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they?
 Things are blowing up left and right in this family, and I don t think I m strong enough to keep
everything together.
It was one of the most honest and open things Austin had ever said to him, and Decker saw the
open plea in it.
 I ll try not to help burn it to the ground.
 And while you re doing that, if you could help with fighting the other fires, that would be great
too.
 At some point, you need to let people live their own lives.
 I am, but I also need to be here if they can t do it or figure out they re not alone.
Yeah, that wasn t too subtle of Austin, but Decker let that go. When things went to shit, he
wouldn t be going to the Montgomerys for help. If, and when, Miranda left him because she finally
saw the truth of his character and past, then he d lose the family he d made forever.
Miranda was worth that though.
Worth that and more.
 Thanks for calling, he said after a moment. There really wasn t much more to say until they all
figured it out.
 Be well, Deck. Take care of yourself, and make sure my baby sister is happy. You get me?
Decker smiled.  I get you.
They said their goodbyes, and he ended the call. He didn t feel better than he had before, but he
sure as hell didn t feel worse. Austin was like that. The other man might not be fully on board, but he
did his best to make sure his family and friends were taken care of.
And Decker would do everything he could to make sure he never hurt Miranda.
He went back to work, putting his all into his project. He liked working with his hands. It was
also comforting to know that allowing himself to channel his frustration in such a way could result in
something beautiful and useful for someone else.
When the doorbell rang, he must not have heard it at first, but when his playlist changed songs,
the sound of someone pressing the damn buzzer over and over hit his ears. Gunner barked in time with
the doorbell, and Decker frowned.
He wiped his hands down and made his way to the front door. It better be a fucking emergency if
they were going to hit the damn bell over and over again. Anyone who knew him would just call, and
he would have seen his phone light up to let him know they were outside while he was working
He opened the door without looking through the peephole then tried to slam the fucking door
closed.
 Boy, don t you fucking do that, Frank Kendrick slurred as he put his hand on the door, to keep it
from slamming. Decker s father also put his foot in the doorway so it couldn t be closed.
 Get the fuck off my property, Decker said, his voice low, cold. He wouldn t yell. That would
only egg the man on more. If he was calm and collected, he had a better shot at winning this fight.
Decker might be bigger, but Frank would cause a scene. A scene that often involved cops and lies.
 You think you re all high and mighty because you re working for the Montgomerys? You re
fucking trash, you little piece of shit. You re lucky they don t see who you are, see the truth. Because
as soon as they do, you re fucked. Maybe they just feel sorry for you. That s why they let you stay
there.
The words hit him, and Decker held back a wince. He kept his face like stone, but it was fucking
hard.
 Just leave, Frank. I m not in the mood to deal with your bullshit. He looked into his father s
glassy eyes and held back a curse. He didn t want to think about what his mother looked like right
now. If Frank was here and already on a tear, things were bad at home. He d call the cops, but what
would happen?
He held back a sigh. He d call anyway. It didn t matter if she pushed them away. He d never stop
trying to protect his mother from the man in front of him.
 Fuck you. You should have come over when your momma asked. Frank gave him that sly smile
of his, and Decker s stomach revolted. He barely held back the bile in his throat. Holy shit, he
couldn t stand Frank, couldn t stand the memories that came from the large fists that held his door
open. If Decker looked too hard, he d see his own fists there. He would see the resemblance that
made him want to run from Miranda and everything she represented to him.
If Frank didn t leave soon, Decker wasn t sure he could take it anymore.
 What did you do to her? he asked before he could stop himself.
A pleased looked came into Frank s eyes, and Decker held back a curse.  She s where she
should be, you little fucker. Home. On her knees. The man swayed on his feet.  Next time she calls,
you come over for dinner. We re a fucking family, boy. Those Montgomerys aren t your blood. I am.
Remember that. Remember the blood that runs through your veins. You re not some high-class asshole
who thinks he s better than everyone else. You re nothing. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]