Page 32 of Instant Heat
"Damn right I have a problem," my brother spat back. "I don't want you near my sister."
This time I jumped up. "Don't I have a say in this?"
"She deserves someone way better than you,Gallagher."
It was as if I hadn't even said a word. I moved to stand between them, but Nathan grabbed my arm. "Maybe it's best to let them sort out their… issues here instead of at the station."
My gaze snapped to the two men in my life who looked ready to rip each other's heads off. Yanking my arm free, I shook my head. "No!"
I pushed between Thatcher and Griffin and being as short as I was, I looked like a dwarf towered by giants. With my arms spread wide, I yelled, "Hey!"
"This doesn't concern you." My idiot-brother had the audacity to push me out of the way.
I looked at Griffin and if murder hadn't been on his mind earlier, it sure as hell was now. He lunged forward and grabbed Thatcher by the shirt. "Don't you dare touch her."
"Go ahead," Thatcher bated. "Hit me. We'll see how highly Chief Abbott still thinks of you then."
My breath was trapped in my lungs. For a second, I was certain Griffin was going to punch my brother. A sigh of relief rushed over my lips when he let him go with the words, "You're not worth it."
His eyes found me and whatever he saw in mine made him wince. I stood rooted to the spot as he slowly approached me. When he reached forward and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, I noticed that his fingers were trembling. "I think it's time for me to go."
I took his hand in mine and glared at my brother while I said, "We're both leaving." Squeezing the hand in mine, I turned my attention to Griffin. "I'm going to say goodbye to Lacy and Brie; I'll meet you at the truck."
The question in his eyes was clear as day, and the answer was: No, I wasn't sure what I was doing. Just then my two friends pushed through the crowd, babbling and laughing. The smiles on their lips faded the moment they spotted us.
"You're sure?" Griffin's words were just for me.
My gaze roamed over his face, looking for an answer. I found it in the eyes boring into me. "Yes." He glanced at my brother before looking at me again. With a quick nod, he turned on his heels and headed for the exit.
I waited until I knew he was out of earshot before I turned to Thatcher. "You have no right!"
He glared down his nose at me, "You're making a mistake."
"So?" I threw my arms in the air. "It's my mistake to make."
"He's going to hurt you."
My lips pulled into a thin line while I shook my head. "How do you know? You don't even know him."
That vein in my brother's neck bulged again. "Neither do you!" His voice boomed through the crowded space. "You always do this, Rae! Always. And who is left picking up the pieces?"
If he'd laid a hand on me it would've hurt less than his words had. Furiously, I blinked away the tears that stung the back of my eyes.
"That's enough, Thatcher."
So entangled in my own emotions, I didn't even see Brie sidle up to Thatch, nor did I see her place her hand on his arm. He looked down at the spot she was touching and then at her face. I was confused when I saw him wince in the same way Griffin had when he'd noticed me earlier.
Warm hands cupped my shoulders right before Lacy's whispered words reached my ears, "I'm not sure what we missed, but I think Brie just created an opportunity for you to leave." Judging by the way my friend and my brother were still staring at each other, I'd say it was a lot more than a diversion.
Whatever it was, I took it. I said a quick goodbye to Lacy before I rushed toward the exit. All the while praying that I was doing the right thing.
15
GRIFFIN
"Shite!" I ground me teeth and cursed some more."Shite, shite, shite."
I knew better than to lose me temper in a public place, but when that idiot pushed Rae out of the way, common sense took a hike.
