Page 91 of Beat of Love
Brandy lifted her chin. “I did.”
Richard threw his hands into the air. “Have you completely lost your senses? He’s been inprison, for God’s sake,” he yelled, and stormed across the room and yanked Amelia away from Rafferty.
“Dad!” Amelia cried, stumbling against the couch, rubbing her arm. “That hurt.”
“Daddy! Stop it! You’re being so mean,” Olivia sobbed.
“You’re a jealous hypocrite,” Preston spat. “He’s an ex-DEAagentwho wasundercoverin prison. He’s ahero. Twice the manyou’llever be.”
“Y’all fools,” Richard boomed. “The man’s lived with scum —becomescum. He’s tainted. Covered in filthy prison ink.”
“You are right. Iamtainted,” Rafferty said without inflection. “I have never denied that fact. And I certainly do not deserve to be part of the pure goodness of this family.” His stare hardened, heat simmering just beneath the surface as emotion returned to his face. “But, Springer, lift your hand to any of your children again in anger, and Iwillflatten you. That’s the second time I’ve caught you manhandling your daughter. Andyou’rethe fool. Because only a fool would do something so idiotic as step out on a woman like Brandy-Lyn.”
Richard aimed an incredulous look at her. “Is this what’s been happening behind my back, Brandy? You sleeping with anex-con? Inviting a druggie into the home where my children live? Are you really so hard up to belong to the Lawsons that you’ll lower yourself to fuck” — he sent a fulminating look at Rafferty — “him?”
Brandy finally emerged from the shock of Richard’s appalling accusations. She grabbed at his arm. “Richard, control yourself.”
“Control myself?” He let out a bark of laughter, harsh and sharp. “I’m not the one whose lost their mind.Youhave, Brandy. For cryin’ out loud, I spent years trying to measure up to theghost of Golden Boy Sullivan, and that soon became tedious. Don’t be a fool and think you can get a do-over with his twin.”
He shook loose from her grip and focused back on Rafferty. “Let me tell you, the only reason Brandy’s with you is because you look likehim.So, tell me, Mister Druggie,” he sing-songed, “what’s it like to fuck a woman pining for your look-a-like?”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Richard!”
And to her horror, he lifted his arms and shoved both hands into Rafferty’s chest. “Yourwife died because of your heedlessness.Iam trying to protectmykids and wife.”
An almost inhuman growl emerged from Rafferty.
Tension radiated from him, and he focused a stare on Richard — sharp, cold, and absolutely withering. The kind of look that makes you feel judged, found lacking, and thoroughly scorched without a single word being spoken.
For a moment, Brandy feared he would pounce and pummel the crap out of Richard.
Something the moron deserved.
But not in front of his kids.
She opened her mouth to say something, to try and defuse the situation, but she snapped it shut as fast as she watched the change in Rafferty’s demeanor.
There weren’t really words to describe the intense stillness that settled over him. Like an instant freeze.
And when Rafferty spoke, it was devoid of emotion. “Watch your words, Springer. This is not the time, nor the place to air your petty grievances. Your family experienced a harrowing ordeal last night, and they do not need your childish tantrums.” His gaze swept to Amelia, his muscles in his face softening somewhat. “You practice what we went over today. Yeah?”
Amelia nodded, a tear tracking over her cheek.
He moved his focus to Preston, some unspoken message moving between them. Her son had his arm slung around asoftly crying Olivia, and he met Rafferty’s stare with a chin lift and a silent nod.
Brandy’s heart shattered when his eyes settled on her and she read the finality in those deep blue depths. “Look after yourself, Red. The doc said three days complete rest.”
Rafferty turned and walked away. At the door, he stopped and looked over his shoulder, giving Richard a hard look. “I’d take a bullet for any one of them. And Springer, Brandy-Lyn isnotyour wife. Not anymore. You threw that away when you abandoned your marriage vows.”
Thesnickof the front door closing reverberated across the room.
“I hate you,” Amelia snapped at her father.
“Mimi,” he protested, making a move toward her.
Stepping back, she said, “You don’t get to call me that anymore. My name is Amelia.” She held up her hand. “And I don’t want you near me.”
Richard stopped dead in his tracks, frowning. “I drove all the way here to make sure you all were okay.”
