Page 72 of His Last Shot
“He did. Last night, after we left.”
With a shake of my head and a sigh, my disbelief hangs heavy in the surrounding air. “Okay, I am not cool with you talking about our past relationship with him. It’s none of your business.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
Oh, please. He just wants to keep us all under this roof to control us.
“Well then, you should be thrilled because I am with a man who is making me the happiest I have been my whole life.”
He clicks his tongue. “Johnny isn’t the right man for you. You’ll see.”
I shrug. “I guess we will.”
“He’s going to disappoint you. Drew and I—”
I’m done.
I slam my hands on the bar. “What do you want from me, Dexter?!” He flinches, and his eyes widen. It’s rare for me to react this way around him. Normally, I would cower and conform to whatever he wants from me.
But that was me then.
Not anymore.
“If you claim to love me like you say you do, then act like it. If you preach, and I quote, ‘we are family, and family stick together as one,’ then stick by me and support me! And stop trying to control my life, derail me from going to nursing school, and push a man on me that I don’t love or want to be with. JUST STOP!!”
Lost in the heat of my plea, I didn’t even notice Micah enter the bar. He’s at my side faster than I realize. “Hey, hey! What is going on?”
“Get your sister under control, Micah.”
I rear my head back. “Excuse me? No man controls me! Not anymore! Are you kidding me right now? Did you not hear anything I just said to you?!” My head is burning, a searing heat spreading through my scalp. My tense, rigid stance causes my elbows to lock. Out of habit, my left hand rubs my right elbow.
Dexter only stares at me, and I study his face. It’s void of any affection. No empathy or understanding. I see nothing.
Which causes an enormous hole to open in my heart. Uncle Dexter raised us. He was a good provider. And I know he loves me. But he changed when his dad died, and he took over Dexter’s. The love of power and money clouded all of his judgement. His heart then grew cold, and a craving for control overtook him. Even control over me and Micah.
I will admit, I miss the Dexter of old. Honestly, the reason for his change doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’m not his therapist. All I know is I am a thirty-year-old woman who is ready to live her life with the man she loves. A man who loves her unconditionally. A man who supports her, cheers her on, and wants the best for her.
Johnny is it for me.
And now, all of Johnny’s warnings about this man are playing in my head on a loop. He knew from day one that Dexter was trouble. On so many occasions, he tried to warn me. Telling me to be careful.
Dexter is my family. Other than Micah, he is my only family. I just want us to … stick together as one.
That hope is long gone.
I turn to Micah. “Will you be okay for like an hour?”
“Where are you going, Rachel?” Dexter asks.
With my back to him, I ignore his question and address my brother. “I just need some air. I’ll be back in an hour.”
Micah’s eyes flick to Dexter briefly before landing on me. “Take as much time as you need. And tell him I said hi.” He knows where I’m going.
As I’m undoing my apron from my waist, Dexter protests. “Rachel, I am your boss, and I did not give you permission to leave.” No longer acknowledging him, I grab my purse from under the bar and sling it around my shoulder.
I waltz past him with my head held high. He’s practically foaming from the mouth, spitting as he rants. “Rachel, if you walk out that door—”
I turn on my heels. “You’ll what? Fire me? Go right ahead. I couldn’t care less,” I spat at him.
