Reckless Temptations (Tempted #4)(86)

“Can I come in?” He said, as he shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, looking anywhere but at me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and robotically stepped aside to let him in. I slowly closed the door, gripping the doorknob, hanging onto it as if it was my salvation and touched my forehead to the door.

How does someone prepare themselves for the words I was about to hear? A million thoughts ran through my mind as I feared the worst.

Please don’t let him be hurt.

Slowly, I turned around and lifted my eyes to Anthony’s.

“Is he okay?” I whispered.

“He’s fine,” he confirmed.

I let out a sigh of relief as I closed my eyes briefly.

“Thank God,” I said.

“Lauren—”

I held up my hand to stop him from saying whatever it was he was about to say.

“No, don’t,” I ordered. “I don’t want to know,” I explained. “Something happened, he left with Jack but he said he’d come home. He told me he’d come back home.”

“Something did happen, and that’s why I’m here. Pack a bag, you will be staying with me until whatever this shit is…until it dies down,” he grunted.

“What? No!” I shook my head. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you don’t have a goddamn choice,” he growled, swiping his hand across his face. “Lauren don’t make this harder than it has to be. They have something going down with the club. I don’t know the details but after what happened with Reina and Blackie I’m not taking any fucking chances with you. You’re coming home with me,” he demanded.

I don’t know who he thought he was talking to. I might be his little sister but I wasn’t a child. Sure, I’ve run to him in the past, asking for his help with whatever mess I got myself into but I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was a woman finding her place. I was a mother. I wasn’t a little girl who needed protecting. I was the one doing the protecting, taking care of myself and my child.

“I’m not going anywhere, Anthony. This is where I live, this is where I belong,” I declared. “If there was some kind of threat then Riggs would be the one who took care of me.”

“Riggs can’t take care of you, Lauren, he can barely take care of himself,” he seethed.

“Don’t do that. Don’t talk about him like he’s not in your category, like he’s some incompetent asshole,” I yelled.

“Pack a bag,” he ordered.

“I don’t take orders from you, Anthony!”

“I’m telling you something goddamn it! Grow the fuck up and listen. You want to put your life at risk? Your kid’s life at risk because you’re stubborn?”

“Get out,” I screeched. “Get out of my house!”

He ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends as he took a step closer and pierced me with a cold stare.

That shit didn’t work with me. I wasn’t some street thug who he could scare with one look. I was his goddamn sister. I was his blood. I knew him better than most people did and that look, it meant nothing. I could stare right back at him, give him the same look because I learned from the best. I learned from him.

I learned a lot from my brother.

I learned not to ask questions.

I learned to stand by the people you care about even when the things they do are unethical.

I learned to defend myself because he went away for three years, leaving me to fight my own battles.

I learned how to fight for what I wanted because he never gave up on what he wanted.

I bet he’s sorry he taught me how to be a strong woman.

“He asked me to do this, Lauren,” he said hoarsely. “He asked me to take you away from here and to be the one who watches over you and the baby.”

I shook my head.

“You’re lying,” I whispered, the words settling in causing my eyes to fill with uncertain tears. I stared at him, waiting for something, some kind of sign he was just blowing smoke at me to get me to go with him but it never came.

“He’s not coming home, Lauren.”

“No, stop it.” I demanded, wiping away the tears that fell down my cheeks. Stupid hormones! I took a deep breath, trying to collect myself before I looked back at my brother. “Riggs wants me to move out? He wants to pawn me off on you? Because there is some bullshit problem with his club. That’s what you’re telling me?”

He didn’t answer me.

“Fine, then you’re going to take me to wherever he is, and he’s going to have to tell me with his own mouth.”

“Lauren, you don’t want that,” he said.

“No, what I don’t want is my brother coming here to collect me like I’m some piece of baggage,” I croaked, as my voice cracked and the tears fell again. “So, if Riggs wants me gone, then he will have to look me in the eye and tell me himself. He will have to be man enough to break my heart this time.”

I turned around, grabbed my purse from the counter and started for the door. Anthony remained where he was, just staring at me.

“Now!” I demanded.

“Don’t do this,” he pleaded one final time.

“I didn’t do shit,” I hissed as I opened the door.