“I don’t recommend doing that.” His gaze landed on the woman with a flash of tenderness before it roved to me. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“And I don’t believe you have any business being here,” Teague said, glaring.
“Garrett Calhoun. Call me Cal,” I extended a hand.
He grasped my hand and shook. “Daniel Elliott.”
“Chill out, Teague,” Beau said.
“I thought you hated him.”
“That’s our cue to leave you to it. If you need us, we’ll be in the kitchen,” Daniel said.
“Actually, I’ll be eavesdropping right outside,” Vivian corrected with a grin. “This sounds interesting.” She practically skipped from the room with her husband right behind.
I stared at the empty space near the doorway, feeling a bit blindsided. These people weren’t what I expected at all, though I hadn’t given much thought to what we’d face once here.
Lincoln hadn’t said a word since our arrival, but his sharp gaze assessed everything. He studied Beau and me. Somehow that was more unnerving than Teague’s blunt hostility. It was as if Lincoln had an invisible hold around my neck, squeezing with increasing pressure as he determined just how much I’d hurt Beau.
She marched over to where they stood without hesitation. There was no doubt who was truly in charge of this family. And it wasn’t the men.
That reminded me of my ma. She was the queen and her six sons were her subjects. Just like our pa had taught us.
“Our problems are so much bigger than my relationship status.” She pointed to the chairs in front of the desk and motioned for them to sit.
They did.
“I thought your relationship status was engaged,” Teague grumbled.
She gave me a knowing look. The status was married. And I loved that secret smile that played on her lips. She motioned for me to join her where she was propped against the desk.
I obeyed without thought.
“I want both of you to promise to keep your cool,” she said.
It was so easy to picture her leading her company just like this. She was in charge, leaving no room for doubt or fear.
“Seeing how this has started, I don’t think I can make that promise,” Teague said.
She bent and touched his knee. “Try. You’re the bravest out of the three of us. And we need your courage.”
If her words upset Lincoln, he didn’t show it. Although I wasn’t sure his expression would change if a leprechaun pranced into the room.
Somehow, her words seemed to smooth Teague’s temper.
“I’m not marrying Alex Davenport. I’m being forced to stay at Father’s against my will. And if I don’t keep in line, he’s threatened to do something to Lexie and Pepper.”
She ripped the Band-Aid off instead of tiptoeing around. Would she have been so direct if we’d been together all this time?
You didn’t mow the yard. Your forgot to pick up milk. And I want a kiss.
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. It was a completely inappropriate time to think about that, but yeah. Beau would’ve kept my ass in line like a drill sergeant. And I would’ve loved every second of it.
Lincoln white-knuckled the arms of the chair and then sprang to his feet as if he couldn’t control himself. He paced in the area behind the chairs. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” The question was ripped from his throat in barely contained anger.
“I thought I could handle it.” She bumped my shoulder. “Cal pointed out I should come to you. That the three of us are stronger together.”
Teague’s nostrils flared as he gripped his knees.
“We have to stop playing his game,” she said. “Teague, you’re the only one who really stands up to Father. Lincoln and I took the easier route just trying to make him happy. But we can’t let him continue to control our lives.”
“If I have to barricade the church doors—”
“She isn’t marrying that son of a bitch.” I spoke without thought despite the words were true. Even if we hadn’t already taken vows, I wouldn’t have ever let her anywhere near that bastard again.
“Glad we’re in agreement there,” Teague said.
“Lincoln,” she said, softening her tone. “You should sit.”
He paused pacing for a moment, but shook his head. Beau pushed off the desk and stood between her brothers, taking one of each of their hands in hers.
“Do you have the photos?” She looked at me.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled to the images of the damage he’d inflicted on her. I held up my phone, unable to look at the pictures for more than a second. My rage wouldn’t help things now, but I really wanted to thrash this room to pieces.
“You said you hit your jaw on a desk.” Lincoln spoke carefully, but his anger was palpable. Like he was barely containing it.
I moved on to the pictures of her arm and wrist before pocketing my phone. If I let them look much longer, they were going to explode. At least now I could see with my own eyes what I had thought.
If they’d known he’d hurt her, they would’ve unleashed holy hell on Alex Davenport.
“He touched you,” Lincoln grated out, staring at her still-bruised face.
“Are you all right?” Teague asked through his teeth.
“I will be.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. “Father saw . . .” She hesitated as she tried to collect herself. “He saw Alex force himself on me. Saw him do that.” She shuddered. “He didn’t stop it. And he’s still pressing for the wedding to move forward.”
Teague bolted from his seat. “Son. Of. A. Bitch.”
He picked up a paper weight and then seemed to realize it wasn’t his to hurl. He slammed it back on the desk. “You aren’t ever going to see either of them again.”
Glad we were on the same page about that too.
She gripped Teague’s arms. “I love you for being so mad on my behalf. But we have to think how we can use this to our advantage. How we can end this once and for all. Don’t you want to be free?”
“Yeah. I do. But not if it means my sister gets used as a punching bag.”
“You said he forced himself on you. Did he . . .” Lincoln trailed off as if the vile word was too much for him to speak.
“Just kissed. And touched,” she croaked.
Kissing was sacred to her, and that bastard had stolen that from her. No man had the right to take what wasn’t freely given. No man had the right to hurt innocent people.
I’d known we were going to discuss this, but reliving it was going to give me a heart attack. Or stroke. My heart raced as the fear she’d had that night pummeled my brain.
I needed to hold her. To feel that she was safe.
But her brothers needed that reassurance too.
Teague pointed at me. “You knew about this and didn’t say anything?”
His wrath was easier to take because if I were in his shoes, I’d feel the same way. He had to direct all that anger somewhere, and I was the easiest target.
“I follow Beau’s lead.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“I knew how upset you’d be.” She touched his shoulder. “Both of you are always trying to protect me. I just wanted to do the same for you.”