Page 68 of Falling Into Forever
“Listen, Grady,” I say with a sigh. “I get that you’re protective of Saylor. But this is between me and her.”
“You’re in town.” Grady’s voice is deadly calm, but the firm set of his jaw and the way his left eye twitches belay that composure. “You’re participating and acting like you’ll be here a while. But we all know what happened the last time you left. What’s going to happen to Sassy when you leave again?”
Irritation gives way to white-hot anger at his gall. I didn’t have all the information when I left last time—now I do.
“When I left, I thought I was doing the right thing, but I have never stopped loving her.” My blood boils, making my words come out in a thick staccato. “Saylor has never been far from my life, even when we were on opposite sides of the country. But now I have the truth, and nothing, not even you, will get in my way of getting her back.” At some point in my speech, I’d leaned forward, my hands gripping the edge of the table and the muscles in my arms straining with tension.
Everyone is eerily quiet, and no one moves. The air is as thick as smog in LA, but Grady and I continue glaring at each other, waiting for someone to break.
Finally, he nods. “That’s what we needed to know. Now tell us how we can help.”
Confusion must show in my expression because he pinches the bridge of his nose, takes a deep breath, then explains. “Someone is coming after you and Sassy. She hates being plastered all over the fucking world, but she’s doing it, presumably for you and her career. So, tell us how we can help fix the fucking problem.”
Stunned, I sit back and stare at him. This guy curses more than the rapper, DaBaby. Poppy and her fairy foul mouth jar would have a field day with him.
I lost a good chunk of money to that jar last year, but I’ve gotten better at catching the curses now.
He glowers in return, and somewhere in the back of my mind, a memory tries to surface but can’t quite break through. And then it hits me. The night Shannon died, this town showed up for Saylor and Ainsley just like they are now.
Another memory, this one of Mr. Reid arriving at Saylor’s grandparents’ house and offering me a job the first summer I moved in with the Greers.
A smile tugs at the corner of my lips. I’ve missed this.
Harrison laughs, but when I look at him, his expression morphs into concern. “We’re not your enemy here, Dante. But Saylor’s been through so much, we need to make sure you’re in it for the long haul.” He places a hand on Grady’s shoulder. “Sass and Ainsley are like…” He drops his gaze to the floor, and I’d swear his cheeks flame. “They’re like sisters to us.”
Grady grunts and nods. “Let us help. It’ll make all these assholes feel better.”
“Us?” Miller laughs. “As if you’re not sneaking around town in the middle of the night fixing shit no one asked you to and then denying it.”
My jaw hits the floor. Is he visiting more than Saylor late at night?
“We’re talking about Dante,” Grady growls. “What can we do?” His words are rough and disjointed, like his threshold for peopling is running thin. He’s the male version of Saylor. It makes me understand him better and possibly have a little more compassion toward him too.
“I appreciate the offer,” I say, making eye contact with each man in turn. “But I’ve got it handled. My brother—” The term sticks in my throat. Betrayal will do that, I guess. Trent might be blood, but he would never step in like these guys have.
Scratching behind my ear, I avert my gaze and drag in a breath. I forgot how small towns get all up in your business if they believe it’s for the greater good. It’s how I imagine a ridiculously large extended family to behave.
A prickle of awareness crawls up my neck—Saylor’s watching me. She tugs on her necklace, and the worry shows in the furrow of her brow.
I’ll do anything for this girl, and if that means airing my shit, that’s what I’ll do.
Flashing her an easy smile, I turn back to Grady and lay it all out. “After I left Hope Hollow, I discovered I have four half-siblings throughout the country. Trent is one of them, and he’s in a bad place. I’m his scapegoat, but I’m handling it. If you want to help, you’ll make sure no one gets to her when the paparazzi show up here trying to dig up shit—because they will come. The last thing she needs is to feel like she’s not safe in her own town. And the way Trent runs his mouth, they will show up in hordes.”
Each man studies me as I speak. Different emotions play across their features, but they all have the same goal. Keeping someone they care about safe.
Grady nods, but it’s Harrison who speaks. “And your brother?”
I choose my words carefully but finally decide to go with my heart. “He was the family I always wanted, but he’s put Saylor and my niece in danger physically and emotionally. I can’t force him to stay clean, and I won’t stand by and allow him to hurt the two people I love most in this world. If it comes down to him or them, I’ll choose them every time.”
Grady’s body relaxes infinitesimally, and he finally nods like he’s made a decision. “We’ll call a town meeting to discuss the rats,” he rumbles.
My lips twitch. Town meetings around here used to be more entertainment than business. Saylor and I would come just to watch the show. Are they still the same?
He sees my smirk and leans forward into my space. “But I swear to God, Thompson, if you hurt her again, I’ll tie you up and pick you apart piece by piece, and they’ll never find your body.”
I also lean in to show him that he will not intimidate me. “If I hurt her again, I’ll dig the hole myself.”
Silence.
