Page 82 of Hard Rock Heat

"I don't want you to see this," hesaid.

"If you think I'm going to let you gooff—"

"And what are you going to do to stop me?" he saidshortly.

My breath caught. I didn't think he would kill his father for real, but I had no doubt if the two of them were alone, one or both of them would could end up seriouslyhurt.

"You don't have to do this," I told him, trying to sound calm and reasonable. "You can talk thingsout."

"I've triedthat."

"Then try again." I placed my hand on Damon's chest. "Please. Don't go getting into trouble over thatbastard."

Damon stared at me. I stared back,resolute.

I'm not going to let you do this, my eyes said withoutwords.

His gaze slid to the floor. He inhaled heavily. Then exhaled. He did it a few more times. I waited. When he looked up again, the rage in his eyes haslessened.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. "But I'm still going. I'm not going to let him terrorize me and my brotheranymore."

I nodded. I didn't have any real plan, no idea what Damon or I could do to make his father go away once and for all, but I knew that beating him unconscious wasn't theanswer.

"We'll figure it out," Ipromise.

"Let's just go," Damon said, averting hisgaze.

I followed him to the car. The ride was tense. Damon tapped his fingers on the wheel in a nervous, repetitive pattern. I clasped my hands in my lap to stop myself fromfidgeting.

Damon only lived a few short minutes from his brother's place. When we pulled up, I saw the man, Gareth Drake, standing out in front of a condo building just as expensive looking at Damon's. At least he hadn't actually gone through with his threat and approached Ian. No, he was just close enough to set Damon off. Just close enough to taunthim.

The car came to a screeching halt. Damon flung the car door open and jumpedout.

I fumbled with the seatbelt in my haste. I didn't hear the first few words they exchanged. By the time I was out of the car, Damon's fists were already clenched. His father had raised a derisiveeyebrow.

"You think I won't go through with my threat?" The man jerked his chin toward the condo entrance. "He's right inthere."

"I told you what I'd do to you if you went near him," Damon growled. "You think I won't beat the shit out of you? Tryme."

"Here's what going to happen," Gareth said. "You're going to give me another hundred thousand. You're going to do it with a smile on your face. And the next time I ask, you're going to hand it over without giving me anylip."

Damon laughed. "You're delusional. There's not going to be a next time. If you don't walk away now, I'll make sure you can never walkagain."

I stood still, mind racing. If Damon's dad didn't stop threatening Ian, Damon was eventually going to snap. There had to be a way to stopthis.

With slow, careful movements, I reached behind myself and took out my phone, keeping it behind myback.

"Really?" A smarmy smirk crossed his father's face. "You're threatening me with violence? Don't you remember what happened lasttime?"

Damon made a movement, as if ready to launch into his father with bothfists.

"Stop this." I stepped forward and put myself in between Damon and his dad. Damon immediately tried to pull me behind him, but I shook him off. His father squinted at me, as if confused by my presence. "You need to leave Damon and his brotheralone."

Gareth eyed me up and down. "Same one as before?" He leered. "Didn't think you fucked the same whoretwice."

Damon tried to jolt forward with a raised fist. I rushed to place a hand on his shoulder. I rubbed up and down, soothing. His muscles were tense, his arm ready to throw a punch at the slightest provocation. I had to smooth thisover.

Somehow.