“Look at me.” I waited until she lifted those dark eyes. “Whether you meant to or not, you just picked your teammate. And baby sister, we aren’t going to lose.”
Chapter Six
Beau
How could he be so confident?
Because he has no idea what we’re up against.
But part of me believed him. When I was with Cal, I felt safe yet anything but, all at once. I didn’t understand the ferocity of his protectiveness, but it had seeped into my bones.
I couldn’t believe I’d admitted to him I didn’t know what I was doing. Somehow, it was a relief to unburden that. I was tired of trying so hard to appear in control and put together. Even if he was the last person I wanted to see my weakness, he’d helped me.
And he hadn’t judged.
Teammate.
Something must have happened when we’d spoken our vows because suddenly that wasn’t such an abhorrent thought. I hadn’t worked through the day-to-day schematics of a marriage with him. I supposed somewhere deep down I figured we’d keep our lives separate.
He’d do his thing, and I’d do mine.
I didn’t want to go back to the haunted prison I’d grown up in. Cal refusing to let me hadn’t made me angry and defensive like I thought it would. He’d relieved yet another valve of pressure I hadn’t realized was near bursting.
And he hadn’t let go of my hand.
I drew strength from that touch. It was dangerous to need him. This had an expiration date. I’d already survived him leaving me once. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, not even to myself . . . I did need Cal.
“In my head, I picture that extravagant circus they’re putting on. All those people at the church. And the embarrassment for all of them when I don’t show up at the altar.” I leaned my head back against the seat. It would be the ultimate vengeance to humiliate all of them—especially my father—in front of their social circle.
“If that’s what you want, do it.”
Cal made everything simple. Like there was an option A or B. Yes or no. There was no gray area or blurred lines.
“Then I have to act as I have been for another three days.”
“You mean living and working with that asshole?” He looked at me. “Ain’t happening.”
That was the moment I was supposed to not so politely remind him that he couldn’t tell me what to do. But it felt so good having someone stand up for me, I didn’t want to.
If I’d told my brothers what was going on, they would have been right there for me every step of the way. But I couldn’t burden them—damn it. My brothers.
What would father do to them?
“I have to. He’s threatened Pepper and Lexie if I don’t fall in line.” My eyes stung. “And your family.”
“Have you talked to Lincoln and Teague about this?” he asked gruffly. He didn’t seem to feel any of the fear I did.
“No. They’ve both waited so long to be happy. And they’ve always protected me. It’s my turn to do that for them.”
What was it about Cal that made me unleash everything I’d been holding in?
He made a noncommittal noise. “I get that. I do the same thing with my family. But if your father is as formidable an opponent as you say he is, we need everybody working together.”
He was right. But I didn’t want to hear it.
“What if something happens to Lexie or Pepper? What if, by telling your brothers, it could be prevented? Is it better to keep your mouth shut?”
I scowled. “You really have a way of putting things in perspective.”
“I’d want you to tell me the same thing.” He squeezed my fingers. “Call your brothers. My pop used to call these things a get-together.”
“What am I going to do? Invite them to dinner?”
He glanced in the rearview mirror. “If that black car following us is who I think it is, we don’t have until dinner.”
I twisted around. Bile rose up my throat.
He’d found us.
Or maybe he was just following Cal. Either option was unacceptable.
My hand shook as I dialed.
“Where are you?”
“Well, good morning to you too.” Something about the normalcy with Lincoln eased my tension a fraction.
“Dad just called me, incredibly unhappy that I was unaware of your whereabouts.” Underneath that terseness was worry.
“I’m sorry I put that on you,” I said softly. “I need to see you. Teague too. Somewhere safe. We can’t keep living like this.”
“Let me secure a location. I’ll call you back in five minutes.”
He was gone before I could agree.
I looked behind us. The car was still there. “How are we going to lose them?”
“Leave that to me. You just call Teague.”
He was the more easygoing brother, but in some ways, he was even more protective than Lincoln. And I was more nervous about talking to him.
But he was my brother.
My friend.
“Hey.” It wasn’t Teague’s voice that answered his phone. “He’s in the shower.”
“Are you his receptionist now?” A smile cracked my lips.
“I was hoping to guilt trip you into coming over. There are some puppies who’d like to see you.” Pepper was quiet a second. “And some people too.”
I wanted to hug her. “That’s what I was calling about.”
“Perfect. I can’t promise you won’t get grilled about”—she lowered her voice—“you know who. But I can talk about our wedding plans a lot if it will help.”
She hated wedding planning and the fact she was willing to do that made me love my almost sister-in-law even more.
“I don’t have to answer anything he asks,” I said, even though that wasn’t exactly true. With my fragile emotional state, I’d cave.
“I didn’t mean Teague would grill you. I meant Miss Adeline.”
A laugh burst from my throat. “There’s no getting out of that.”
“Afraid not.”
“Who are you talking to?” Teague’s voice was muffled in the background.
“Your sister.”
There was a rustling noise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Guilt swamped over me in a tidal wave. I tried to push it aside. “Are you answering the phone like your brother now?” My attempt at sounding normal came off strained.
“And you’re still not going to,” he muttered.
“I need to see you,” I said. “Lincoln is supposed to call me back . . . actually he’s calling now. Hang on.”
I switched the line to Lincoln. “I’m talking to Teague. Let me connect all of us.” I pressed a few buttons on my phone. “Everyone there?”
“I’m here.”
“Here.”
“Daniel has agreed to let us meet at his apartment. Can you be there in thirty minutes?”
“I can be there in about two,” Teague said since he lived in the same building. “What the hell is going on?”
“I’ll see you both soon.” This time I hung up first.