hell to pay. Shaking off my violent thoughts I ask her about what stuck out the most to me. “Move on. What are you talking about Til? You know we weren’t together sweetheart.”
It’s true. There’s nothing for Priss to move on from other than our friendship. And as much as I hate the thought of her doing that maybe it’s better for everyone if she does. We’ve never been anything more than that to my bitter disappointment. Shaking her head at me Tilly squeezes my hand tightly, she knows I’m full of shit and she’s going to call me on it. I know it. “I know you think I’m just a kid Hunter but I’m not stupid. I see how you look at her, and I know that you send some of the brothers to watch her when you can’t. I know she watches through the window when you drop me off too. You might not have been together like that, but you love her and she loves you. You have to do something or you’re going to lose her forever this time.”
Fucking hell! The kid’s more observant than I thought. She’s right though. Not only do I send brothers to watch her when I can’t, but I love the shit out of that woman, and it will probably kill me to watch her with another man. Or I’ll kill him, either way it doesn’t end well for someone. The thought of another man’s hands on her beautiful body. His mouth on hers. Another man claiming what’s mine has me wanting to hit something. Between clenched teeth I enquire, “You know who this guy is Til?”
She looks more nervous now if that’s even possible. I know she isn’t afraid of me, but whatever she knows isn’t sitting well with her. I can read her like a book after six years. Sighing deeply she answers me finally. “I’ve been thinking about this for a little while, I wasn’t sure if I should tell you because it really isn’t my business, but I think you should know. Reid started calling about four months ago, I think. He’s started calling more often now though. Like, every day Hunter. Sometimes more than once.”
I see red. Deep blood red. Rivers of it streaming through my vision. My own fucking brother. Reid’s a fucking dead man when I get my hands on him, but for now I’m going to keep this to myself because I want to see him in person. I want him to tell me to my fucking face that he’s moving in on the woman he’s well aware I’ve been in love with for fucking years.
A small soft hand clenches at mine pulling me back to the present. I can see the worry etched all over Tilly’s face, and I hate that she’s having to come to me in the first place, that this is causing her stress, but I’m glad she did. “I’ll take care of it Til. Don’t worry I’ll get to the bottom of it, make that shit will stop.”
She doesn’t look convinced but there’s not a lot more that I can say without speaking to Reid first. I don’t want to tell her there’s no way in hell my brother will be putting his hands on her sister because if he does I’d kill him where he stands. Tilly also doesn’t need to know what lengths I’d go to in order to keep Priss in my life. Needless to say with what I’m planning everyone is about to see what I’m willing to do for the woman I love.
Afterwards I dropped Tilly at home, drove to the bar to pick up a bottle of bourbon, and made my way home. My intention was to drink myself into oblivion. Try to numb some of the pain I’m feeling. Try to forget what I’m planning for one night. There was probably no point though because I’d spent so many nights that fucking wasted I could barely remember my own name, but I’d still never been able to forget what she smelt like. How she felt in my arms when she let me hold her. How soft her skin was. That she was the only person that had been able to stave off my demons, or how much I love her. But I did it anyway. I drank till I passed out, then I woke up in the morning and did the same thing again.