Page 35 of Tough Justice
Anchoring his elbow on the hard arm of the chair, Duke rested his head in his hand. “Yeah. She always had a soft spot for Chrissy. I think that’s over now.”
Lane claimed the seat across the from him, angling away from the television blaring in the corner of the otherwise empty room. “Bet so. From what I’ve learned about this woman, it’s hard to imagine anyone would have anything but contempt for her.”
Duke snorted. “True, but she wasn’t always such a loose cannon. My mom still sees her as the cold and scared little girl who’d come by our house when her parents fought.”
“What do you mean?”
He sighed, not really wanting to get into it but feeling like he owed it to his friend to explain the situation more than he had. Especially now with Suzy caught in the crossfire. “I’m from a town about half the size of Hillmore. Chrissy grew up down the road, and our moms had known each other in school. My mom wasn’t a big fan of Chrissy’s mom—she was a hard woman who was always a bit erratic—and her father was a bully. Lots of screaming, lots of fights over there. Chrissy would come to our house when things were really bad.”
“And your mom would take care of her?”
“Yeah. Feed her, stitch up holes in the knees of her pants, help with homework. Anything she could do to lend a hand and not get Chrissy in trouble.”
“Your mom sounds like a hell of a woman. Wish I’d had someone like that when I was young.”
Duke had heard rumblings about the kind of man Lane’s father had been, but he’d never opened up about his upbringing. Not like he blamed Lane. The two of them hadn’t exactly been close before Duke showed up in town and refused to leave. He’d like to think they were more than business partners now…had created a real friendship…but for all he knew that was one-sided.
And something that could be gone in the snap of the fingers if he made a move on Suzy. But that was a risk he had to take.
“She’s the best,” Duke said, after a beat of silence. “But sometimes she has a hard time seeing beyond the tragic story to the truth. Or hell, who knows, maybe Chrissy has always been her true self with my mom in a way she can’t be with anyone else. Regardless, I’ve shielded Mom from a lot of the crap Chrissy’s pulled over the years, but this…this time she’s gone way too far.”
“She sure has,” Lane said. “I won’t sit by and watch my sister get hurt.”
He straightened, not appreciating the hint of a threat tinging Lane’s words. “I won’t let anyone near her. I promised her, and I promise you. I’ll guard her with my own damn life.”
“You’re the one I’m afraid will hurt her.”
Duke worked his jaw back and forth as if Lane had just landed a sucker punch. Sure, he had his own concerns about starting something with Suzy. But to know his friend thought the worst of him—that Lane assumed he wasn’t good enough for his sister—tore open a wound he didn’t even know existed.
“Do you really think so little of me?”
Lane kept his expression emotionless, his lips pressed in a tight line. He lifted one shoulder and kept his gaze locked on Duke. “I’ve known you for years. Seen a string of women come and go. Hell, you drove your ex-girlfriend to seek revenge on a woman you haven’t even dated yet. Why would I think you’d be good for my sister?”
Anger swam through his veins and shoved him to his feet. “Maybe because you know me. You’ve spent months with me, side by side while we built this business. Made our homes and our lives in this town. You of all people should know I’d never take things to the next level with Suzy if I wasn’t completely sure I was ready. That we could have something great together.”
Lane stood and took a small step forward so their boots were toe to toe. “It takes more than a few months to erase years of impressions. And for years, you ran from town to town—woman to woman. I won’t let my sister by your latest fling before you find something shinier.”
The anger left, replaced by a bone deep sadness. After all this time, his so-called friend didn’t understand him at all. “You don’t know shit.”
“No?” Lane asked. “Give me one example of a successful relationship you’ve had. Of a woman you haven’t crushed.”
“What about you?” Duke shot back, pressing into Lane’s personal space. “We ran in the same circles. Drank at the same bars. Had the same track record with the ladies we met on the circuit. You came back home and found your family. Your purpose. How’s that any different?”
“Because I came back to the place I was never supposed to leave. You were never meant to be here in the first place.”
Duke staggered backward as if Lane had landed the knockout punch. He balled his fists at his side instead of slamming them into Lane’s face. “Screw you, man.”
Tense silence weaved between them as time ticked on. There was so much he wanted to say, wanted to do, but he kept himself in check. Too much had already passed that couldn’t be undone. No need to take things even farther.
At least not yet.
Suzy appeared in the doorway. She’d pulled her long hair into a low ponytail and fatigue hung heavy under her eyes. “Heather’s asleep and there’s a guard posted at her door. Might be a good time for me to grab some things from my place.”
They both turned to face her.
“Wow,” Suzy said, drawing out the word. “What did I step into?”
Duke stormed away from Lane and caught Suzy’s hand as he walked out of the room. “Nothing. Let’s go get your stuff.”
