Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers, #1)(71)

This time, he let her go.

*

Matt stomped his feet on the porch, just in case his brother was getting busy. He hoped Shane figured out the right path—away from Josie. Though Matt understood. From a young age, they’d all had a fantasy about what real families were like. They’d wondered what they’d done wrong to be so alone. Maybe being created by men instead of God marked them for life. Deep down, he was pretty sure of it.

He nudged open the door, slipping inside.

Shane sat on the sofa, a notebook in his hand, his gaze unblinking on the far wall.

“Ah, where’s Josie?” Matt ripped off his shirt and wiped his brow. It had felt good to run through the woods in the cold of fall again. To hear the wildlife and be kissed by the sun.

“In the bedroom.” Shane looked up with blank eyes. “I think she just dumped me.” Incredulousness whipped a flush over his cheekbones.

Matt raised an eyebrow. “Dumped you?” The innocuous words tasted weird on his tongue. “As in a regular relationship type of dumped you?”

“Yeah.” Shane frowned at the empty hallway.

“Huh.” Matt kicked off his combat boots. “I don’t think any of us has ever been dumped.” Sure, they’d had lovers try to kill them. But never just… dump them. “So, ah, what are you going to do?”

Shane shrugged. “I have no idea.”

Maybe it was better this way. Though the frown on Shane’s face revoked that thought. “Shane, we’ve been trained by the best psychologists in the world to manipulate people. You can win her back.”

“No.” His brother threw the notebook down on the sofa. “This is real. Not the same.”

Well, now. That was true. Matt rubbed his chin. “I’ll talk to her.”

Shane snorted. “You can’t fix everything.” He stood, stretching his neck. “I may not remember all of my childhood, but you, I remember. Always present, always trying to protect us.” His eyes darkened. “Thank you.”

Matt shook his head. He didn’t deserve the gratitude. Nathan had spent a lot more time raising Shane and Jory than he had. Besides, if he’d done his job, Jory would be alive. “I’m taking a shower.”

Shane stood and headed for the door. “I need some fresh air.”

Matt sighed. “We should get out of here. Your wife needs to get those files from her work tomorrow.”

Shane nodded, his back to Matt. “She will.”





Chapter 22

Shane sat on the rough porch step and threw rocks across the field, his mind spinning. Thunder rolled across the sky, a perfect match for his mood. Josie had meant the words—she really was finished with him. Maybe it was for the best.

The idea of losing her ripped him apart, and the thought of betraying his brothers sliced deep. Why would staying married betray his brothers? Because it added that much danger to all of them—especially to him. As brothers, they’d always been each other’s weak spots. He shook his head. This was all so f*cked up.

The sky opened up, and rain slashed down.

Nathan stalked up from the forest, casting a large shadow. He’d been walking all day.

Shane stretched out his legs. Irritation heated through him. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Out.” Nathan glanced up at the clouds covering the moon. “My red-eye leaves in an hour, and I thought I’d grab my laptop.”

“Good idea,” Shane snapped.

Nathan lifted an eyebrow. “Is there something you’d like to say?”

“No.” Shane’s hands curled into fists.

Nathan stomped dirt off his boots, squishing wet leaves. “Out with it, Shane.”

Shane bounded to his feet and into the deluge. “My memories aren’t all the way back, but you’ve always been a bossy bastard, haven’t you?”

Nathan’s eyelids slowly rose, while his chin lowered. “Watch yourself, little brother. That head injury gives you some leeway, but not much.”

“Screw you.” Frustration needed an outlet, and Shane was looking at a good one.

Nathan slowly removed his coat, folded it, and set it inside the SUV, his gaze never leaving Shane. Rain matted his hair to his head. “What’s your f*cking problem?” Curiosity, not heat, rode his deep voice.

Shane eyed his brother. “Oh, you’re so damn calm, so uncaring, aren’t you?” The instant flare in Nate’s eyes pleased him. Instinct told Shane just where to strike. “You can’t keep a woman, so nobody gets one? Really?”

Nathan smiled, and his fist shot out.

The right cross threw Shane against the porch railing. Satisfaction welled through him along with the pain. “That’s what I thought.” He ducked his head and charged his brother, hitting him in the midsection. Metal crunched when they crashed into the wet Jeep.

He shot a hard punch into Nate’s jaw.

Nate’s head snapped back, and he rolled them over, straddling Shane. Wet pine needles coated his neck. Two hard punches to the face, and Shane saw stars.

Damn it.

He shoved Nathan off and pushed to his feet, kicking Nate in the chest. His brother rolled backward and flipped to his feet.

Shane stepped back and then settled his stance.

Nate wiped blood off his mouth. “No matter how hard you hit, or how hard I hit you, the pain won’t go away. Deal with it.”