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“Yep, we got that part. But why?”
“Because Greg threatened to take Katie if I didn’t.”
Carter laughs until he sees I’m serious. “That was a joke, right? What’s he going to do? Pay someone in stolen goods? That guy doesn’t have a cent to his name.”That gets my attention.
“You know about Greg?”
“Fuck.” Carter sighs as an apologetic look crosses his face. “Not at first, but when I saw him at your work, he looked so familiar and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I knew him. I only just figured out he was your stepbrother. I mean, it’s not like I really saw him that often—you hated the guy—but when Grayson told me his name was Greg, I put two and two together. If I’d figured it out sooner…”
Motherfucker! I want to kick his ass only I can’t deal with that right now. But Grayson can and he does; he slaps him across the back of his head and calls him a dickwad. Good enough for now.
Running my hands up and down my face, I shake my head and groan.
“Is that why you’re so messed up? Because he’s your brother?”
“He’snotmy brother, and fuck no. It’s all for Lucy. I feel sick, Carter. I’ve barely slept. I can’t eat. I don’t even have it in me to drink myself into oblivion. I’m just empty.” I pause before groaning again. “I think I’m in love with her and I just broke her heart.”Both our hearts.
Carter’s eyes just about bulge out of his head. “No shit, Wes. You’ve been in love with her for years. You should’ve never let her go. Then or now. What were you thinking?”
“What was I thinking? Are you fucking kidding me?” Sitting up, I hold my clenched fist by my side to physically stop myself from hitting him. “He’s going to takeeverythingfrom her, and I gave him the means to do it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I gave him money!”
“What the fuck, Wes,” Grayson finally joins the conversation.
“So rather than running away, why not help her?” Carter adds.
Sucking in a breath, I stand up and get in Carter’s face. “What do you think I’m doing, asshole? He said if I stepped back he’d leave her be.”
“The fuck? All this is about you? Why?”
Why?Don’t punch him. Don’t fucking punch him.
“He’s unhinged, Carter. He’s hated me for most of his life. That’s why.”
Carter’s brows furrow as he frowns. “Nope, I’m not buying it.”
I take a step back, giving us some much-needed distance because if I can reach him, I’m going to knock him out.
“You’re not buying it? Which goddamn part?” I yell and immediately hate myself for it.I never used to be this angry.But I’m not wrong; those were his exact words—“I’m going to ruin you until you have exactly what I have…nothing.”Wait!
“I’ve got to go,” I blurt out, taking off in a run toward the front door, grabbing my keys from the stand before I’m gone. I don’t even give a shit if they lock the door behind them. This needs to end.Ineed to end it.Now!
Chapter Forty-Four
Lucy
Aftercallinginsickto work for the next few days, I spend my alone time staring at a blank wall, alternating between being angry and hurt. Aaron calls me several times, but I don’t tell him a thing. “Just a stomach bug,” I repeat over and over, hoping it sounds believable. And I guess it’s somewhat true. I’m nauseous all the time and my heartbeat’s out of sync. I definitely don’t feel like myself, and facing workandWes is the last thing I want to do. The only person getting any real smiles from me is Katie. She’s my reason for being, and no matter how broken I am inside, she can pull me out of it. Inthatmoment, anyway.
By Friday, however, I know I’m going to have to sort myself out, so I make a conscious effort to do that. Dylan’s playing at home again this weekend, so I have no doubt he’ll be breaking down my door any second since I’ve ignored all his calls today. I told him I needed the week to myself, so really, I should have until Sunday. But, I guarantee he thinks five days is sufficient and is on his way over.
The roar of his truck filters through an open window barely five minutes later, and I have to laugh at how well I know him. Katie abandons her blocks and leaps up, racing down the hall toward the front door, like she always does when any of our friends or family arrive.Even Wes.
“Summer came, Mom,” she yells as I finish tidying up the kitchen counter, waiting for them to come in.
Dylan drops a box of my favorite cookies in front of me and presses a kiss to my temple. “Have you heard from the f… from him?” he asks, cutting off his words just in time. Summer shakes her head as she pulls me into a hug and then joins Katie on the floor with her adorable baby bump now getting in the way.
