Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
I let that sink in before asking, “There is a Texas branch?” Because I’d never been told about that.
He nodded his head. “Yes. There is a branch in every Southern state. Texas may think it’s its own entity, but they’re the fucking South too. The Civil War had only been over for forty years when the family was formed. Texas had been part of the Confederacy.”
Oh. I wanted to ask who was over that branch. Had I known them, too, and not realized they were like Thaddeus?
The only reason I knew who and what the Davidsons were was because I’d been partnered with his son, Wayon, at more than one dinner party. He had always been in a serious relationship, and my father felt it was safe for me. Wayon had become my friend over the years. He’d told me many things he probably shouldn’t have.
“If you want to stay here, the room is yours,” he said, and I realized I’d still not responded to that question.
I did want to stay here. But there was Linc. He wouldn’t want me here.
“I…I don’t know Mal,” I said.
I did know Locke, but not as my…brother. And I’d never met Gathe.
“No, you don’t,” Luther replied.
“If I stay here, will Linc be angry?”
Luther smirked, but there was a glint of annoyance in his gaze. “Sugar, I don’t give a fuck about what makes Linc angry. Like I said before, my house too. This is my side. If I want to open a goddamn brothel in the next bedroom, I can.”
The corner of my lips quirked at that remark, and I was surprised by it.
“I’ll let them know you’re staying here. Jayda will bring you something to sleep in and some clothing until you can go shopping for your own,” he said. “Are you hungry?”
I wasn’t hungry.
Everything was changing so fast. I’d been ready to run for the rest of my life to get free of the one that had been planned for me, actually leaving it. Allowing others to handle my problems and protect me was hard. Trust didn’t come easy for me.
I shook my head.
He turned to leave.
“Can I trust you?” I blurted out. I wanted to. More than anything else right now I wanted to be able to trust Luther.
He stopped, then glanced back over his shoulder at me. “Yeah, sugar, with your life.”
And I believed him.
Fifteen
Luther
“She’s not staying here,” Mal nearly yelled as he pointed at me.
I took a drink from my glass, not bothering to react.
“Mal, she’s almost thirty years old. She’s not a kid,” Fender argued.
I was with Fender on that. She was definitely not a kid.
“I don’t give a fuck if she’s fifty! I’m not leaving her with Luther, for God’s sake!” Mal said my name as if it were a curse.
I smirked and tapped out a cigarette I wouldn’t be able to light in the house, but wanted in my mouth just for the taste and habit.
“I understand,” Linc told him.
I knew Linc would happily send her packing to Mal’s if I let him. But I’d already spoken to Linc. He knew where I stood on this.
“But she hasn’t even met you. Not formally. She saw you in the great room. And with all the trauma she’s been through, it’s best that you respect her wishes.”
“She knows Locke! Let her go to the boys’ house,” Mal said.
This was getting tedious. “Nope,” I replied, holding the cigarette between my teeth. “She is adjusting. And she’s doing it here.”
Mal sneered at me as he took a step in my direction.
“Mal,” Linc called out in a commanding tone. “She, for some unknown reason, trusts Luther. Let her be for a few days. Give her time.”
Mal glared at Linc. “I have a goddamn daughter, Linc. One I didn’t know existed and has been abused and God knows what else her entire life. She was going by her sister’s name, for Chrissake! She needs some security, and we both know Luther isn’t fucking security.”
Linc shrugged and let out a sigh. “Yeah, well, she is an adult. We have her under our roof. In our protection now. Give it a week. Come around, spend some time with her”—he paused and glanced at me—“while Luther is present since she feels safe with him. Then we can address her moving.”
Mal ran a hand through his hair and continued shooting daggers at me. “If you lay a hand on her,” he warned.
I took the cigarette from my mouth. “I’m not a monster,” I replied. “Jesus, Mal. I fuck willing women who know the score. Not physically and mentally abused ones who are seeking protection.”
That seemed to ease him somewhat, but his angry expression remained intact.
“That’d better be the case,” he threatened.
I rolled my eyes and stuck the cigarette back between my teeth. “Can’t help it I’m so damn charming.”