Page 107 of No Fear
“You’re just letting me out of the deal we made for Colt?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s not gonna come back on my brother if I don’t keep my end of the deal?”
“You’re keeping your end. I’m not keeping mine. You’re out.” Lincoln growled.
“Why?”
“I fuckin’ told you why.” Lincoln narrowed his eyes in return, “I’m giving you something you want. I expected a thank you, not the third degree.”
“I’m not going to thank you for having a shred of decency left in you.”
Lincoln tossed his hands in the air, “I don’t know why I even fuckin’ bother with you. I really don’t.”
“Guys…” Rachel inserted herself between them when she felt the air shift and crackle with tension.
“I fucked up! Is that what you want to hear, Remington? I fucked up with you and I fucked up with Colt. I thought keeping you close the same way I do the other boys was the answer to your problems but it wasn’t. It isn’t. So if you want out, want to be free of this life and this family, fuckin’ go. We don’t need you. I don’t need you. So you’re out. Change your last name if you fuckin’ hate us all that much but I’m done trying to do right by you.”
Rachel winced when Lincoln exploded. If it had just been anger, she might have moved away from him. She might have put herself in front of Remy. But Lincoln wasn’t just angry. He was hurt. She may not know him well and he would most likely deny it if she said so but Remy’s refusal to accept his help or his offer hurt Lincoln. He was hurt and he was lashing out just like every other man she’d ever known.
Except for Remy.
She moved towards her boyfriend and put a hand on his chest, “Remy, please…”
“No.” Remy growled at her, “I know you see the good in people, Rach, but he’s not one of the good guys. He’s not doing this out of the goodness of his heart. There’s something in it for him. There must be.”
“Fuck you, Remington.” Lincoln scoffed. “You’d rather keep climbing in the cage? Fine, but that’s on you. You don’t get to keep blaming me for your shitty life just because you’re too scared to walk away.”
“I’m not walking away from my responsibilities again!” Remy snapped.
“Remy, stop. Please.” Rachel begged.
“We ain’t your responsibility.” Lincoln talked over her, “The boys, the family, they’remyresponsibility.”
“Cash and Colt…” Remy started but Lincoln scoffed again.
“Aren’t your responsibility anymore either. They’re grown men. They’re out. They’re clean. They have their own lives.”
“No thanks to you.”
Lincoln’s jaw clenched but his voice became deadly calm, “You’re right. They have their own family now and that doesn’t have shit to do with me. I love those two like they’re my own brothers but they are better off without me in their life so I’ve stepped back and let them go. I’m willing to do the same for you.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Lincoln shrugged though he looked no less tense, “You put yourself on the line for us. Your girl put herself on the line for us and she ended up hurt. She could’ve ended up dead. I don’t want that on my conscience. It’s dirty enough as it is.”
Rachel winced at what she hoped had been at attempt at levity, “Nice.”
“No, sweetheart, I’m not.” Lincoln shook his head at her and then looked back up at his cousin, “But I do care about my family. The fighting? The lying? The constant danger? You weren’t made for it Remy. Neither were the twins. So get out while I’m still offering and take care of your girl.”
Remy was quiet as he stared at his cousin and Rachel held her breath, wondering if he would take the offer. Accept Lincoln’s apology for all that he’d done wrong in the past. Admit that he did want out and that this was a kind gesture. Anything. But when he remained quiet and didn’t move, she saw the same realization cross Lincoln’s handsome face and it hardened even further, turning cold and distant as he accepted that he couldn’t get through to his cousin.
“Fine.” He snorted. “Fuck you too, Remy. You won’t accept my generosity then the original deal stands. We’ll see you for fight night next week. One of the boys will deliver the details. You won’t have to talk to me again because I’m done trying.”
He turned to leave and Rachel spun on her boyfriend. She wasn’t letting this happen. Maybe Remy and Lincoln could never go back to being friends after everything that had happened. Maybe that was asking too much. But Remy had told her that he trusted Lincoln more than anyone once. Lincoln had broken that trust but he was here and he was offering an olive branch and she wasn’t letting Remy throw it back in his face.
“Damn it Remy, he’s trying to do a nice thing! Just accept it and let’s move on with our life.” She shoved against his chest and he took a step back, “You want out. He’s giving it to you and you’re throwing it back in his face.”
