Page 112 of Galen's Redemption
Noel tilted his head back and peered up at Lincoln.
“Keep going. You haven’t done nearly enoughgroveling yet.”
At least he was willing to hear Galen out. “What I said that day was reprehensible. I’m trying to make amends for the person I was. After Father showed you those pictures of Lincoln, I questioned everything. He had no right to try to buy you and sure as hell shouldn’t have shown something personal of Lincoln’s.”
“Thank you.” The words were soft, but Noel had said them. “I thoughtyou looked uncomfortable that day, but I couldn’t understand why. I figured you would have been enjoying it.”
Galen took a step forward. “No. There’s such a thing as basic decency, and Father crossed that line too many times. I always excused it, when I should have stood up and told him enough was enough.” He sighed. “He was right. Lincoln was always the better son.”
A scowl marred Lincoln’sface. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Galen hated the fact that he had to repeat it. Hated that he wasn’t as good as Lincoln. “Father wanted you to come back so he could fire me. He told me that you were always better at your job than me, and my schooling was for shit, because a degree from the University of Chicago was worth less than the paper it was printed on.”
“Pup, go check on your customers.”
“But—”
“Now, Noel.”
“Okay, fine.”
He rushed out the door and back to Colby and Terrell, who engaged him in some animated conversation. They handed Noel a slip of paper, which he stood and stared at for a moment before shaking their hands.
“Why did you send him away?”
“Because Father hurt Noel more than he lets on. He spent years trying to feel good about himself again, and Father did hisbest to rip that away from Noel. I’d like to keep as much ugly away from Noel as possible.”
Of course. That made perfect sense. And then Galen hadn’t helped either. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could take it all back.”
“Okay, now, say that one more time. Dad told you thatIwas better than you? Our father?”
Why the hell did Lincoln seem so surprised? He was the golden child.
“Yes, Lincoln. God,do you want to rub my face in it too? Do you have any idea what it’s like to run a gauntlet? Never knowing from one moment to the next who’s going to lash out and hit you? That’s what it was like living there.”
Lincoln scrubbed a hand over his head. “Are you sure that’s what he said?”
“Well, he said it often enough, so I’m pretty sure I got it down pat.”
Lincoln squeezed his hands into fists.“Un-fucking-believable.”
Galen wasn’t sure what Lincoln was talking about. When he pushed off the counter and strode to the sink to wash his hands, Galen stood perfectly still. The peace was tenuous, and Galen didn’t want to cross any invisible lines.
When Lincoln rested his head against the wall, Galen turned to Robert and shrugged.
“Okay…. Let me give you a history lesson on why I left thecompany. I fell in love with a guy named Everett. He died of AIDS. After he died, when I went to work and saw how plastic everyone and everything was, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I went in and told dear old Dad that I was quitting, and you know what he said to me?”
He turned around, and Galen could see the smirk on his face.
“He told me that it was fine, that I could go if I wanted. He saidsince I didn’t have your schooling, you were a much better choice to take over the company anyway. You don’t know how often I heard that through the years. Galen’s smarter. He’s better with people.” Lincoln growled. “I worked ten fucking times harder, just so I could be half as good as you in his eyes.”
Galen was reeling from this bit he’d never heard before. “So you’re saying….”
“He playedus both against each other. I was jealous of you for so long. You just don’t know.”
“You…. When you were at Primal, you were a force to be reckoned with. I was in awe watching you. I wanted tobeyou.”
That earned him a snort. “After Ev died, I didn’t want to be you. I needed to get out, because that place—and our father—was killing my soul.”
