Read Online Shield My Heart (Heaven Hill Book 9) by Laramie Briscoe - Free Book Online Page A

she was going to do, tired of trying to figure out how Dalton felt about all of this, and tired of keeping her secret. It weighted heavily on her, and there were days when she wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but she knew as sure as the sun rose Dalton would suffer for this.
    He would suffer for the way he’d turned his back on her. Her dad, Drew, Tyler, hell even Charity wouldn’t stand for this. Meredith might kick his ass too, and she couldn’t bring herself to rob him of the only family he’d ever truly known.
    “What are you thinking about so hard over there? You’re gettin’ that wrinkle in between your eyes, and you’re frowning really hard.”
    Mandy opened her eyes and gazed at her mom, sighing as she stretched out on the couch. “I have a lot of stuff goin’ on right now, Mama.”
    “Anything you want to talk about?” Denise offered, hoping that her oldest daughter would take her lead. She could see the confliction every time she looked at her, could see she was hurting, but she had no idea how to reach her.
    “I’ve been going to see Doc Jones,” she admitted softly. “It’s helping.”
    Denise gasped. “Oh Mandy, I’m sorry.”
    “It’s not your fault,” she was quick to assure. “What’s going on is happening between Dalton and me. I don’t want you to worry he’s physically hurt me or anything like that. I promise it’s nothing that bad. I just need someone to hear me out and offer an unbiased opinion. I can’t get that here.” She hoped her explanation soothed ruffled feathers.
    Denise was quiet for a while. “I would hope if it’s something you can’t handle, you’d come to me.” She breathed deeply. “But if what you need is to fall asleep on that couch while I read my book for a while, then you can do that too. But I want to warn you. Dalton’s asked for a leave of absence from the club, and if your dad finds out it’s not for the reason he’s given, there’ll be hell to pay.”
    The news wasn’t a shock to Mandy, and she thought about being honest, but she was already close to letting sleep take her, and couldn’t bring herself to care. If and when she and Dalton finally spoke to each other again, it would be another question she’d have to ask.

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Chapter Eleven

    D alton was vibrating with fury as he pulled up to the trailer on the lake. The dwelling had seen much better days, but it still provided him with shelter whenever he needed it. It had been the only home he’d known as a young kid, and it was one of the most important places in his memory bank. As they always did, memories assaulted him of that night he and Mandy had sealed the deal in this trailer. She’d given herself over to him and told him he was good enough for her.
    What a crock of shit those words had ended up being. He’d done the one thing he’d promised himself he’d never do. He disappointed her, not been the man she needed, and he had a suspicion that before this was said and done, he’d never get the chance to be that man again. He didn’t deserve the chance. He knew that. There was no telling what he’d have to do to help the man who’d helped him as a kid. He knew his days were numbered, expected he’d go down in a blaze of glory, and he was okay with that.
    Taking the steps two at a time, he burst through the door. When he spotted his uncle sitting there counting a wad of cash, he picked the older man up by his shirt and threw him against the wall.
    “Where in the fuck have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
    “Calm down.” Samuel’s voice was thin as Dalton tried not to crush his windpipe.
    Pulling himself back from the anger was impossible. He was no longer the lanky boy who had worked hard to build his muscles. He was lean now, deceptively powerful, and had a temper that could back up the words he chose to speak. “Don’t tell me to calm down. I found out how much you owe Calvert. What the hell were you thinkin’?”
    “How to get myself out