Chapter Nine
Bryar released a trembling breath as she looked at her sister-in-law. “Is it true? Did Puma give you a letter for me?”
Crystal swallowed hard, hugging herself as she looked down. “Bryar—”
“I want the truth.”
“I’m sorry, Bry. I had no idea—”
“I made her hide the letter from you,” Rory said as he rolled into the room and stopped his wheelchair near Bryar.
She faced her father, feeling her world tumble like a house of cards in gale-force winds. “You did? So it’s true then? Puma wrote me a letter before he left town.”
There was no remorse in her father’s expression. “Yes, and even now, I don’t regret it. He isn’t part of this family. He never will be.”
She wouldn’t have been more floored had he struck her. “Daddy, he’s my husband, the father of my child. Your grandchild.”
“A child that was conceived between enemies,” he said toughly.
“Puma and I aren’t enemies,” she clarified.
“A LeGuard will never be with a Steel. You should have some loyalty. That bastard Rory drove your mother away.” His snort seemed to echo off the walls. “You and Puma don’t belong together. You should be happy that those ties were broken long ago. He would have only brought you down.”
She trembled, but she refused to falter. She’d never stood up to her father like she should in all her thirty years. There was a time for everything and a line was drawn. “Are you saying that I should be happy that my son passed away?” Emotion crashed inside her. She saw stars.
“Bryar, don’t be ridiculous—”
“You’re the one who is being ridiculous,” she snapped. “You have never been able to see outside of your bubble. Mom left because you two hated each other. You drove her away.”
“Your mother left because she couldn’t keep her legs together.”
She clenched her hands at her sides. “Daddy, you have the nerve!”
“I think I should go upstairs—”
“Stay put, Crystal. This involves you too.” Bryar didn’t even take her gaze off her father.
“Good riddance to Bobbi and to Puma.” His scowl turned rigid.
“I don’t feel the same,” she whispered. “You know how many times I wanted my mother? Or wanted Puma?” The words came on their own accord. “More times than I can count.” They were even a shock to her.
“You never did make good choices for yourself.”
Crystal gasped. Bryar felt her sister-in-law slowly creeping toward the stairs.
“How would you know?” Bryar sighed. “You’ve never let me make decisions without interjecting your ideas and opinions. I can see why Mom left.” She saw something pass over his features that told her she’d struck a nerve. “Why would you keep something like a letter from me? That wasn’t your right. You knew how hurt I was when Puma left.”
“You were hurt, but you got over it.” There wasn’t an ounce of compassion in his voice.
“Well, Daddy, just so you know, I never got over it. He is part of this family. Whether he and I stay married, that’ll never change because he was Blake’s father,” She stated defiantly.
His color drained. “Not part of my family.”
“And then neither am I.” For the first time, she was defiant, rejecting the pressure he always placed on her to be the person he wanted her to be.
“If Lane were here—”
“But he isn’t. You see, your golden child got involved with criminal activity, and he’s paying the price.” All chains were broken, and the words flowed.
“Lane was wrongfully sentenced. It was his first offense.”
“No, he was not wrongfully anything. And here’s something else you don’t know. He crossed some people who are out for blood. Lane’s choices have put us in a bad place. I’m seriously thinking we might have to sell the bar, this house, and everything we can to clean up Lane’s mess again.” She saw the hurt in her father, but she didn’t feel guilty.
“That won’t happen!” Rory seethed.
“Yes, it’s possible. I’m tired of being the glue that holds this family together, yet I’m treated like a child. I have no idea what might have changed if I had read Puma’s letter, but that was for me to decide.” She started for the stairs. “I’m leaving!”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
. “I don’t know, but I’m not staying here.
Bryar had always felt so comfortable in the Victorian house, surrounded by memories of her mother. From the frilly curtains on the windows to the framed family photos hanging on the walls, the decorations that reminded her of her mother brought her a sense of comfort. But now, she felt like she didn’t belong. It no longer felt like home.
After packing an overnight bag, she left the house where she’d grown up, determined not to allow her father to run her life. She was a damn adult who’d carried the weight of the family for years.
The air was chilly as she wrapped her arms around herself.
She regretted leaving her home for a second, but she couldn’t go back. She had to take a stand. Her daddy needed to understand that he couldn’t control her life.
Darn, that stupid van was still at the shop.
Damn her family.
Screw Reno.
There was only one person who would understand.
*****
“Lost your way again, Bry?” Puma said when he opened the door and saw her standing on his doorstep.
“Very funny. My inner GPS has never failed me,” she replied.
He craned his neck to see around her. “Did you walk here?”
“I called Reese and she dropped me off.”
“Then you might as well come in.” He took a step back so she could pass. He caught a strong whiff of her scent, reminding him of wildflowers on a summer day. He couldn’t stop looking at her as she strode into the living room. Although she must have seen the decorations and furniture more than a dozen times, she still looked fascinated as she scanned everything, even studying a family picture taken when Puma was eight. Then she stared at the photo of Blake. A soft smile curved her lips.
Her arms were crossed tightly when she turned to him. “You were right. You did give Crystal a letter.”
He chuckled. “Like I told you, I have no reason to lie. You came all the way out here to tell me that?”
She tossed the ends of her hair over one shoulder. He couldn’t get over how beautiful she had become. He was certain he would do anything, even terrible things, to protect her. The intimidation that Reno instilled in her made him want to strangle the man with his bare hands.
Her lips were slightly parted, and her hair cascaded around her flushed cheeks. “Yes and no.” Her sigh startled the strands of hair framing her face. “I suppose I had nowhere else to go.”
“You ran away from home?”
“I suppose you could say that.”
“Aren’t you getting a little too old to be running away every time you get your feathers ruffled?” he said without apology.
“I-I couldn’t stay there. Not after Daddy told me the truth. He found out somehow that Crystal had your letter and convinced her not to give it to me. I realize I should have asked more questions, but I just needed to get away at the time.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t know you had it in you to stand up to your father. Congratulations.”
“It’s been a rough enough day without your sarcastic remarks,” she snarled.
“I’m not being sarcastic. Surprised, yes, but I promise not sarcastic.”
Her chin came up defiantly. “I am capable of standing up to people.”
“I believe you, just not your father.” He strolled past her and dropped onto the spongy sofa, resting his feet on the corner of the coffee table. “Still unsure why you’re here. Remember, you don’t need anyone, especially me.”
She worked the corner of her lips. “I might have been a little too rash in saying that.”
“A little? Try a lot.”
“Fine. I should have never come. I should have known better.” She turned and took a step toward the door.
“Have a seat.”
“Why? So you can bask in the glory that I came here?”
“I promise, no basking,” he said softly.
“I don’t believe you. You can’t help yourself.”
He blew out a raspy breath. “That’s not my intention. Come and sit.” He monitored the tone of his voice, realizing he still carried a lot of pain. Losing her had been gut-wrenching. He clenched his teeth now, biting back the words he wanted to say. The bond between them, still so strong that it gutted him, came to the surface.
She reluctantly sat down, not next to him, but across from him. “I don’t know why I’m here, but a force seemed to lead me in this direction.”
Her gaze, a cocktail of worry and freedom, came at him like a dagger, bleeding his pain from the past. “It may not mean anything to you, but I’m here for you no matter what.”
Those words must have been a key to her internal life because she buried her face into her palms, and when she looked back at him, she blurted, “Reno wants a lot of money.”
“Because he says that Lane stole it?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Did Lane?” He didn’t like where this was headed. He knew all too well how men like Reno operated. When she remained silent, he sighed. “So you don’t know the answer?”
“I want to say that he didn’t, but…”
“We both know Lane,” Puma grunted.
She braced her hands on her thighs. “Lane isn’t a bad person.”
“Lane is all about Lane.” Swallowing the constriction in his throat, Puma slightly shook his head. “That you can’t deny.”
“I get there’s no love lost between the two of you, and that’s why I don’t understand why he reached out to you.”
“Despite all his selfishness and self-righteousness, he does love you. He realizes how much you’ve done for him. Being in prison can humble a man in ways nothing else can.” Puma that her brother needed help with humility.
“And I love him, even though I see how he can be a lot to handle.”
Puma understood that arguing his point wouldn’t help the situation. He didn’t have siblings, but if he did, he’d probably want to protect them too. “Have you asked Lane?”
She glanced down at the floor. “He won’t see me. Or Dad. Not even his wife.”
Puma dropped his shoulders back into the sofa cushion. “I’d volunteer to ask, but I don’t think he’d tell me anything more than he already had.”
“I agree.” “Let’s say he stole money from Reno, where would it be hidden? Did Lane spend it?”
“How would I know?” She readjusted herself, as if the question made her uncomfortable.
“I’m not accusing you, Bry. I’m only saying you know your brother better than anyone. If anyone would know where he’d hide something, it would be you.”
She shook her head. “I did look. Right after he was arrested. I found nothing in all the places I thought money could be stashed.”
“How much does Reno want?”
“Thirty-five grand.” Her skin flushed.
“Whoa! That’s a lot to pull out of the piggy bank.”
She sighed. “Lane would have had a better legal team if I had that much in my piggy bank.”
“You don’t have it?”
“I’m driving a van with more miles than a donkey and it’s in the shop. I withdrew every penny in my savings to hire Lane a defense lawyer who was mediocre at best. On top of that, I had to take out a mortgage on Crazy Shades. I’ve been contemplating selling the bar, but I won’t do it to pay Reno, not so he can continue his criminal warpath.”
“Have you thought about speaking to the Sheriff? Charley’s a good man.”
“And what will he do? If something could have been done about Reno, wouldn’t it have been done by now? Getting Charley involved would only mean making Reno angrier.”
Puma couldn’t disagree. “I’ll tell you what I think. Reno isn’t to be trusted, but something tells me he’s certain Lane was disloyal. And he’s not dead yet because Reno wants his money. If he puts the heat on you, he believes you’ll hand over the stash.”
“I don’t know where it would be,” she reiterated.
“That doesn’t matter to Reno. Even if you do hand over the money, there’s a good chance he’ll still seek revenge.”
“Then I’ll be damned if I do and damned if I don’t,” she said quietly.
“Not necessarily. Lane is crafty. Something tells me he took out an insurance policy.”
Her gaze narrowed. “An insurance policy?”
“Even dumb criminals know it’s important to make themselves a safety net if things go south. We find where that is, and it might be enough leverage to keep Reno at bay.”
“And what if Lane didn’t take an insurance policy?”
Puma clenched his hands into tight fists. “Then things will get ugly really quick.” He didn’t elaborate. Although he hated her family for destroying his relationship with Bryar, he also knew they weren’t totally to blame. “We need to speak to Lane.”
“Puma…” she dropped her gaze.
“We don’t have a choice. You know that as well as I do.”
“Off topic. I want to tell you I’m sorry.”
“For?”
Her gaze held him steady in the blue depths. “Sorry that I didn’t get your letter. Sorry that I... just sorry.”
He scraped his fingers down his whiskered jaw, feeling restless. “I loved you. I would have never just left like that. I wanted to fight for us, even through the darkness we faced."
“Puma, please—”
“No, you need to hear me out. I wanted you. Us.” He beat his fist against his chest, needing to release some bottled-up emotions. “For two weeks, I watched you break. I saw all the light disappear in you. I watched you change, and I felt humbled. If I could change things, I would change what I did. I would have never left without you. But unfortunately, the past is written in stone.”
“You left. I needed you.”
“Yeah, Bry. I did leave. And I’d be a coward if I didn’t admit that a part of me was relieved to no longer stand by and watch you be engulfed in pain. To see that empty nursery in our home. I guess I was a coward then. A fucking weak coward, and I ran away too. I ran so fast and so hard that I took every assignment I could get my hands on. I fought my way through my pain. I had no mercy for anyone, not even myself. There were times I had a death wish, hoping that I’d take a bullet that would put me out of my misery. A man can only carry so much guilt. Even when he isn’t to blame.”
“Ten years have passed. Ten long years. Why now? You could have reached out to me.” Her voice trembled.
“I believed you’d read my letter and had made your decision. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out why you hadn’t sent the divorce papers. You must have had many opportunities to move on.” He forced his gaze to stay on her, trying to see the battle of emotions on her face. “I messed up. But so did you. We screwed everything up. Do you want to hate me? Then hate me, but I’ll never hate you. That’s why I’ll protect you from Reno. I’ll fight the world, even if I have to engage in hand-to-hand combat with every enemy to ensure you’re safe. Physically, I was gone, but you should know I never left you. My heart has always been with you.”