Page 127 of One Little Kiss

“Got it.”

Jason notices us first and scrambles drunkenly to his feet as we exit the car. When Claire sees me, she rolls her eyes.

“I suggest you get inside. Now,” I growl.

“This is my house. You can’t tell me what to do,” she replies stubbornly.

I take a menacing step forward. “You, Claire, are a despicable excuse for a human being, and I will see to it that you get what’s coming to you.”

Ashton steps beside me, a silent warning to reel it in, but her eyes go wide when she sees him, and she backs up toward the door.

“Looking like a monster has its advantages,” he mumbles.

“You don’t—”

He holds a hand up to cut me off. “Not the time, Colt.” He nods his head toward Jason and Claire.

“Unless you want me to bring the full force of my family down on you, your career, and your miserable excuse for a life, I suggest you get the fuck inside, Claire. Now.”

She glances between Darling and me a few times before scurrying into the building like the rat she is.

All the rage I have built up inside of me unleashes as I lurch forward, pinning Darling to the door with my forearm at his throat. Staring into glassy eyes, I search for understanding. How could this man treat my Winnie like a piece of trash? But he’s dead inside. Hollow eyes blink unseeing.

“Hey. I’m gonna, I’m gonna sue—”

I press a little harder into his throat to restrict his airway.

“Why did you go after Weston? Why did Claire give my fiancée those pictures?” I don’t know how, but I just know they’re related.

He grunts and kicks his legs, but I don’t ease up.

“Answer the question.”

Turning my gaze toward my brother, I see something I’ve never seen in him before. He’s cold and calculating. This is what years of working for a secret government agency has turned my baby brother into, and I hate it.

“Whatever,” Jason wheezes. “Some guy. Some guy was gonna give me a shit ton …” He wheezes again, and I let up a little so he can speak. “He was gonna give me a ton of money if I found a way to hurt you.”

“Hurt him how?” Ash fumes.

“I ain’t into killing no one. Nothing like that. Just get to him, ya know?”

“By hurting your children,” I surmise. “You were going to hurt your children’s chances at happiness for a quick buck.”

“I’ve never been a father. No sweat off my back. Then that little cunt went and—”

My fist connects with his face, but I don’t stop. I punch until he’s curled into a ball, sobbing and bloody. I punch until Ashton pulls me off him.

“I’ll make them all pay for this,” my brother vows. But I’m not counting on his promises anymore.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I huff, staring at the two of them. “How the hell have we gotten here, Ash? I’m not a fighter. The Westbrooks don’t mess around in barroom brawls and fucked up fathers. What happened in our lives to put us on this path? Are we ever going to break free of it?”

Ash stands with his hands on his hips. He doesn’t make eye contact as he speaks. “I’m working on it, Colt. I’m trying.”

I let out an exasperated breath. “One day you’re going to learn, Ash. You’ll learn that this ride you’re on? It won’t stop until you let us in. Our family doesn’t work this way, nor should it. When you’re ready to let go of whatever hate you’re holding onto, we’ll be here to help you break free. Until then, I don’t even know what to say to you anymore. I’ll send East to pick you up.”

He doesn’t lift his gaze. I have a fiancée to bring home, so I leave him to clean up this mess.

CHAPTER40