Page 35 of The Biggest Sacrifice

“Touchy. What’s got you so bent out of shape? You and Farrah looked like you were getting along at the game, so it can’t be that.”

“O’Brien! Do not talk about her. I’m warning you.”

He scoffs. “Warning me? I should be warning you.”

That’s all it takes. I yank the car to the side of the road, slam it into park, and get out of the car. I move quickly to his side of the car and open his door. “Get out. Now.”

He looks at me a moment, but then he does as I say, and gets out. He steps to the sidewalk, but I push him back against the patrol car and get into his face. “What do you think you should be warning me about?”

“Do you think this is appropriate right now? We don’t need nosey neighbors reporting back to the Chief.”

His tone is even, and I let out a breath, steadying myself. He’s right. This is the last thing I’d need from Hunter. I step away from him, never breaking eye contact. “Let’s get something straight, O’Brien. You may have moved into my territory and befriended my family, but you’ll never get my girl. Keep her name out of your mouth.”

He watches me, an expression dancing across his face that I can’t name. It’s not quite a know it all smirk, but it’s close.

And I don’t like it.

“Your family and Farrah have been good to me for the last year. Your parents have fed me dinner and I’ve appreciated the home-cooked meals being that I’m on my own. I’ve appreciated the warmth they’ve all shown me. Being new to town has been a big change.” He steps closer to me. “But make no mistake, Casanova, Farrah and I are friends. We’re going to stay friends and there’s nothing you can do about it.” My hands clench. What I wouldn’t do to take a swing at this guy right now. “You asked what I can warn you about?” He looks at me, then at my hands, my nameplate on my chest and back to my eyes again. “I’d warn you that a girl like her doesn’t come around every day. And if you don’t get your shit straight, you’re never going to have a chance again.”

“Don’t even think about moving in on her-”

“She’s not for me, Tom. I know it and I won’t push for more than friendship with her. Her heart lies elsewhere. But her heart is going to become hardened to you, if you don’t soften yours for her.”

My breathing picks up. Cash is reiterating everything I’ve been thinking. How does this guy know so much?

“Your family talks about you as if you sit on a pedestal. Do you know that? They love, care and worry about you every day that you were gone and continue to do so every day that you’re home. I think you’re so wrapped up here,” he taps his forehead, “and broken here,” he taps his heart, “that you’re blind to what you’re doing to them.”

“I’m not doing any-”

He cuts me off and continues. “I’ve heard all about the hierarchy amongst your siblings. I know Adam thinks he’s top dog and I know you all call him names behind his back and to his face. I know Billy is the wild child with a heart of gold. Francesca is the sweetest woman in the world. And you? You’re the patient brother. The one they never had to worry about. Until they did.” He leans back against the car and folds his arms across his chest. I’m frozen in my spot. All I can do is listen.

“You have to let someone in. You have to talk about what you’ve seen. What you’ve done. And before you jump on me, I don’t know anything except that I can see you’re going through it and you’re holding onto something you most likely had no control over. But you’re putting everyone around you through that same pain, except it’s worse because they don’t know what’s wrong. They don’t know what happened and they don’t know how to help you.”

The radio goes off in the car, asking us to check in at headquarters. We both continue watching each other, listening to the radio, but I have a feeling neither of us is hearing a word dispatch is reporting.

“I talk with experience. And if you don’t want to burden your family, or Farrah with what you’ve seen, then maybe burden me. Maybe you need someone who isn’t so close to you. Someone you don’t like, but I assure you, I can take it. You can rage on me, hit me if you have to.” When I raise a brow, he smirks. “I’ve seen your aim. I’m not scared.”

“Go fuck yourself.” He barks a laugh, but I don’t crack a smile.

“We can stand here all day and have a face off if you’d like, or we can get in the car, answer that call and maybe you can talk. Give me a few words. And in return, I’ll tell you all about my coffee dates with Farrah while you were gone.”

I exhale and drop my head, shaking it. “You’ve got some set, O’Brien.”

“That’s so funny! Farrah said the same thing!”

I charge him half heartedly and push him against the car again. “Shut your fucking mouth and get in, Cash. I don’t need to wash blood off the patrol car today.”

I round the car and get in, my mind lingering on his words. There’s a familiarity with Cash. It’s got to be our bond of service. I hate to admit it, but he reads me well, and is on point with most of what he’s saying. Now, if he could just keep his trap shut about my girl, we’d be okay.

CHAPTER 20

TOM

“Jesus,Adam! Give the woman a break, for Christ sake! She just gave you twins! Two babies! At once! And how do you repay her? By knocking her up again!”

We’re all laughing at Billy’s outburst. I look at my oldest brother as he flashes that Casanova smirk, takes a pull from his beer and leans back in his chair.

Proud fucking Poppa.

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