Page 76 of Love Finds Home

“What about her?”

“She needs you.”

“She doesn’t need shit from me.”

“Look man, she’s sick. And the money is gone.”

“Spit out what you want.”

“We need to borrow some money so we can pay her medical bills.”

“Does she know you’re here?”

“Yeah. She’s the one who asked me to come.”

“So let me get this straight. You fuck my wife, and when I find out and end up in the hospital actually between life and death, you spin some elaborate tale to turn Mom and Dad against me, but now that she’s sick, I’m important enough to remember?”

“Man, it wasn’t like that,” he tries to defend himself.

“It was exactly fucking like that! You fucked up my life. You took my family from me. And you didn’t give a good Goddamn that I was your fucking family, did you?”

“I loved her! More than you ever did!”

“I don’t care!” Ranger finally explodes, dropping his arm from me and looking ready for battle. His hands fist at his sides and I swear I can see smoke coming from his nostrils. “I don’t care that you loved her and she maybe loved you. All I know is that while I was away serving our country and sending every fucking penny home to take care of my wife, she was fucking you! And not only that, but when you knocked her up, you concocted a plan to keep taking my fucking money and lying to my fucking face! I was in the fucking military, not a fucking billionaire! Then all of you left me in a hospital bed and planned my fucking funeral. Did you and Vanessa create a plan to spend my death benefit and savings plan? Was Mom in on that, too? How about Dad? Because when I lived, you all sure fucking scattered quick.” Ranger’s chest is heaving, his eyes burning with the fire of hell.

“No, man, come on—”

“No. You tell Mom she only has one son. She made that fucking decision the day she walked away from me in that hospital room.”

“But it’s your duty,” he tries.

“No, my duty was to my country, and I proved that until the day I no longer could. This is not my responsibility. Not anymore.”

“What about your girl here?” He gestures to me.

“What do you know about my girl?” Ranger growls, the menace in his voice terrifying.

“I know she’s got money. She could pay, and Mom said—”

“Time’s up, asshole,” Ranger interrupts. “You need to leave. And I never want to see your face again. And you can tell dear, sweet Mom that if I hear about her going after Elle for anything, I’ll come at her with everything I’ve got.”

“But Mom’s dying,” he tries one more time.

I look at Ranger. His face is a stone mask, and all I can think is he must have been terrifying when he was in the military. Oh, and that I never want to make him this mad. Ever. But it’s his eyes. So full of pain and anger and hurt and betrayal. Those eyes tell me everything I need to know about what’s going on right now. I step forward, putting myself between the two men.

“Hi. Jeremy, right?” I ask, sticking out my hand. “I’m Elle.”

“So he talks about me, huh?” The idiot smiles.

“Only once. To tell me what a bastard you are.” I smile at him. The perfect Workman smile. The one that all upper society kids learn from an early age. “I’m going to politely ask you to leave and not return, okay?”

“The fuck?” He looks between the two of us. “Who is this bitch?”

Barbie and I both step in front of Ranger before he can get to his brother.

“I suggest you leave. Now. You won’t be getting anything from me, and I believe Jonathan has already told you everything he needs to say. I’m so sorry that you thought using your mother as an excuse to pry him of the money he earned would be a smart idea, but you were obviously wrong. And if she really is sick, I’m sorry to hear that. But we won’t be bankrolling you today or any other day in the future.”

“Whatever, bitch. You’ll regret this one day.” He looks at Ranger.

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