Page 49 of Mine to Love
“Before we got together and when she was in her rebellious stage, she always went for your kind. Guys with long hair, tattoos, and no direction in life. When I first started courting her, she was dating this guy who ran fishing charters.” He shrugged. “He wasn’t a bad guy, just didn’t have any ambition.” Charlie tapped his temple. “Not too bright either. Lucky for her, I took her away from having to struggle paycheck to paycheck.” He waved his hand out in front of him and sighed. “Only, now she’s back at it again and slumming it with the likes of you. It won’t last. She’ll get bored and come home where she belongs.”
A switch went off in Miles’ brain. The same one that landed him in the back of Nathan’s patrol car when Trixi’s father and brother got in his face.
He took the steps two at time with his fists clutched at his sides. His shirt flew off his shoulder and landed on the grass.
“Miles,” Liberty yelled, yanking his mind—and body—out of the insanity that would surely land him in his mother’s jail cell.
He stopped dead in his tracks, six inches from Charlie’s face. “If she hadn’t come out, you’d be face down in the pavement,” Miles whispered. He took a step back, shaking out his hands, but no fucking way would he turn his back to this asshole.
“You forgot your cell,” Liberty said with a shaky voice. “Charlie, if you don’t leave, I will call the police. Don’t make me do that. Gabriel doesn’t need the drama.”
Charlie raised his hands, showing his palms. “I didn’t come to see you. I’m here because Gabriel asked me to meet him for breakfast.” Charlie looked Miles up and down. “Although, I’m not sure Gabriel would appreciate this idiot sneaking out of your bedroom, like the lowlife he is. Gabriel doesn’t like secrets or surprises.” Charlie lowered his chin. “And this one is beneath even you.”
“How dare you.” Liberty leaped off the porch.
Miles curled his arms around her waist, stopping her from lunging at Charlie. She’d been the voice of reason with him five minutes ago, now it was his turn.
“Don’t you lecture me on my brother.” She tried to shove Miles out of the way. “And seriously? Gabriel isn’t even up yet. I don’t know what you think you’re accomplishing by showing up here this early. I doubt he’d contact you. And do you know why? Because I told him the truth. Every last ugly bit of it and honestly, it felt fucking good to finally be honest with my brother. For him to know what a prick you are.”
The sound of the front door screeching across the floorboards caught Miles’ attention. He turned his head. Shit.
“Me? Are you kidding. You’re a liar. I can’t believe you’d do that to your brother,” Charlie said with a shitty grin. He knew Gabriel was standing there and he played into it.
Gabriel stepped outside with tears in his eyes. How much he’d heard, Miles had no idea, but Charlie certainly wanted his side to be the one Gabriel believed.
“The only mistake I made was not telling Gabriel the truth sooner,” Liberty said.
“Liberty.” Miles took her by the shoulders. “Gabriel is standing on the porch.”
She spun on her heel. “Shit.”
Gabriel hugged himself and rocked back and forth, mumbling a few choice words.
“I’m so sorry you had to hear that.” Liberty raced to her brother.
“Me too, especially all the lies your sister just tossed around about me. I can’t believe you, Liberty. I don’t know what you told Gabriel, but lying to make me out to be the bad guy instead of taking responsibility because you’re mad at me for some ridiculous reason isn’t right.” Charlie inched closer. “Gabriel, I’m sorry she’s putting you in the middle of all this.”
“You shut the fuck up.” Miles stepped in front of Charlie. “One phone call and you’ll be in cuffs in four minutes. Up to you.”
“I. Want. The. Fighting. To stop,” Gabriel yelled.
“I’m going to speak to him and you’re not going to stop me.” Charlie glared, taking one small step to the side. “Hey, Gabriel. Why don’t you come down here and we go for a drive.”
“No!” Gabriel stomped his foot. “I asked you to wait until I texted, but you showed up early. I don’t like that. I only wanted to ask you a couple of questions, but now I don’t need to. I know the answers.” He raced down the steps in his pajamas and barefoot and ran toward Miles’ house. He punched his finger against the garage code until the motor roared to life.
“What the fuck is he doing?” Charlie narrowed his stare.
“None of your business.” Miles swallowed as he watched the garage door go back down with Gabriel safely tucked away inside. “In three seconds I’m calling the cops.”
“You mean your family,” Charlie mumbled. “Liberty, this isn’t over. I don’t know what kind of bullshit you’re feeding Gabriel, but it’s got to stop. It’s not good for him and it’s not doing you any favors.” Charlie climbed behind the steering wheel and backed out of the driveway.
“Well, that was a shitshow.” Miles smiled and waved to one of the neighbors who had stepped outside with the ruse of drinking their morning coffee. Two others were pretending to look for the newspaper. One even opened the mailbox, which was almost laughable. He let out a long breath and strolled across the lawn. “What do you want to do about Gabriel?”
“I need to go talk with him. Alone.” She leaned against the railing. “I seriously thought you were going to deck Charlie.”
“If you hadn’t called out my name, I would have.” He kissed her cheek.
“Why?”
