Page 3 of Dante (Members From Money Season 2. #153)

"Asshole."

"Spineless jerk, make that spoiled and entitled," Jackson agreed. "Why don't we go join the card room?"

"Why the hell not?"

Caleb sat behind the wheel for a full ten minutes. Tapping his fingers on the wheel, he contemplated his next move. He had promised his sister he would not confront the bastard who had knocked her up and left her to fend on her own, but this was one promise he was not going to keep.

The son of a bitch had hurt his sister. The guy must pay. No one does that to Courtney and gets away with it.

Ignoring the healthy slice of guilt at using his position as a detective in finding out where the guy would be on a Saturday, he contemplated if he was going to charge into that swank office of his, where he was screwing the partner's daughter and just thrash him within an inch of his life.

Or just sit in the car and wait until the jerk comes out.

He was a public servant and had been charged with the task of serving and protecting.

He could not wrap his fingers around the scum's neck and squeeze.

His phone pinged several times and he ignored it. His sister had been calling him for the past few minutes. Probably had some psychic connection and knew where he was.

When the phone rang again, he grabbed it and punched the green icon.

"Yeah? I'm starting to get the feeling you're stalking me. Are you dying?"

"No."

"Terminally ill?"

"No. You were supposed to drop by with some groceries. Remember?"

He closed his eyes briefly.

"Crap. Are you sure I promised to buy groceries? Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because you feel sorry for your sister who's frantically getting ready for her big and utterly scary first day at a corporate office on Monday. Oh, and did I mention the sister is also knocked up and alone?"

He snorted at the attempt to get him moving.

"OK fine. You don't have to rub it in. You're going to kill it on Monday." His expression sobered as he noticed the man, coming through the swing doors with a blonde clinging to his arm like a damn leech. "Look, gotta run. I'm in the middle of some paperwork."

"I thought you were off for the weekend."

"A cop's work is never done. Shoot me the list and I'll pick them up."

"I'm making meatballs."

"Yum. See you later." He hung up.

Shoving the phone into the phone case, he pushed the door open and stepped out, just as Michael came alongside the vehicle. He felt a vicious sense of satisfaction when the man's expression turned from levity to pure apprehension.

"Jennings, I need a word." His tone brooked no argument and even though Caleb sent the blonde a charming smile, his eyes remained flint-like. "Would you excuse us?"

Michael clamped his hand over the woman's and offered a strained smile.

"We're just heading to dinner and are already running late."

"We can do this in front of her, or we can do this just the two of us."

The woman sized up Caleb and made a prudent decision.

"Darling, I'll just wait in the car."

Michael had to force himself not to beg her to stay. The man standing in front of him was formidable and he was also a cop.

"You have five minutes." He tried for bravado and just fell short of pulling it off.

"I'll have whatever the hell time I need. You knocked up my sister."

"I don't..."

"That wasn't a question asshole, it was a statement. You got her pregnant and dumped her."

Michael realized he was sweating copiously.

"It wasn't working out. We agreed..." He stepped back and inhaled sharply when the other man stepped forward. "I'll call the police..." He hated that his voice was squeaking. "I have witnesses..."

Caleb took out his detective's badge and flashed it.

"See this? Means I'm the police."

"I'll sue..."

"That's right. You're a fricking lawyer.

Think that scares me?" He stepped closer and Michael had to force himself to remain where he was.

He considered that the man was all muscles and little to no brain cells, but he should be smart enough to realize that assaulting him in a public place right outside his place of business had to have consequences.

"Courtney and I have an agreement." Michael reached up a hand to tug at the collar of his cotton shirt.

It was the end of September, and the breeze was cooling, but he felt as if he was standing in front of a blazing inferno.

"I don't want kids..." He stepped back again when the other man stepped forward, his expression ominous.

"I offered to pay for the abortion..." His throat closed off and he could not produce a bit of saliva. It was as if it had all dried up.

"Did you tell her that?" On some level, Caleb realized he was enjoying the man's obvious fear, in fact, he was getting off on it.

"It's none of your business." He glanced furtively at the car, trying desperately to transmit a message to Charlene.

"Hoping for a rescue? Or does she not know that you're a piece of shit who knocks women up and then just leaves?" Caleb glanced over at the vehicle. "Perhaps, I should just stroll over there and tell her what kind of man she's involved with."

"Please." Without thinking, Michael grabbed his sleeve. "Courtney and I have an agreement. We..."

"Let go. Now."

Michael stepped back as if he had been shot.

"You're just not worth it. You piece of crap." Snorting in disgust, Caleb turned and walked away.

He was in a very good mood when he showed up at his sister's place later that day. Not even the run to the supermarket to pick up supplies had dimmed his, he supposed he could call it joie de vivre. He chuckled at the term as he hefted two brown bags of groceries.

The look on the bastard's face during the confrontation was still etched in his mind. The guy had looked like he was about to crap a brick. It felt good, as good as it would have been to beat the crap out of him.

Whistling a popular tune, he marched up the steps onto the porch. Using his hips, he nudged the screen door open and stepped into something classical. The scent of meatballs hit him clear through the stomach and had the saliva pooling.

He followed his nose into the kitchen, where his sister was stirring a sauce on the stove top.

"If you weren't my sister, I would propose right now." He put the bags on the neat and tidy counter. "I picked up some things you did not include. Fruits, milk..." He took a step back when she turned and lanced him with a look that bored holes.

"I'm surprised you had time to go to the store. What with the busy day you had."

"If you mean the paperwork, then yes, it was a bitch. But hey, anything for my sis, right?"

"Michael called."

He figured it was in his best interest to start putting away the groceries.

"Yeah?" He took out the milk and opened the fridge door. "What did he want?"

"To complain to me about you barging to his place of work and issuing threats."

"It was the parking lot. The guy is a lying piece of crap."

"Caleb!"

"What?" He slammed the fridge door shut and whirled to face her. "I had to confront him."

Putting the spoon she had been using to stir the sauce, she propped her fists on her hips, eyes blazing.

"You promised to leave him alone."

"I promised no such thing." Shoving the canned tomato sauce into the pantry, he shoved his hands inside the bag and grabbed things at random. "The son of a bitch was waltzing out with his new squeeze. Like it was business as usual."

"I don't care." Ignoring the painful clutch in her heart, Courtney turned to start on the salad. "He made his position clear enough. And it was humiliating for my brother to confront him. It makes me look pathetic."

"He knocked you up and just moved on."

The crack in her heart widened. Taking it out on the Romaine, she sliced quickly and avoided his eyes.

"I'm aware. I'm the one in the situation."

He paused in the act of putting away the grapes and stared at her. Whenever her voice took that icy note, he knew she was trying to cover up intense hurt.

"Court..." The slamming down of the knife had him jolting.

He was about to cross to her, when she anticipated his move and held up a hand. The tears glittering in her beautiful eyes had his heart simply squeezing inside his chest.

His sister was not one to use tears. Not even when they had endured countless atrocities at that awful group home, she had been brave and determined to shed no tears. Seeing the look of vulnerability destroyed him.

"I don't need you fighting my battles for me.

I am a grown ass woman who made the mistake of hooking up with an asshole, a spineless jerk.

I have accepted it. I need my brother to support me, not to.

.." She waved a hand. "To be a fricking knight in shining armor and riding off on a white horse to save the damsel in distress.

I will get through this. I will have my baby and ride out the storm. "

She resumed cutting vegetables, blinking back the tears. And stiffened when he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Let go."

"No." Brushing back her short, cropped hair, he kissed the top of her head. "I am an ass. An effing moron and not worthy to be called your brother." He grinned when she sniffed, her shoulders relaxing.

"You got that right."

He turned her to face him. Lifting a hand, he whisked the tear trickling down her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I was so bent on being the big brother, that I did not think."

"Okay, fine." She moved into his arms and closed her eyes. "Fine. We're going to be fine."

"Oh, count on it."