Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail(62)

Cold tears fell down my cheeks. "You are less than me. You are less than Brady. You are less than Kid and you know it. You loved my mother because she made you want to be a better man. You loved her because—"

Frank wiped a hand over his mouth and interrupted, "You have no idea what you're talking about. You're just a kid. You're a girl, that's worse. And, sweetheart, my boy is not in love with you. He's just obsessed with you, but obsession ain't love. He wants your ass, probably has since growing up. Oh, yes. I've watched. I know everything about Brady. You think I'd really let my own flesh and blood go? He's an asset of mine. He belongs to me. It's a good thing that Viola took him in. She wanted him to be hers because she was disappointed with you. I can't blame her. I let her have him. Far be it from me to take an old woman's only saving grace in her life. She's got nothing else. Her own daughter abandoned her and stuck her with her kid. I've always wondered who your father was, if he was drifter or some poor schmuck who wouldn't pay child support."

I'd grown numb again as he said all the words that I'd held inside, too scared to say out loud. I'd always felt like a burden. I always wondered if my mother had sent me away because she didn't want me. Maybe my father had been so awful that the very sight of me revolted her. Did Viola wish Brady had been her grandchild instead of me? It would've made more sense.

I would've believed everything except one part.

Brady wasn't just obsessed with me. It was more. He'd never told me, but I knew it as sure as I breathed. He cared about me and if Frank Stephens lied about that one thing, I knew all the others were lies.

He couldn't hurt me.

As he spewed more abuse, I glanced out the window and saw Deputy Doug's car parked outside. When the door opened, voices filled the hall.

Idly, I crossed the room to grab a poker by the fireplace and held it tight. As I moved back, I placed myself where Frank Stephens would have his back to the hallway. As he continued to spew those hurtful words to me, I knew he wouldn't stop. He was drunk. He was angry. He was evil—he was just that kind of guy. I also knew that Brady would hear him and Brady would react how he always did.

Looking back over the years, Brady always had a hot temper. He was an "all in" type of guy and that meant protecting the ones he loved. He protected them all the way. Brady had worked on his temper. He was a lot better than a few years ago, but he still fought over one factor. Me.

I heard their footsteps grow closer.

"Mr. Stephens, I feel it's my duty to forewarn you about certain events." When he stopped, I continued, "That son of yours doesn't take kindly to people saying hurtful words to me. I might not stop him from hurting you, but since the law is present right now, I figure Brady shouldn't chance another arrest. He's going to want to hurt you and I figure the only way to stop him is if you're already hurt. So…."

I tightened my hold on the poker and looked beyond Frank Stephens' shoulder to see Brady turn into the room with Deputy Doug beside him. They stopped and Frank Stephens cursed out, "You think I'm afraid of your threats. You're nothing, but a little whore that was born a mistake and you'll die—"

Brady jerked forward with his hands already in fists. That's when I swung the poker with all my weight behind it. The poker slammed into Frank Stevens' face and he fell to the ground. It was so quick and it was done just as quick. Silence filled the room as Frank Stephens lay there, shocked, until he started to get back up with more threats.

Brady started forward, but I turned again and hit Frank Stephens over his back once, twice, and then again. He wouldn't shut up. I was surprised he didn't back, but the liquor might've helped me.

Then I was jerked from behind and pulled backwards. As my arms were pulled behind, I looked up and met Brady's eyes. His were shocked when mine were calm. "I didn't want you to hurt him. I didn't want you to go to jail again."

Deputy Doug spoke from behind me, "I need to arrest you, Rayna….I'm sorry."

I started to cry, but I nodded. "Brady has to come with us. He can't stay here."

"I'll make sure of it."

As I was led outside and placed in the back seat of the squad car, I watched what was happening. Brady followed and lingered on the front steps of the house. Kid's car pulled back into the driveway. An instant later, he and Clarissa both got out with shocked looks on their faces when they saw where I was. When they went to Brady, an ambulance arrived, and paramedics went inside. After that, I closed my eyes. I didn't care what else happened because Brady wasn't alone. The front door of the police car opened.

Brady crawled inside. "What happened in there?"

My voice was hoarse. "He was angry and saying a bunch of bad stuff to me. He wouldn't stop, Brady. I knew you were coming in. I didn't want you to hurt him because you'd get hurt worse."

"He can't hurt me, Rayna."

But, he could. And I knew it. Frank Stephens had kept quiet for so many years about Brady being his son, but he'd done it because he was scared of losing his business. He didn't have much to lose now. I might not be all-knowing and worldly about men like Clarissa, but I saw a quality in Frank Stephens that I knew very well. It was in Brady too. He felt his world crumbling and he was going to take as many down with him as possible. If Brady had physically attacked Frank Stephens, all bets were off. Everything would be told and I wasn't sure if I wanted Brady to learn about his parentage that way. It didn't matter now because I was the one who'd hurt Frank, not Brady. Brady would be okay. I was sure of it now.