Page 56 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

“I don’t need to think and I don’t want you coming in here trying to keep the peace. If I want to get upset, I sure as hell have been given that right.”

“Getting upset is understandable—”

“Thanks for the permission,” Zach snarled.

“But being an ass to a kid who’s already shaken up is not okay,” Braxton went on. “We all know why you’re so emotional over this, but think of this from his standpoint. He just got his license, he was trying to come home when the storm hit and he hydroplaned. He wasn’t speeding, he wasn’t texting and driving, he was paying attention and had an accident. It could’ve happened to any of us.”

Sophie came to her feet and put her hand on Zach’s arm. “Sit down,” she told him. “You look like you’re ready to hit something.”

Braxton figured of the options in this room, he was the only contender.

Zach let Sophie ease him down onto the couch. Raking his hands through his unruly hair, he blew out a breath. “My damn hands are still shaking. I’ve only been this terrified one other time in my life, when I couldn’t get Sophie and Liam out of that truck.”

Sophie rested her forehead against his shoulder, reaching down to grip his scarred hands. “He’s fine. The doctor said the concussion was very mild and the cut on his head will be fine when the stitches come out. It could’ve been worse.”

Braxton knew that was the crux of the entire situation. It could’ve been worse.

“I don’t like this part of parenting,” Zach grumbled. “Damn it. Can’t he just stay in his room where he’s safe?”

Braxton laughed and pushed off the doorway he’d been leaning against for the past several minutes. “Imagine how Mom and Dad felt about you if you’re worried about Brock. Brock’s a good kid. You were—”

“Rebellious?” Sophie chimed in.

“I was going to say impossible.”

Zach shot h

im a glare. “I wasn’t impossible or rebellious. Strong-willed. We’ll go with that.”

Braxton stared out the window to the steady rain. The storm had passed through, leaving random tree limbs littering yards and roads. More than likely a few shingles from roofs would be found lying around. The wind had been a bitch and the thunder and lightning hadn’t been much better. He wanted to get back to Cora, but he needed to make sure everything here was squared away because he didn’t want to leave when there was so much turmoil filling the house.

“Brock needs you to be understanding right now,” Braxton went on. “Be angry and scared all you want, but keep in mind he’s angry and scared too. That was his new car he just put a good dent in and shattered the window.”

Sophie smoothed her hair back from her face and sent him a smile. “Thanks for coming. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything when I called.”

Braxton bit the inside of his cheek. “No. Nothing at all.”

Zach sat straight up and glanced between the two. “Oh, damn. I forgot Sophie dropped Cora off at your house. What the hell, man? Can you keep it in your pants with our new employees?”

Braxton wasn’t going to get into this with Zach and he sure as hell wasn’t going to hash it out while his brother was still coming down from an emotional setback.

“Cora was helping with my soreness.”

Okay, even to Braxton that sounded lame and pathetic and like a total lie. But she had helped his soreness. And when he’d whipped her shirt off and kissed her creamy skin he’d nearly forgotten all about his aches until his damn back had decided to catch.

“You can’t even lie,” Zach stated, shaking his head. “Don’t screw this up for us. Or for Chelsea.”

Braxton took a step forward, but Sophie jumped to her feet. “Don’t,” she stated, holding up her hands. “Thank you for coming, but right now we all need to be in our separate corners.”

Fisting his hands at his side, Braxton stared down to his brother. “Don’t ever throw Chelsea in my face again. Next time I won’t let Sophie stop me from putting my fist in your face.”

Slowly, Zach rose, his eyes never leaving Braxton. He reached for Sophie and shifted her aside.

“Zach,” she muttered, worry lacing her tone.

Zach said nothing, but the silent exchange was more than words could say. Braxton clenched his teeth. Tensions were too high to say something he couldn’t take back. But damn it if he was going to allow his brother to start homing in on his territory and knocking how he spent his time . . . or who he spent it with.

“I’ll let myself out.” Braxton turned to Sophie. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll check on Brock tomorrow.”

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