Page 44

Brenton

DAMN, THAT WOMAN WASstronger than most men I knew.

On their own, my gaze fell to Beks’s ass as she stormed out of the room, shoving past the Kyle guy. I needed to figure out what was going on with her dad. The fucker would find his ass out on the street if he touched her like that again. Can't believe Pappy kept a bastard like him around.

After she was out of sight, I glanced up only to find the asshat staring me down.

“What?”

“Stay away from her,” he said with a hint of anger. “You did enough damage the last time around. I'm not going to sit back and watch you do it again.”

“What's going on between us is our business. Stay the fuck out of it. Now, what do you know about the guys who did this?” I asked with a nod to the unconscious man on the bed.

For the first time since he walked in, Kyle’s eyes dropped. Watching the carpet, he shifted on his boots. “I don't know if I should tell you, but hell, you might be able to solve the problem. Through my sources, I've heard Bradley here owes his suppliers some money. And rumors are some of what he owes is left over from your brother.”

A knot built in my gut and tension crept up my spine. “How much?” I gritted out. Shit, I could not pass out. Focusing on the wall behind the idiot, I took a deep, calming breath in.

“I'm not sure on the exact amount.”

Deep breath out.

“Ballpark it,” I said through clenched teeth, making it sound more like a hiss.

“Over ten grand. Hey, man, you okay?”

Fuck.

The edges of my vision darkened, and I leaned against the wall to use it for support. “Fine. Didn't drink enough water today, I guess. Fucking hot out there.”

“That's a Texas summer for you.”

“I'll cover what he owes, but I need to know who they are.” Thinking back to Beks and how those men could’ve been there when she was made the tension worse. “I'll make the payment and make it clear that if they step one foot on my property again, I'll shoot first.”

“And ask questions later.”

“No. Bury their asses where the cows will shit on their graves.”

A small smile pulled at the guy's lips. “Damn. I might like you after all, Graves. But you do know that girl out there is stubborn as hell and won't let Bradley take your money.”

No shit. Thinking through the different ways to present the option to Beks lessened the darkening fog. Wow, just thinking about her cleared everything, which meant whatever was going on with my head was tied to her, but more than just our past because I'd remembered that part. Well, most of it. There were still pieces I didn't know.

I glanced at my watch and cursed. If I was going to make her new time frame, I had to hustle.

“I'll make it work. Listen, watch him and don't let that bastard of a father in here.” At the door, I gripped the frame and turned to look over my shoulder. “She won't tell me everything about what happened. Can you fill in any of the gaps?”

Kyle looked past my shoulder into the empty hall. “All I know is for some fucked-up reason she's still hung up on you. What happened that night is y'all's story, not mine. She'll tell you when she's ready.” He paused to look me straight in the eye. “When she is, you better be ready to hate yourself as much as we all do.”