Read Online Shield My Heart (Heaven Hill Book 9) by Laramie Briscoe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laramie Briscoe
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of this situation, boy. What do you think? Besides, I don’t have to answer to you.”
“Boy?” Dalton tightened his grip. “I haven’t been a boy for a very long time, and if you think Calvert’s gonna let you get out of the situation, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Deacon grabbed his brother around the shoulders and pulled him off their uncle. Always the voice of reason, he spoke into his ear. “Let him talk. Maybe he has a solution we haven’t thought of.”
“Highly unlikely.” They’d been living like this their whole lives, really only having themselves to count on.
“I won two grand last night in a poker game. Brought my total up to eighteen that I’ve come up with,” Samuel defended himself.
“Great plan.” Dalton put his hands on his hips. “You still owe over a hundred thousand more. Where the hell do you plan on coming up with the rest, and where the hell do you plan on hiding out until you do? Don’t count on Heaven Hill to protect you—I’ve taken a leave of absence.”
“What?” Samuel questioned, his weathered face frowning. “Why?”
For the first time Dalton realized how beaten Samuel looked. There was a slouch to his shoulders, a weariness in the lines on his face, and his eyes were dim. They held none of the life they used to. This was worrying him as much as it worried them, but Dalton had to make him see how problematic his addiction was. “Because this isn’t just about you and what you owe. I realize you’ve spent most of your life thinking about us and doing what you thought was right for us.” He pointed to himself and Deacon. “And I have to ask why the fuck you stopped now. I’ve got stuff going on, things people can use against not only you, but me.”
Both Samuel and Deacon stared at him, question in both their eyes. “Maybe it’s time you be honest with whatever it is you’re keeping from us.” Deacon shot his brother a look, one indicating he should be more forthcoming with what was going on in his life.
There weren’t many men Dalton backed down from, but Deacon was one of them. If anyone deserved to know, it was these two, and to be completely honest, it would be nice to tell people. To share what was going on in his life and to have others comment on it. Keeping it to himself really sucked.
“Mandy’s pregnant.”
There was complete silence in the room as he let that sink in. He let them realize he had other people to worry about, someone else to call family. There were people counting on him, and he knew he was gonna let them all down. It wasn’t a good feeling.
“Obviously Drew and Liam don’t know, otherwise you’d be wearing your balls for earrings,” Deacon joked.
Dalton wasn’t feeling the humor. “Right now, only a few people do. But do you see what I’m saying to you? If Calvert wants to get to you, he can use me, and in using me, he can get to Mandy. I have a lot to lose if shit goes south. I have a family to lose.”
He didn’t add that he was probably already going to lose it. That was no one’s business but his.
“Dalt.” His uncle used the nickname he’d used when the boys first came to live with him. “I didn’t do this to hurt you, and I obviously didn’t think it through. It was never my intention to get this deep or to owe this much. Gamblin’ is something I like.”
“It’s an addiction,” Dalton accused. “One you can’t afford, and now you’re in trouble. I’ve always been willing to overlook it.” He turned so he wouldn’t have to look in his uncle’s eyes. If he had to, he might not get the rest of this out. “You took us in when no one else wanted us. Up until the time we came to live with you, we didn’t even know what sitting down at the dinner table meant. You’ve more or less been our mom and dad for the better part of our lives. I’ve always been willing to look past your faults.” He stopped and took a breath, turning back around to face him. “But I have two people
“Boy?” Dalton tightened his grip. “I haven’t been a boy for a very long time, and if you think Calvert’s gonna let you get out of the situation, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Deacon grabbed his brother around the shoulders and pulled him off their uncle. Always the voice of reason, he spoke into his ear. “Let him talk. Maybe he has a solution we haven’t thought of.”
“Highly unlikely.” They’d been living like this their whole lives, really only having themselves to count on.
“I won two grand last night in a poker game. Brought my total up to eighteen that I’ve come up with,” Samuel defended himself.
“Great plan.” Dalton put his hands on his hips. “You still owe over a hundred thousand more. Where the hell do you plan on coming up with the rest, and where the hell do you plan on hiding out until you do? Don’t count on Heaven Hill to protect you—I’ve taken a leave of absence.”
“What?” Samuel questioned, his weathered face frowning. “Why?”
For the first time Dalton realized how beaten Samuel looked. There was a slouch to his shoulders, a weariness in the lines on his face, and his eyes were dim. They held none of the life they used to. This was worrying him as much as it worried them, but Dalton had to make him see how problematic his addiction was. “Because this isn’t just about you and what you owe. I realize you’ve spent most of your life thinking about us and doing what you thought was right for us.” He pointed to himself and Deacon. “And I have to ask why the fuck you stopped now. I’ve got stuff going on, things people can use against not only you, but me.”
Both Samuel and Deacon stared at him, question in both their eyes. “Maybe it’s time you be honest with whatever it is you’re keeping from us.” Deacon shot his brother a look, one indicating he should be more forthcoming with what was going on in his life.
There weren’t many men Dalton backed down from, but Deacon was one of them. If anyone deserved to know, it was these two, and to be completely honest, it would be nice to tell people. To share what was going on in his life and to have others comment on it. Keeping it to himself really sucked.
“Mandy’s pregnant.”
There was complete silence in the room as he let that sink in. He let them realize he had other people to worry about, someone else to call family. There were people counting on him, and he knew he was gonna let them all down. It wasn’t a good feeling.
“Obviously Drew and Liam don’t know, otherwise you’d be wearing your balls for earrings,” Deacon joked.
Dalton wasn’t feeling the humor. “Right now, only a few people do. But do you see what I’m saying to you? If Calvert wants to get to you, he can use me, and in using me, he can get to Mandy. I have a lot to lose if shit goes south. I have a family to lose.”
He didn’t add that he was probably already going to lose it. That was no one’s business but his.
“Dalt.” His uncle used the nickname he’d used when the boys first came to live with him. “I didn’t do this to hurt you, and I obviously didn’t think it through. It was never my intention to get this deep or to owe this much. Gamblin’ is something I like.”
“It’s an addiction,” Dalton accused. “One you can’t afford, and now you’re in trouble. I’ve always been willing to overlook it.” He turned so he wouldn’t have to look in his uncle’s eyes. If he had to, he might not get the rest of this out. “You took us in when no one else wanted us. Up until the time we came to live with you, we didn’t even know what sitting down at the dinner table meant. You’ve more or less been our mom and dad for the better part of our lives. I’ve always been willing to look past your faults.” He stopped and took a breath, turning back around to face him. “But I have two people
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