She’d been avoiding the family lately.No one knew why.As the patriarch of their little quintet, it was up to him to figure out what was going on with his sister.And why she seemed determined to work herself to the bone by taking every bit of overtime she could get.Something was burning at her heels—he was going to find out what.
And then there was Augusta Dawn Tyler.
He was going to spend the evening with the woman he wanted.And if he was lucky, steal a kiss or two.Maybe make plans to take her out again—sans children, of course—for a romantic dinner for two.Maybe even tomorrow.They could do church again together on Sunday, and if the weather was nice, he’d like to take the kids outside to do something.Maybe the park or the playground?A simple, low-key picnic, to help them get used to him being around.
He was going to have to go slow.To get the entire set of she-devils, all nine of them, used to him being around.
Cal finally had a plan.
It was time to make it happen.
Clancy texted him an update—she’d had car trouble and was running behind, he probably wouldn’t see her before he left.But never fear—Cloe was on her way to get her, bring her back to the house so Clancy could change, and then Jack and Gabe would pick them both up there.And Cal was not to wait around for them to show up.He could intimidate their dates at the dance later.
Clancy ordered him to focus on seducing Auggie.
She’d said she was just fine, and Cloe got custody of her for the night.That Cal was Auggie’s problem for now.
Well, Cal could handle that just fine.
54
Jacob hadn’t meantto do this.He just hadn’t.It wasn’t like what he’d imagined it would be.It wasn’t like that at all.
It just happened.Kameron had just sort of paused there, in one of those suspended animation kind of moments.It wasn’t like what it was in movies.
All of that ran through Jacob’s head after he’d pulled the trigger.He didn’t even remember pulling the gun out of his pocket, either.It had just…happened.
He’d pointed it at his brother and pulled the trigger.Just like that.
He’d been arguing and it had just happened.
And now, Kameron was falling.And looking at him.Like he’d betrayed him or something.
He’d never wanted this.
“Why would you do this?”His brother’s words came out in a whisper.“I’m your brother.And I love you.I’ve always tried to help you.”
That was a lie.Perfect Kameron hadn’t ever cared about him.Ever.
“Bullshit.I am just the nobody you have to share Dad with.You have always thought you were better than me.”What should he do now?A part of him wanted to go to Kameron and help his brother somehow.Another part was smirking at the red.
Kameron didn’t look so perfect now.
He’d really fucked up this time.Jacob hadn’t meant to do that.Hell, for all that he didn’t like that shithead, Kameron was the only brother he had.This was going to kill his dad, to know Jacob had done this.
Even if Kameron had driven him to it after all these years.His brother just acted so fucking perfect all the time.Mere mortal men couldn’t compete.People would understand.
And he’d just snapped, that was all.The gun had just been there.He always carried.There was a bunch of shit going on in Masterson.Drug runners, and that asshole Bruce Tyler who had been involved in tricking his father into selling the ranch for so cheap back then—that guy was crazy.
Going around stealing things and shooting people.People in town were saying Bruce Tyler was the one who’d almost killed Calloway out there on that highway.No one had thought it was Jacob at all.Everyone thought Bruce had done it because Calloway Grady was fucking Bruce’s oldest daughter.
He had laughed about that for days.Everyone had thought it was that Tyler girl’s asshole father after that girl’s boyfriend or something.
Rumor had it Tyler was still around somewhere too.Crazy as a rabid dog, he’d heard.
No one ever paid attention to Jacob when he was working, he’d been practically invisible for years.Not like Kameron, who had all the attention now.
Kam and Calloway Grady had the money rolling in.Jacob had to practically prostitute himself to get a decent amount of money each month.
