Page 52 of Blood

Daniel turns to her. “I’ll take twenty-three hours of the day then.”

Charlie chuckles at his words. “Kiss me,” she demands.

I look away when my brother ducks to press his lips to hers.

“Now, what’s going on with you?” Charlie grills me.

“Sam and I are arguing,” I explain.

“Oh, she’s in the kitchen.”

“Charlie.” Daniel frowns.

Unbothered by her husband, Charlie shrugs. “They need to work it out at some point.”

At least someone’s trying to help me.

I look between the couple. “I’ll fix this. I’ll take her to the cabin, and we’ll talk it out.”

Daniel remains quiet for a few minutes before giving a short nod. “Mom and Dad are upstairs. As are my children. She goes quietly and willingly,” he informs, permitting me, but I hear the warning.

“I would never hurt her,” I state. Needing him to hear it.

He knows; it’s written all over his face.

“Everyone knows that, silly,” my sister-in-law soothes, rubbing my arm.

“I caught her with Cooper,” I blurt.

Daniel’s head snaps to me, but I don’t elaborate. They’ll give me more time with her if they think she needs a good talking-to.

My brother steps forward to kiss his wife’s head, then motions for me to follow him. We head straight for the kitchen, where my girl sits at the kitchen island holding a cup of cocoa.

“We’re leaving,” I tell her.

“You can do whatever the fuck you want, but I’m staying here.”

Her eyes are red, and her cheeks still wet. My heart crumbles seeing her hurt, but we need to work this out. We can’t keep going like this.

“I wasn’t asking. You’re going to get your ass in my car, and we’re going to go sort this out. I’m done, Sam. Enough.”

“Mom and Dad are upstairs,” she challenges.

“Great.” I smile. “Let’s go have a chat with them,” I bluff.

Her face drops. That’s what I thought.

“Get your ass in the car. Now.”

The hot chocolate sloshes over the rim of the cup and onto the marble counter.

“Fine. You wanna fight this out? Let’s fight it out,” she hisses, moving past me.

“I’m not fighting. I told you I was done.”

She blinks quickly at my words but continues moving to the back door.

“Sorry to bother you both.” I apologize to the couple who are still watching.