“I can explain. We know each other. He knew I was going to be in Texas working with my brother, and?—”
She shook her head and pressed the button to put her brother on speaker.
“Gonzo, hey. Thought you weren’t going to pick up there for a second.” Mike might have been halfway across the world, but his voice came through loud and clear. “Dude, you there?”
“Gonzo?” Destiny said, her voice low.
“Destiny?” Mike asked. “What are you doing answering Thorne’s phone?”
“You’re Gonzo?” She advanced, shoving the phone at my chest as she came closer. “You’ve been here for two days, and you didn’t think it was important to let me know that you’re the guy my own brother considers the brother he never had?”
For a man who was used to being able to handle any possible situation, I was at a complete loss as to how to respond.
Mike let out a deep sigh. “It’s my fault. I asked him to check in on you. I know you told me you had things under control, but that lawyer was escalating. You’ve always been strong. I just didn’t want you to have to do things on your own this time. I figured Thorne could keep an eye on things.”
Destiny didn’t look at the phone. I wasn’t even sure she’d heard her brother’s piss poor explanation.
Her eyes pinned me in place and blazed with rage. “You fucked me and didn’t have the nerve to tell me you were my brother’s best friend. The man I named my damn dog after.”
“What the hell is going on over there?” Mike dropped the apologetic tone. He was pissed, and he had every right to be. This entire situation was turning into a clusterfuck and was going to ruin the operation we’d planned.
“Your best friend fucked your little sister. That’s what’s going on.” Destiny dropped the phone back on the bed. “You lied to me, Thorne. You’re not in the Army.”
“I never actually said I was in the Army. You just started calling me soldier. I liked it, so I never bothered to correct you.”
“Wait. You literally FUCKED my little sister?” Mike yelled.
Destiny closed her eyes and shook her head. “I trusted you. I trusted BOTH of you.”
“Dammit, Gonzo. I ask you to do one simple thing—check in on my sister. Make sure she doesn’t get fucked over by the lawyer who’s trying to steal our land, but you’re the one who fucked her over instead?” He was losing his shit, and rightfully so. I’d have to make good with him, but at the moment, my top priority was Destiny.
“I’m going to have to call you back, buddy.” I picked up my phone.
“Don’t you fucking dare—” Whatever he was going to say next was lost when I disconnected the call.
“Destiny.” I reached for her, but she stepped back.
“Don’t touch me. The only reason I haven’t punched you yet is because I still need you. That prick has my dog… god, I’m going to have to change his name. He’s almost eight years old. How’s he going to learn how to respond to a new name?” Her eyes took on a wild shine.
“I’m going to get your dog back. Let’s get through the meeting with Dartman, make sure Gonzo’s safe, and then I’ll tell you everything.” I needed her to calm down if we had any hope of pulling off our plan.
She nodded, her jaw so tense I was worried she might crush one of her molars. “I swear, if anything happens to him… if I lose our land over this…”
“You won’t. It’s a good plan, minx.”
“Don’t call me that.” She shook her head. “Don’t you ever call me that again.”
“I’m sorry.” Fuck, I was so incredibly sorry. I should have come clean with her that first night when she made me dinner.
“I don’t accept your apology. Maybe if you get my dog back, I might convince my brother not to kill you. But after tonight, after this is done, I don’t ever want to see or hear from you again. Do you understand?”
My heart shattered. Like someone sawed open my chest and struck it with the world’s heaviest hammer. Emotion clogged my throat, making it impossible to do anything but nod. If that’s what she wanted, if that’s what she needed, that’s what I’d do. I owed it to her.
Destiny took in a deep breath and pulled herself together. “Dartman’s going to be here in less than an hour. You’d better get going or we’ll be behind schedule before we even get started.”
The warmth I’d found in her arms had disappeared. I didn’t recognize the hard shell of a woman that was left behind. And it was all my fault.
Focus on the mission, Gonzales. The only chance I had at winning her back was to come through for her tonight. I shut everything else out, then grabbed my phone and the bag holding my gear. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
