Page 69 of Tainted Tempos

“It’s beentwo days. I’m going to see my wife.”

“I’ll drive you,” he offers.

“No,” I shoot him down. “I gotta do this on my own.”

Jameson sighs, knowing I won’t budge. I may be the life of the party. The carefree, goofy, charismatic bandmate. But when I commit to something, I’m stubborn. Obstinate. And no one, not even my brother, will stand in my way.

“Drive safe. Call me if you need me. If you need anything,” Jameson says.

I nod.

“Maybe...look a little nicer? Shower, fix your hair, change your clothes,” he suggests.

I snort. I don’t give a shit how I look. All I want to do is see Mckenna. I grab a baseball cap from the closet and put it on backward. Then, I pocket my wallet and phone and leave the brownstone.

The drive to Mckenna’s dad’s house is faster than I anticipate. Derek got the address from Allegra and sent it to me, and I arrive in under an hour.

Wow. I stare at the ultra-contemporary home situated outside the city center. Mckenna didn’t grow up here since her parents were forced to sell and split the proceeds of her childhood home in their divorce. But this house is expensive. Formidable and cold.

It’s an apt depiction of how I imagine Mckenna’s childhood. Looking at the house, I envision the loneliness and the quiet, the always feeling less than that followed her throughout her childhood and adolescence.

Blowing out a sigh, I exit my car and move to the front door.

I knock three times. I’m about to knock again when the door swings open, and Mckenna’s father—tall, imposing, with the same navy eyes—appears.

I pull my hat off my head and clasp my hands behind my back. “Mr. Byrne.”

He looks me up and down. Then, he pulls me into a hug.

It surprises the hell out of me, but I wrap an arm around his back and slap his shoulder.

“I’m glad you came,” he mutters.

“How is she?” I ask, pulling away.

“She’s okay. Physically, I mean. But emotionally, mentally, she’s…processing. I think she’s scared to fully put her trust in someone else. And hell, Mav, I’m partly to blame for that.”

“I am too,” I agree, hating that it’s the truth.

He nods and points toward the stairwell. “Top of the stairs. First door on the right. See if you can get a handle on where her head is with this Branson Burton.”

I suck in a deep breath. “She told you?”

Mr. Byrne looks stricken when he meets my eyes. “She did. And I will not let this go, Maverick. I will ruin this kid before he even has the chance to become a man.”

I work a swallow and feel relief unfurl in my veins. Finally, someone who sees the situation the same way I do. “I feel the same way. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Mckenna.”

“I know you will.” His expression softens and he glances up the stairway. “I don’t know how much time she’ll give you. Say the most important thing first.”

“Thank you.” I take the stairs two at a time.

When I make it to Mckenna’s bedroom, I freeze.

Nerves bundle in my stomach, making me nauseous.

What if she doesn’t speak to me? What if she asks me to leave?

Say the most important thing first.

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