by J. E. Parker
Unable to stop myself, I unclenched my fists and laced my fingers with Brantley’s. He squeezed my fingers before pulling our combined hands onto his lap, where he rested them against his thigh.
“Nothing to be scared of, bella dama. Trust me.”
I wasn’t sure what scared me more—the fact that I wanted to trust him, or that part of me already did. Feeling like I was being pulled in two directions, my heart pounded against my rib cage.
My anxiety roared to life.
“Breathe, Clara,” Brantley whispered next to my ear, squeezing my hand harder. “Just breathe, baby.” His steady voice calmed me and doing as he said, I closed my eyes and took a breath. “Good girl. Now take another one.”
Without arguing, I did as he said.
Brantley
I am so fucked.
The thought repeated on a loop in my head as I stood on Grandmama’s front porch watching the kids play tag in the yard. Beside me, Evan, Hendrix, and Anthony were arguing over football, but I wasn’t paying attention to anything they were saying.
I was focused on something else.
That something else? Kissing Clara.
Before I left Memphis, I promised myself that I wouldn’t touch her. I knew if I did that my obsession for her would grow, making my life a hell of a lot harder.
With the taste of her on my lips, and the memory of her soft curves pressed against me still fresh on my mind, I realized I’d been right.
When she’d asked me to kiss her, my control snapped.
Now, an hour later, my lips yearned for seconds, and my fingers itched to explore further. Teetering on the precipice of losing my godforsaken mind, I was becoming unhinged. If I didn’t get a handle on the situation, I would end up doing something reckless.
I can’t keep falling for her—
My phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts. Thankful for the distraction, I pulled it out of my pocket and pressed it to my ear without looking at the caller ID.
“Yeah?” I answered, my chest tight with frustration.
“Mr. Morgan, this is Ralph with Superior Movers. We’ve run into some engine problems and I’m afraid we won’t be reaching our destination by the scheduled arrival time. We’re looking at an overnight delay.”
My jaw ticked.
“I’m sorry for any problems this may cause, but please understand that mechanical failures are out of our control. I am working to resolve the problem as soon as possible, but it doesn’t appear to be a quick fix. Again, I’m sorry for any issues this causes.”
“It’s fine, Ralph,” I replied, despite my annoyance. It wasn’t his fault the truck had broken down and I wouldn’t take out my irritation on him. My madre raised me better than that. “I understand. Call me when you have an updated arrival time.”
“Will do, Mr. Morgan. I understand you are eager to get this move completed so I’ll do my best to get your items delivered quickly.”
“Sounds good. Thanks, Ralph.”
Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call.
I looked up, my eyes met Evan’s confused ones.
“What’s going on?” He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“The moving truck broke down. The guy on the phone didn’t have a new ETA so who the fuck knows when they’ll get here.”
“Figures. You and Bella can stay with Hope and me tonight. We’ve got plenty of room.”
“No,” I replied. “I remember how the first few months with a newborn are. Hope has enough to deal with it. She doesn’t need any last-minute house guests.” Evan was about to argue so I added, “Where’s the closest hotel? A nice one. Not a shit one.”
“The only hotel in the tri-county area is the Traveler’s Inn out on Highway 9, and it isn’t nice. Not even close,” Hendrix said, crossing his arms over his chest. “If you don’t want to stay with Evan and Hope, I’m sure Grandmama would love to have you here. Hell, Pop wouldn’t mind you staying with him. He’s already keeping Lucca and Melody tonight.”
“You can stay with us, too,” Anthony said next. “Shelby has to work, but Ashley and I wouldn’t mind the company.”
I started to reply but snapped my mouth closed when Bella appeared beside Hendrix and stomped her foot on the ground. Like Hendrix, she crossed her arms over her chest and twisted her mouth into a pout. “I don’t want to go to a hotel,” she whined, having overheard our conversation.
Her eyes darted around the porch before landing on Clara, who sat on the swing next to Maddie. Like magic, her pout disappeared. “I want us to stay with Clara!” she shouted, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “We can have a sleepover!”
“Princesa—” I started.
“Daddyyy,” she continued to whine. “Pleaseee.”
“Beautiful girl, we can’t spend the night with Clara.”
“Why not?” Declan asked, sidling up next to my girl. “Bella can sleep with me, and you can sleep with Mama. I have an extra pillow, and Mama has like five.” Before I could get a single word in, he turned to face his mother, and shouted, “Mama, can Bella and Brantley sleep at our house tonight?”
The expression that crossed Clara’s face was comical.
Hendrix, being the shithead he is, laughed. “Oh, this is pure gold.”
Embarrassment stained Clara’s cheeks, and I almost punched him. Him making her uncomfortable was enough to trigger my temper, which I normally controlled with ease.
As if she could sense trouble brewing, Grandmama chose that moment to come out onto the porch with Shelby hot on her heels. “What’s going on out here?” She asked, throwing a dishtowel over her shoulder. “I can hear the kids hollering all the way in the house.”
“The moving truck broke down, so it won’t be here today,” Evan said, fighting back laughter. “Brantley was going to check into a hotel for the night, but Bella and Declan have other ideas.”
Grandmama arched a brow. “What sort of ideas?”
Hendrix didn’t bother to hide his laughter. “They want to have a sleepover at Clara’s. Apparently, Clara has extra pillows, so Brantley can sleep with her.”
Shelby made a choking sound and mumbled, “Smart kids,” under her breath.
“Sounds like one helluva plan to me,” Grandmama said, smiling from ear-to-ear. “That okay with you Miss Fancy Pants?”
Bella turned, facing Clara.
“Please, Clara,” Bella asked softly. “I’ll be good. I won’t make much noise.” Her chin wobbled, and my heart clenched. She twisted her fingers in the front of her shirt and shifted her weight between her feet. Tears filled her eyes. “I promise I won’t be a brat.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “Brat?” I asked through gritted teeth. “Did someone call you a brat?” It was a stupid question considering I already knew the answer.
Chastity. That fucking—
Clara stood, yanking me from my thoughts. She wore a forced smile on her face that did little to disguise the rage brewing in her eyes. Crossing the porch, she kneeled and cupped Bella’s cheeks. “Bella, beautiful girl, look at me.”
Bella’s eyes met hers.
A single tear slipped down her flushed cheek.
“Baby, you are not a brat. You are nothing but sweet and kind.”
Brows furrowed in confusion, Declan wrapped a hand around Bella’s forearm. “Yeah, princess girl. You’re not a brat.”
“That’s right,” Clara added, nodding. “And for the record, you are welcome to spend the night at my house any time you like. I need another girl around to help me keep my boys in line.”
Liam chose that moment to run up the porch steps. One glance at Bella had him sliding to a stop behind his mother. “Why is Bella crying?” His hands fisted at his sides. “Was somebody mean to her?”
“What if they were?” Evan asked. “What would you do?”
Liam’s jaw ticked. “I’d punch them in the face.”
“Liam,” Clara fussed, looking over her shoulder. “You can’t just punch people in
the face.”
“If they hurt Bella, I will.”
Declan nodded. “Me too.”
“Me three,” Shelby added from the doorway, a giant smile on her face.
Anthony chuckled from beside me. “You would, Sunshine.”
“Dang hoodlums,” Grandmama said, humor lining her voice. “All of you.”
Maddie scoffed. “You’re a fine one to talk. Do I need to remind you of the grocery store incident from last week?”
Grandmama sneered at her only blood related granddaughter. “That wasn’t my fault.”
“The heck it wasn’t,” Maddie argued, her voice laced with amusement. “You threatened to spray paint anatomically correct naked people across the front of the grocery store if the manager didn’t honor your coupon. It was for fifty cents off a twelve pack of toilet paper, Grandmama. Fifty. Dang. Cents.” She leaned forward on the swing where she sat. “Not to mention, the coupon was expired.” She paused. “By an entire year.”
“She did what?” Hendrix asked in disbelief.
“Listen, here, hussy,” Grandmama snapped, tapping her foot against the porch. “It was the principle of the thing. I’ve been shopping at that blasted store since it opened fifty years ago. The least they could do was take my coupon. It’s called customer service. And I wouldn’t have threatened to spray paint naked men across the windows if the manager hadn’t been such a jackass. The man was ornerier than a constipated grizzly bear.”
Exasperated, Maddie threw her hands in the air. “For God’s sake, you tried to run him over with the motorized shopping cart you were riding. You chased the poor man all the way down the frozen foods aisle while swinging your cane at him.”
Grandmama arched a brow. “Well, he took my dang coupon, didn’t he? And he better be glad he did. It was hard as heck to chase that boy down. I had the cart at top speed and he was still outrunning me. If I hadn’t cut him off in the front of the frozen pizzas, he’d would’ve outrun me. Then I really would’ve lost my daggum temper.”
Clara’s shoulders shook from restrained laughter. “Grandmama,” she said, her face turning red. “One day you’re going to get arrested.”
“No, I won’t.” Grandmama raised her chin in the air indigently. “Every cop in the tri-county area knows I will take a hickory switch to their behind if they mess with me.” Her gaze swung to Anthony. “Ain’t that right, Stud Muffin?”
Anthony didn’t have time to reply before Clara stood, rolling her eyes. “Okay, that’s enough, y’all.” Taking Bella’s hand in hers, she turned to face me, ignoring everyone around us. “You are not taking my Bella Boo to a hotel for the night, Brantley Morgan. My apartment might be small, but at least it isn’t infested with roaches or bed bugs like the Traveler’s Inn.” She paused, cringing. “Now, are you going to follow me, or do you want us to ride with you? Since we have to come back tomorrow, I don’t mind leaving my car here.”
I didn’t hesitate. “Give me your keys. I’ll pull your car into my driveway for the night.”
Bella pulled her hand from Clara’s and threw herself into an unsuspecting Declan, almost knocking him over. “We’re having a sleepover, Dec!”
Clara smiled down at Bella and Declan before scrunching her nose up at me. “Thanks for the offer, Pretty Boy, but I’ll move it. The ignition is temperamental.”
Without saying another word she, along with Liam, Declan, and Bella breezed past me and down the steps. I was about to follow—I don’t want them out of my sight—when someone grabbed the front of my shirt, stopping me.
Irritated, I swung my gaze to the right, meeting Shelby’s.
“Kitchen,” she said, smiling. “Meet me there in two minutes. K, sugar?” She released me, turned and headed back in the house.
Maddie followed, a mischievous smile on her face.
My brows furrowed. “Do I even want to know?”
Anthony shook his head, his eyes locked on the door his wife had just disappeared through. “You’re about to meet the Crazy Chick Club. Better you than me, man.”
Crazy Chick Club?
“Don’t even ask,” Evan replied, reading my thoughts. “Just go inside, bro. Better get it over with. Trust me, if one of the girls has to come get you it will only make things worse.”
“You’re all a bunch of pussies,” I muttered low enough so Lucca and Melody, who still played in the yard with Pop didn’t hear. “They’re just women. How scary can they be?”
Hendrix quirked a brow. “You have met my sister, haven’t you?”
He had a solid point there.
“Don’t forget Grandmama,” Evan added. “Her crazy ass threatened Anthony with a shotgun when he first started chasing after Shelby. Christ only knows what she’ll do to you over Clara.”
“Don’t forget—” Anthony started.
“Brantley,” Charlotte hollered from inside the house, cutting him off. “Come in here for a minute.”
I slid my hands into my pockets and began to walk. Passing by all three men, my brother included. “Pussies. Every one of you.”
“You say that now,” Evan said, chuckling behind me. “Just you wait.”
Without saying another word, I moved into the house and headed down the hall. Whistling, I slipped my hands into my pockets and rounded the corner into the large, open kitchen.
What I saw waiting for me made me stop mid-stride.
Standing in front of me, a butcher knife the size of Texas clutched in her hand was Grandmama. Beside her stood Shelby, her arms crossed over her chest and a bitchy look etched on her face. Next to her was a stern-faced Maddie. In the corner stood Hope, holding Ryker in her arms. Unlike the other three she didn’t look like she was seconds away from ripping my balls off with her bare hands.
Grandmama huffed out a breath and held the knife up in the air. “I’m getting too old to haul my shotgun around all the time, so this will have to suffice today.” She moved forward, closing the space between us. I leaned back, watching her through wide eyes. “You listen to me, Brantley Morgan. Clara Rose may not have my blood running through her veins but she’s my granddaughter all the same. I love her with every ounce of my older-than-Methuselah heart and I claim her as my own.”
I remained silent.
“So hear me when I say… I will kill you dead if you hurt my girl. She’s been hurt enough, and I’ll be damned if I stand here and watch another man cause her one iota of pain. You understand me?”
My blood boiled at the mention of Clara being hurt. I knew about her past and the son-of-a-bitch who’d abused her for years. By some miracle, I’d pushed it all out of my head. I had no other choice because every time I thought about the piece of shit, I wanted to kill him, which was something I couldn’t do.
“I am nothing like that sorry son of a bitch.” My chest heaved. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Don’t get your panties in a twist,” Shelby said with a roll of her eyes. “If we thought you were, you’d be dead already.” She moved forward, coming to a standstill beside Grandmama. “Besides, that’s not the point. What we’re saying is this—it’s been two years.” Shelby paused. “Two years since Clara showed up at the Shelter, barely able to walk from the beating Colin had given her when she tried to leave.” A lone tear slipped down her cheek. “Two years since Liam had his face split open while trying to protect his mother from the man who was trying to kill her—his own father.”
My entire body tensed. “What the hell did you just say?”
Wide-eyed, Maddie stood from the stool where she was sitting and grabbed Shelby’s arm, pulling her backward. “Dang it, Blondie. He didn’t know that part.”
Shelby’s eyes never left mine as she said, “He does now.”
Rage like I’d never felt before rolled through me. “That motherfucker hurt Liam?”
When no one answered me, I stomped toward Hope. “Answer me, Shortcake. Did that son of a bitch hurt Liam?”
Tears poured down her face as she nodded.
“What about Dec
lan? Was he hurt too?”
“No,” she whispered. “But he would’ve been. If Clara hadn’t—”
I didn’t need to hear anymore.
I stepped back, shaking my head. “Don’t say it, Hope. I can’t fucking think about it. Not without…”
My voice trailed off as I turned and headed for the door.
I didn’t have time to stand there, talking to the girls. I needed to get to Clara, needed to get to Liam.
Knowing they’d both been hurt made me rage inside.
I had to find them.
I needed to make sure they were safe. Secure.
“Brantley!” Shelby shouted from behind me. “Where are you going?”
I stopped and looked over my shoulder. Without thinking, I said the first thing that came to my mind. That something? “To find my family.”
A genuine smile spread across Grandmama’s face. “Are you going to take care of my grandbaby, Brantley? You going to make sure no one, including you, ever hurts her again?”
“No one will hurt Clara or the boys,” I replied. “Not as long as my heart still beats in my chest.”
I meant every word.
I didn’t understand it at the time, but having Clara’s past thrown in my face lit a fire inside me, and with each second that passed it only burned hotter. I may not have known Clara when she was married, but I still felt guilt and a fuck-load of anger for what she and the boys had been through. She deserved better than what she’d been given, and although I couldn’t go back in time and fix anything, I’d make sure her future was better than what she left behind in the past.
There’s only one way to do that…
Done speaking, I ran out of the house, down the steps and across the street toward the place where Clara and the kids stood waiting beside my SUV. Evan shouted something behind me, but I ignored him and ran faster.
Clara turned when she heard me crossing the street. “What are you running for?” She asked, her eyes flickering with amusement. “Did Grandmama pull out her gun? If so, run that way”—she pointed toward Shelby’s house—“because I don’t want to get shot.”
