Chapter Twenty-Six
J ane
Pulling into the Dog Tired parking lot, Jane parked her Jeep in the first available spot.
Brady had called her and left her a voicemail message that he had talked to Rex.
He asked her to come by the brewery after she finished teaching her classes because Rex wanted to see her before he went back out on the road.
She’d been on pins and needles the whole ride over.
She’d rarely fought with her brother, even growing up.
They supported each other with most everything.
She’d expected him to be mad because he was an overprotective jackass, but the way he spoke to her and to and about Brady had hurt her. It was unlike him.
She climbed out of her Jeep and clicked the lock.
“Are you the bitch my son’s fucking?”
The deep, gravelly voice stopped her cold. A scraggly man stood at the rear of her Jeep, boxing her in between vehicles.
“Excuse me?” she asked, even though she’d heard him clearly.
She didn’t recognize him. His skin looked like sun-worn leather, a tangled mop of white hair clinging to his scalp. Deep shadowed eyes bore into hers.
He leaned on her Jeep, either trying to intimidate or just steady himself. His stained khakis were torn wide at the knee, exposing a dirty shin.
“I asked if you were the bitch my son is putting it to?” He slurred his words.
The stench hit her, alcohol, urine and unwashed skin. She gagged, fighting the rise of bile in her throat.
She’d never met Brady’s father. Could this be him? Her heart twisted in her chest for the man she loved. Was this the man who raised him? Her voice didn’t waver despite the chill that raced up her spine. “Who is your son?”
He chuckled. “Are you with my son?” He took a wobbly step forward. “You’re the woman I’ve seen him give goo-goo eyes to.”
She stiffened. If this was Brady’s father, when had he seen them together? They had been discreet until today. Had he been following Brady?
“I mean, I know he’s dipped his dick in plenty,” the man sneered, “but he doesn’t look at them the way he looks at you.”
She took a step back. The stench rolling off of him was unbearable, but it wasn’t just the way he smelled. It was the way he spoke. The way he stood. Like a threat.
She scanned her surroundings. She could hurdle the front end of the SUV next to her if she had to.
“I don’t know you.” She held her ground and raised a hand in his direction. “Back up before I call the police.”
“You are all the same.” He laughed. “A night in the drunk tank isn’t a bad place to be. Puts a roof over my head and a meal in my belly. You know Brady called the police on me last time I showed up here.”
When had Brady had a run-in with his father? He hadn’t mentioned seeing him. “So, you are Brady’s father?”
“And brains to boot,” his voice dripped with sarcasm. “You couldn’t tell from the resemblance?” He waved a shaky hand in front of his face and barked a laugh. “He and I are cut from the same cloth.”
That is something Brady used to say—but in a very different context. Looking at this man now, it was clear—they were nothing alike.
“Would you like me to get Brady for you?”
“Nah. He won’t do shit for me.” He stepped closer. “But maybe you will.”
Her pulse jumped. “What do you want?”
She reached one hand into her purse, feeling for her phone. But she didn’t look away. He was unstable and reeked of booze, desperation and something mean simmering just below his surface.
“I need money. What do you think?” He held out his hands. “I need enough to grab a hotel room for a few nights. Somewhere nice, preferably.” He snickered.
“I don’t have any money on me, but I can go inside the brewery and see if I can get you some cash.”
Her fingers moved quickly over her phone screen, calling Brady.
“Hey Princess. You here yet?”
“I am.”
“I asked you not to call that bastard,” the man barked.
“Jane? Where are you?” Brady’s voice sharpened.
“I’m in the parking lot. Your father is here.”
A heartbeat later, she heard the brewery door burst open. Brady came into view, charging toward them in slacks and a button-down, fury radiating from each step.
He grabbed his father by the shirt and slammed him against her Jeep. The metal thunked beneath his force. “I told you to stay away from here, old man.”
“And I told you that I needed some cash,” his father spat. “You can either give it to me or I can get it from that sweet pussy you’re banging.” He nodded toward Jane, eyes glowering.
Brady shoved him harder. “Watch your fucking mouth.” His voice was lethal. “You go near her again, and I swear to God...”
“You swear to God what?” his father mocked. “I finally found the one thing that might inspire you to help me out.” He struggled against Brady’s hold.
“If you so much as breathe in her direction, it will be the end of you,” Brady bit out. His chest heaved with his breaths.
She walked around the car and placed a hand on Brady’s shoulder. “Let him go, Brady.”
His posture softened, but his hold on his father did not.
“Brady, stop.” Her voice was firm. “You have the situation under control. He didn’t touch me.”
At her words, Brady dropped his hands from his father and stepped back, chest heaving. She slipped her arms around his waist, anchoring him, trying to soothe the tremors rippling through him.
The old man bristled, muttering curses under his breath. His eyes were wild with resentment. Then he straightened and jabbed a finger at Brady. “You’re good for nothing.”
Brady went rigid against her, his heat radiating like a furnace.
She glanced up at him—at the hard set of his jaw, the storm raging in his brown eyes—and her own breath caught.
This wasn’t the same man who teased her in the kitchen or held her under the covers.
This was someone created from old scars and hardened anger.
“That’s rich,” Brady said through gritted teeth.
After a humorless laugh, his father said, “What’d you do? Find someone soft enough to fix all the shit broken within you?”
“Don’t listen to him,” she pleaded. She hugged him a little tighter.
His gaze didn’t leave his father. “You don’t get to stand here and talk to me like I’m the failure. You lost the right to judge me a long time ago.”
His father scoffed, stumbling backward. “You think you’re better than me now?”
“I don’t think. I know .” Brady’s voice remained steady despite his heart practically busting through his ribcage.
The silence that followed wasn’t peaceful—it was heavy. But Brady did start breathing again, his chest rising and falling against her cheek.
“What’s going on out here?’ She heard Rex’s voice behind them.
“My father decided to make an appearance.” Brady’s words were clipped.
Rex stood next to her with his hands on his hips. He glanced at Brady’s father, then turned to her. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No. He just asked for money.”
“Can you take her inside?” Brady released her and nudged her toward her brother.
She clung to him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I.” Rex stated.
“Aw! What a cute little group you have,” his father barked.
“I don’t want to call the police again, Richard,” Brady growled. “This would be the second time in just a few weeks that you’ve trespassed on our property.”
“What the hell do you need?” Rex barked, stepping forward.
“Money!” Richard’s voice was thick with desperation.
“How much?” Rex reached for his wallet in his back pocket.
“No.” Brady’s voice snapped like a whip. “You give him money, he’ll buy the first bottle of whiskey he can get his hands on. Then, he’ll be back tomorrow. And the next day. He won’t stop.”
Rex hesitated, then tucked his wallet away. “Doesn’t seem like the police works either.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“I’m not going anywhere until I get some cash.” Richard spat, lurching sideways and slumping against the Jeep.
Brady extricated himself from her hold and pulled out his phone. “I need a cruiser over at Dog Tired. We have a trespasser again.” He stepped away as he spoke to the department.
“Go,” she said, shooing his father with her hand. “Now.”
Richard crept away, muttering profanities under his breath and shuffling down the parking lot.
“Christ, his father is crazy,” Rex whispered. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Come find me when you’re done out here. I love you, Janey. And I’m sorry.”
She nodded and let out a huge breath. “I love you too.” Rex disappeared into the brewery. So things would be okay with her brother. Now she had to worry about Brady.
“He’s gone.” She turned to Brady.
He closed the distance between them in three long strides, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her against his chest like he feared she might disappear. His breath came out hard and fast. “I’m so sorry.” He buried his nose in her hair.
“Hey.” She leaned back to look at him. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t have to apologize.”
“He’s my father.” He offered her a pained stare. “I can’t believe he came here and cornered you.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Did he touch you? Say anything threatening?”
She heard the steel edge to his voice. “He didn’t lay a hand on me.” She cupped his jaw. “Has he been showing up here often?”
He shook his head. “He was here a few weeks ago. Wanted money. Called me a bastard. Told me my mother should have aborted me.” He looked away like saying it cost him something.
She inhaled sharply and wrapped her arms around his waist. She held him tightly as if she could shield him from the past. “What an awful thing to say. Is that what growing up was like for you?”
He cleared his throat. “Worse. If you can imagine.” He hugged her back hard.
“I can’t. And I’m sorry, Brady. You don’t deserve that.” She rose on her toes and kissed his lips. “But you are not like him. Look at the man you’ve become in spite of growing up with such a hateful, angry man.” Her thumb traced a slow line along his jaw.
He met her gaze. “That anger is in me, Princess. And it scares the shit out of me.” His voice cracked, his eyes glassy with emotion.
“We all have that capability,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean we become it.”
“I can’t promise that is the last time you see him. He’s like a cockroach. He won’t stay down.”
“Then we will deal with him,” she said, steady and certain. “Together.” She cupped the back of his head, pulling him close.
“Together.” He smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me, too.” She kissed him again.
“I love you.” He said against her lips before deepening the kiss. And for the first time in a long while, the world felt right again.