Page 123 of Call Back

I blinked and shook my head. “How do you know that?”

“Tilly texted me first.”

“Why would she do that?”

“She knows how difficult it’s going to be for you with Roy there. She wanted to know you’d have someone to have your back.”

“But she’ll be there, right?”

“Maggie, Tilly’s barely holding it together herself.”

“And Tilly texted you to come with me?”

He squeezed his hand. “Yeah.”

I didn’t have the presence of mind to ponder that as much as I probably should have.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, I was hurrying toward the hospital entrance, dangerously close to losing it. I reminded myself that I had to hold it together for Tilly and Momma.

Colt slipped his hand in mine and held tight. He was right by my side, step for step. “I’ve got your back, Mags. You can do this.”

I wasn’t so sure, but I didn’t have a choice.

He continued to hold my hand in the elevator and down the hall on the fourth floor, but as we approached room 433, he dropped my hand and slid his arm around my back.

Tilly stood outside Momma’s room, along with Roy and Belinda. Tilly’s face was pale, but she seemed to be holding her own. Roy looked like he was angling to pick a fight, and Belinda seemed so small and sad and fragile next to my brother. I wanted nothing more than to rush forward and pluck her away from him.

“Magnolia,” Roy said in a harsh tone. “I was hoping you wouldn’t make it, and look at the garbage you brought with you.”

“Roy,” Tilly admonished. Belinda seemed to shrink into herself even more.

“You have no say in any of this, Tilly,” my brother barked. “You have no business being here at all. This is a family matter.”

I was about to rip my brother to shreds, but Colt’s hand dug into my hip. He leaned into my ear and whispered, “Wait for it.”

I barely had to wait before Tilly launched into him.

She pointed her finger into his chest. “Don’t you dare start with me, Roy Michael Steele. I have more of a right to be here than you do. I knew your mother before you were even thought of. I changed more of your diapers than I can count and got an eyeful of the itty-bitty dick you were born with, the one you’ve been trying to compensate for your entire life.” She looked over at Belinda. “Darlin’, I’ve got a catalog full of dildos I’d be happy to loan you to make up for his under-endowment. I’ve wanted to offer it before, but refrained since I considered you and your husband family.”

“Tilly!” Belinda said as her face turned red.

“Enough,” Roy snapped.

Tilly wasn’t done yet. If anything, she seemed to have gained strength from her first round. “Your mother coddled you, and for the most part, I kept my mouth shut. I knew why she did it. It was no secret that Brian doted on your sister, but you turned sullen and entitled and just downright mean. Your poor mother didn’t realize the damage she’d done until it was too damn late. I love your mother more than anyone God’s seen fit to put on this earth, but she’s far from perfect. After she lost your sister, she was so desperate to keep you in her life that she gave you anything and everything you wanted—worse, she looked the other way when you showed your ugly side.” She took a breath, her hands shaking at her sides. “I may not be your mother, Roy Steele, but I’m pretty damn close, and I’m not putting up with this bullshit anymore.”

My mouth dropped in disbelief, but Colt was prepared for what came next. He’d already dropped his hand from my back in anticipation, and he lunged for my brother just as Roy lifted his arm to strike Tilly.

Colt shoved him three feet backward into the wall—one hand pressed to his chest, the other clutching the hand Roy had raised to hit Tilly. Roy struck the drywall with a loud thud, and the back of his hand smashed a piece of glass artwork on the wall. Blood started dripping from his cut fingers. Colt leaned his face close to Roy’s and said, “You dare to touch her, and you’re a dead man, Steele.”

Roy looked murderous. “I’ll press charges, Austin.” He writhed against the wall and tried unsuccessfully to break free of Colt’s hold.

“You go ahead and try, but Tilly and Magnolia will be here to testify that you were about to strike Tilly.”

“Belinda will take my side.”

“Still two against one,” Colt said, his arm muscles bulging as he maintained his hold. “Three if you count the nurse in the hall behind you who saw the whole thing and is about to call security.”

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