Page 10 of Scarred Heir
“He’s fine,” I said.
“What’s wrong withyou?”
When she rushed over to her brother, I nodded for my guys to release him. Once they did, Chance wobbled into Sable. She couldn’t hold his weight, so I grabbed his arm and held him steady.
“Don’t touch him.” Sable pointed at me. “You’ve done enough.”
“Now it’s my fault?” I propped Chance against the dumpster. “Do I have to remind you how he got himself into this mess? He should be dead.”
She pressed her fingers to her brother’s swollen lip. “He understands what he did.”
“He better,” I said. “Do you see the anxiety you’ve caused your sister tonight?”
Chance nodded.
“She doesn’t deserve that.” I gazed at Sable who was too busy assessing Chance’s injuries to care what I said. “He’s going to be fine.”
“You don’t know that.” She tilted Chance’s face up. “He needs stitches.”
“No!” Chance tried to raise his voice, but he was too hoarse to be effective. “We’re not going to the hospital.”
“That’s a wise choice.” I took her wrist and brought her close to me. “No hospitals, no cops, you got it?” I leaned into her ear. “If you bring that kind of attention to me and my club, I’m going to have to tell the police that I caught him selling in my establishment. Trust me, I have enough friends on the force who would see things my way.”
“We could just say he got jumped or robbed or something. He needs medical attention.” She motioned toward him. “Look at him. He could have a concussion.”
“That might knock some sense into him.”
“You’re not a very nice person.” She put her hand onher hip. “He made a mistake. Haven’t you ever done something you’ve regretted?”
“Plenty.” I never should have allowed myself to get caught up by her. “But when I make a mistake, I own it.”
“Your situation is a lot different than ours,” she said. “You have no idea how most people struggle every day.”
“Are you making excuses for him?”
“He’s doing the best he can. He is misguided, and for some bizarre reason, he wants to be someone like you. I’m trying hard to show him that’s the wrong choice.”
Tell me what you really think of me.“Take him home and clean him up. Make sure he understands that he got lucky tonight. That won’t happen a second time.”
“Don’t worry.” She tugged out of my hold. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”
I didn’t believe her. She was far too receptive to my touch. She didn’t pull away when I kissed her. If I had pursued an arrangement, she would have given in. I could see the submission in her hopeless expression. She couldn’t handle her brother. My help would have solved her problems.
But I wasn’t in a position to solve her problems. I had my own family to deal with. She was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
“Just so you know, if I wanted to see you again, I would,” I said. “You couldn’t stop me.”
“You arrogant son of?—”
I pressed my finger to her lips, stopping her words. “I wouldn’t insult my mother if I were you.” I glanced down the alleyway and to the busy street. “It’s time for the two of you to go.”
She pushed her tousled hair from her face, revealing her furious eyes. That fire intrigued me. “I’d like nothingmore.”
“I’m going to say this one time.” I looked at Chance. “If I see you near any of my businesses, or doing anything you shouldn’t in my territory, I’m going to kill you.” I turned and stared at Sable. “And I’m going to make you watch.”
She backed away from me and put Chance’s arm around her shoulder. She wanted me to believe she was capable of handling the mess her brother had created on her own. I didn’t buy it.
“Lean on me,” she said to her brother. “We’re getting out of here.”
