Page 80 of Healed
“I guess I will, too,” Hellen said, picking up the platter with all the small bowls of potato fixings on it and following them upstairs.
“Can I have a toaster pastry?” Harley asked.
“You can,” Havoc said, grabbing the basket and reaching inside to take out enough for everybody to choose what they wanted. He laid out two layers of pastries still wrapped in theirwax paper, then straightened them all out and closed the top of the basket on those still inside. “More in the basket if anybody wants them,” he said. “Here baby-girl, why don’t you and Carson go play while you have your dessert?”
“Okay,” Harley said excitedly, taking two of the pastries he offered her. “Which one do you want?” she asked Carson.
“That one,” he said, pointing to an apple one.
“Come on, let’s go see if we can find some bugs for Gerald,” Harley said.
As soon as the males were finally alone, Havoc, Lucien, Brandt and Barron all focused on Charlie.
Charlie looked at all of them staring at him. “What?” he asked, looking from one to another of them.
“What’s his name? What did she tell you?” Brandt asked.
“He was a professor of hers. He didn’t tell her he was married. When his wife found out she stalked Daisy, popping up even outside her classes and at her dorm, literally everywhere she went shouting obscenities at her. Screaming to everybody within earshot that she was a home wrecker and had lured her husband to commit adultery and shit. For his part, he claimed that’s exactly what Daisy did.
“That’s bullshit,” Analise said quietly, having come right back out to get the rest of the dishes. “Daisy said that he wore down her resistance, and told her how special she was and how he never thought he’d feel that way again after his divorce. Only there was no divorce.”
“You knew what happened?” Brandt asked.
“A couple of us do. But she didn’t want anyone to know. So, we just took care of her the best we could.”
“Why didn’t she sense his lies?” Barron asked.
Analise shrugged. “She said she’s so embarrassed that she allowed herself to be taken advantage of. She should have known better, but she just didn’t pick up on it.”
“Could be that he’s her mate. A fucking asshole, but her mate. Look at my dad and his first mate. He had no idea. And Uncle Bam couldn’t read Everly, so maybe it has something to do with that,” Havoc suggested.
“What happens if he was her mate?” Charlie asked, not at all sure he wanted to know the answer.
“Oh, that sonofabitch has already signed his own death certificate,” Lucien said. “So, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”
“No, he’s wanting to know what happens to him and Daisy if her professor was her mate,” Analise said.
“There are often connections to more than one person that we never notice, or explore and they don’t work out for one reason or another. Doesn’t mean you can’t forge a bond with someone else. Doesn’t mean you can’t have another mate come along.”
“Our mom is our dad’s second mate, and he loves her stronger than he ever did the first,” Havoc said. “Of course, she was a psychotic bitch, but, still, it applies.”
“When are we heading into New Orleans?” Lucien asked.
“I cannot leave Tempest right now. I’m talking any hour now,” Brandt said.
“I can go. I just have to be sure Everly can stay with Emmalyn for me. And whatever you do, don’t freaking tell Emmalyn, she’ll insist on going to whip some ass.”
“It’s alright. We got this,” Havoc said. “Me and Lucien can handle it.”
“I’m going,” Charlie said.
Brandt’s gaze flicked up to Charlie. “I’m not sure you want to get involved in this, Charlie. We’re not planning on just bruising him up a little bit. It could get really ugly. And like it or not, we plan to pay his wife a little visit, too.”
Charlie nodded slowly. “I understand that. One of them lied to, took advantage of, and betrayed Daisy. The other terrorized her and humiliated her so badly she left school before graduation and never went back to finish the few hours of her degree. I want to be there.”
“Charlie, you’re not exactly married into the family yet,” Barron pointed out.
“Clearly,” Charlie said. “And if I don’t stand up and show that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe and sane, then how would I ever convince her that I’m the right man for her. If you’re not willing to give your everything for the woman you love, then you don’t deserve her.”
