Brooklyn ducked out from under my arm and rushed over to help. The two of them talked in voices too low for me to hear as I watched Sheriff Lawson lead my brother out through the side door.
“This isn’t over,” Kyle called out.
“Yes, it is.” I couldn’t save the cake, but I could make sure my brother would never hurt Brooklyn again. With a last look her way, I followed him out to the parking lot. “Hold up a sec?”
The sheriff stopped. “I’m taking him in. Not sure how long I can hold him for intentionally sabotaging the event, but I can definitely charge him for a public disturbance.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” Kyle argued. “I’ll get my lawyer on this and be free as a bird within an hour.”
“Do you mind if I take a minute with him before you haul him away?” I asked. Sheriff Lawson didn’t owe me a thing, but he must have sensed my need for closure.
“You’ve got sixty seconds,” he said. Once he got Kyle stuffed into the back of his cruiser, he walked about twenty feet away, giving us as much privacy as he could.
I leaned into the window of the car and stared at my brother through the bars. “I’m only going to say this once, so you’d better pay attention. You’re going to leave Brooklyn alone. I don’t care what charges are filed and if they hold up or not. When you get out, you’re going to pack up your shit and leave Mustang Mountain for good.”
“You think you’re going to be calling the shots now?” Kyle smirked. “I’ve got too much invested in this town to think about leaving.”
Clearly, he wasn’t getting the message. My instincts urged me to wipe that smug smile off his face with a well-landed uppercut to his jaw, but I’d missed my chance for that. “I am calling the shots, at least with this. Like I said, you’re going to leave town, and I’m going to make sure you never contact her again.”
“And how do you think you’re going to do that?” Kyle narrowed his eyes. He’d never responded well to threats.
I lowered my voice so the sheriff wouldn’t overhear. “I know you fucked with the scaffolding. Did you even think to check fora camera? With all that expensive equipment sitting around, I didn’t want to take a chance on someone stealing it.”
I was bluffing, but Kyle didn’t know that. Based on the way his jaw clenched, he believed me. “You’d turn in your own blood over some chick?”
My blood boiled. If it weren’t for those damn bars… I glared at him. He had no idea the lengths I’d go to for Brooklyn. “She’s not some chick. I love that woman.”
“She deserves a hell of a lot better than you, Levi.” Kyle let out a sharp laugh. His words cut me to the bone, but they were true.
“That’s the only thing you’ve ever been right about. She deserves better than either one of us.” I’d made peace with that. It would hurt like hell to let her go, but I wouldn’t hold her back. Being around me would be a daily reminder of my brother. She deserved to be free from her past.
“And you’re going to take the fall for the scaffolding bit? For what? Getting me out of town?” Kyle shook his head. “You’re even dumber than I thought.”
“Time’s up.” Sheriff Lawson walked over. “Anything else you need to say to him, you can say it during visiting hours at the county jail.”
I stepped back, my heart splintering into a million sharp shards as the car pulled away. Kyle might pretend not to care about being exposed, but I knew him better than that. His image was the only thing he’d ever really cared about and the one thing he’d try to protect at all costs.
At least Brooklyn would be free even if I ended up taking the heat for the scaffolding disaster. With my business going to shit, there was no way I’d ever be enough for her. Guilt had me hanging my head as I turned to head back into the building. I needed to get to the hospital to check on the guys on my crew, but I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Brooklyn.
She stood just a few feet in front of me. “Did you mean what you said?”
“How long have you been standing there?” I tensed, wondering how much of the conversation between me and Kyle she’d heard.
“Long enough.” The wind picked up and blew her hair around her face. She reached up to tuck it behind her ears, and I saw the tears on her cheeks.
“Sweet girl, don’t cry.” I covered the distance between us in a couple long strides and pulled her into my arms. “I’m sorry about the cake. I shouldn’t have pushed him like that.”
“The cake is alright. We turned it around, so people won’t see the damage. Lily’s upset, but at least they got pictures of it before Kyle took a swing.” She sniffled and tilted her head back to look up at me. “Tell me, did you mean what you said?”
I could have bought myself some time by asking her which part, but the truth was, I meant all of it. “Every single word.”
“So, you love me?” Her eyes locked on mine and strength radiated out from her as she held my gaze.
As much as I wanted to lie to her and make things easier to let her go, I couldn’t. “Yeah,” I said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come to this.”
She shook her head. Her hair floated around her face. She was so fucking beautiful, it hurt to look at her.
“The only thing you need to apologize for is for not telling me how you feel.” A tear rolled down her cheek. I didn’t think my heart could break into any more pieces, but the way she looked at me crushed it. “I love you too, Levi.”
