebeeped.
Ryth…
I grabbed my cell, opening the messages.
Natalie: Open the door, Nick. I want to see you.
“Shit.” I winced as the sound of her damn Nissan pulling into the driveway.
Caleb scowled at the sound, then shook his head. “That’s all yours, brother.”
He left me…the sonofabitch left as the engine outside died. I frowned, my pulse speeding as Ryth roared to life inside my head. “Fuck.” I strode to the door as the thud of a car door sounded.
Her shadow passed across the window as I opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
