Page 33 of Save Me

"The shit he did to her? What about the shit he did to you? Don't forget, I know the truth. I'm the one who helped scoop your ass up off bar floors when you tried to drink it away."

"What he did doesn't matter."

"Jesus Christ." Memphis pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing. "One of these fuckin' days, man…"

"Don't start with me, Memphis," I mutter, throwing a hand up. "I don't press you. And unless you forget, I know the truth about your shit too."

He glowers at me.

I stare back.

Eventually, he mutters a curse, throwing up his hands. "You're a stubborn pain in the fuckin' ass, Brant."

"Right back at you, motherfucker."

He laughs, flipping me off.

"You going to help me or not?"

"Yeah, brother." He scrubs a hand through his long hair. "I'll help you. But I swear to Christ, if you get yourself killed, I'm going to be pissed about it."

"I'm not going to get myself killed."

"You better fuckin' not."

When I get back to my office, it's to hear peals of laughter echoing from inside. I hurry my steps, my heart pulsing in my chest. I'd know that laugh anywhere.

Isla is here again.

Christ, every minute I spend with her sinks her more deeply under my skin. I'm fucking crazy about her. And growing crazier about her by the day. I want my ring on her finger and my kid in her belly.

I know she's trying to keep her dad happy, but fucking hell. Sending her home every night is starting to piss me off. I want her in my arms, in my bed. It's where she belongs. It's where she wants to be, too. I thought she was going to cry when it was time for her to leave last night.

That shit killed me.

And it's precisely why I went to see Memphis today. I want this shit over with so I can tell Mac that she's mine. I want him to know that I can be a man worthy of her. And part of being that man means proving to her father that I can protect her. It means giving her what she needs. And right now, she needs her twin home with her.

I'll figure out the rest once I've accomplished that.

I step into my office, only to rock back on my heels when I realize that Isla and Daniel aren't alone. My mother is seated beside Isla, looking frail and worn, but happier than she's looked in longer than I can remember. She's got Isla's hand clutched in hers, their heads bent together.

I stand in the doorway for a long moment, just watching them. My mother is telling her…God only knows what. Probably something fucking embarrassing. But Isla listens intently, giving my mother her undivided attention.

Daniel stands off to the side, quietly observing.

He notices me first and quietly makes his way over to me. "She showed up about an hour ago," he murmurs, speaking quietly tokeep from interrupting them. "I offered to call you, but once she realized Isla was here, she insisted I keep my mouth shut and let her wait."

"I bet she did," I say, eyes narrowed on my mother. She may be frail, but she's as stubborn as ever. It'll take more than a damn heart condition to rein her in now that she knows about Isla. Shit. I doubt anything will do that now.

I'm not mad about it. It's…good seeing her and Isla together. Real fucking good, actually. They both look happy as clams. It's been too long since Ma had that look on her face.

"Isla was upset about something when she got here," Daniel warns me.

I jerk my chin in a nod, grateful for the warning. And then I step forward, clearing my throat.

My mother and Isla spring apart, looking at me with matching guilty looks on their faces. It's fucking cute.

"Brantley! There you are," Ma cries.

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