“That’s not true, Kyle. He cared about me when he shouldn’t have.”
“His track record says something else.”
She peered down at her hands. “One day he’ll leave me for someone else.” The tight squeezing in her heart shot to her expression and she quickly turned her head.
“You really do love him, don’t you? You’re not a socialite, you’re just an everyday gal.”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it?” Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m not right for him. I never have been, but one day someone will be.” She bit her lip, trying hard not to cry. “That’s going to be a hard day.”
Kyle’s jaw tightened. He squeezed her hand. “Hey, you know even when Steven was little, he knew what he wanted. When he made his mind up about something, no one could change it. Frustrated the shit out of Mom and Dad,” he said, cracking another smile. “Thing was, he didn’t make a decision until he was sure.” He sighed and looked around. “That’s why I know he’ll never trust me again, and why he won’t give up on you.”
“Why didn’t you at least call your mom, Kyle?”
“I wanted to, for a long time, but it’s too late for all of that now.”
“Kyle, it’s not too late. Not as long as all of you are drawing breath.”
“We’ll find out I guess.”
She pulled her hands away from him. “What?”
“He’s on his way right now I would imagine. Hotter than hell, and ready to kill me.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I stayed long enough on the phone so they could trace the call to the area. Mom will remember the cabin. It’ll take them at least five hours to get here though.”
“And then what?”
“I don’t know. I wanted to make Steven suffer for so long. Make him worry, and turn his life upside down. You gave me an opportunity to do that when I saw you alone today. I didn’t have a plan, I just reacted.” He grasped her by the arms. “Moira, I’m not a bad guy. I was fucked up for a long time, and angry. I still am, but this isn’t your fault, and I know most of the blame falls with me. Dane’s tried to convince me for years to come home, but I just couldn’t.”
“And now?”
He smiled sadly at her. “I don’t know anything anymore, Moira. The truth is I’ve wanted to go home many times. I even got halfway there a few times, and then turned back. I don’t know what stopped me.”
“Roadblocks, Kyle. Invisible roadblocks, like fear and regret.” She paused. “And anger, the worst of them all.”
“You seem to think they’ll give me a second chance.”
They both heard the sound of a car, and Kyle was up and out the door to check. Moira stilled when she heard the first cry. She waited, listening. A second one met her ears, but this time there was no mistaking it. An animal’s cry, maybe a cat, called as if it were struggling and needed help. She walked to the patio doors and peered out. “Kyle, do you hear that?” she asked. When he didn’t answer she opened the door, and walked onto the deck, looking around, listening.
* * * *
Kyle’s gaze swung around the room. The patio door was open. “Moira?” He passed through the door, and peered around the deck. “Moira,” he called. A three-quarter moon hung in the sky. He jumped off the deck and walked toward the lake. “Moira, where are you?” He waited for a response. “It’s dark out here. You can’t see where you’re going, get your little ass back here, woman.” He heard movement behind him, but before he could turn, he was on the ground, flattened by what felt like a freight train.
When he opened his eyes Steven glared down at him, ready to hammer him with his fist. “Where is she?”
Dane stood with his arms crossed, not far behind. “Where is she, Kyle?”
“Fuck you, Steven.” Kyle glared back at Steven, the anger and resentment rising up inside him.
“Where is she?”
Steven gripped him by the throat, and that was all he needed for his temper to let go. His clenched fist cracked against Steven’s jaw. He thrust his body sideways, throwing Steven off balance, but Steven grabbed him, and they both rolled down the hill, exchanging blow for blow. Steven caught him in the solar plexus, knocking the air from his lungs. Kyle rose and staggered backwards. Steven took him down like a quarterback, nailing him low and hard. They hammered at each other. Steven was as strong as he was. They could keep this up all night, and he was ready to do it. He’d wanted to kick the shit out of his brother for twenty years, now was his chance.
Steven backed away and swiped at his mouth, the blood running from a split lip. “Where is she, Kyle?”
“I don’t know,” he yelled back at him.
“You lying piece of shit.”
Steven charged him again, and they crashed down onto the rocky ground near the lake. Kyle’s fist connected with his lip again, and blood sprayed across his face. Steven heaved him up and dragged him the last few feet to the water.
“I’ll drown you, you son of bitch, if you don’t tell me where she is.”
Kyle twisted out of his grasp, but Steven drove them both into the lake. The freezing water stopped his breath, but it didn’t stop his brother, and Steven hit him full force across the jaw. He landed with a splash, the sharp rocks digging into his back. He dragged himself to his knees, bending to catch his breath. He raised his hand in the air.
Dane had followed them, keeping out of the fray of fists. “If you two idiots have got that out of your system, maybe we can look for—”
“Kyle!” When they heard Moira yell they all stopped in their tracks.
* * * *
Moira followed the sound of the cat, its call becoming urgent. She cut through the bush. The cat was definitely in trouble. Sliding over a large fallen log, she dropped to her feet on the other side. “Where the heck are you?” The silly thing had probably trapped itself somewhere. She rounded a grouping of pine trees and stopped dead. “Oh shit.” The moon provided just enough light for her to see the mountain lion, a big one. The cat’s ears flattened seeing her. A low growl rumbled in its throat. It must have been chasing the cat, but it had found refuge in a fallen tree. The hole wasn’t very big. From inside the log she heard it mewl again. It sounded scared, but not hurt. “Okay,” she said quietly, and took a step back. The full-grown mountain lion advanced with slow, deliberate movements, then stopped. Fear gripped her heart. This was bad. She backed up another step. If she ran, the thing would chase her. The mountain lion’s tail swished back and forth, a sure sign that meant trouble.
Taking small steps, she put some distance between them. The cat watched every move she made, but remained where he was. With any luck, he wouldn’t want to leave his prospective dinner. She backed up until she lost sight of the animal, and then she ran like hell. “Kyle,” she yelled.
She jumped fallen debris from the trees, headed for what she thought was the direction of the cabin. Limbs snapped at her face, but she kept going, her heart pounding. Then she heard twigs breaking behind her. “Damn it, Kyle,” she screamed. She searched for a trail, a beaten down path, but with only the moonlight, she couldn’t see much. The cat was tracking her.
She’d never had a run-in with a mountain lion even though there were plenty where she lived in British Columbia. Every summer there was at least one story about a rogue cat that attacked someone. It wasn’t the cat’s fault. They were just doing what was natural to them, and people sometimes got in the way. A shallow root caught her toe, and she went down hard. She listened, trying to hear through the drum of her pulse in her ears.
“Moira!”
Oh thank God. “Kyle, I’m over here.” She bent over to catch her breath. Hearing something behind her, she turned. The cat wasn’t more than twenty feet away. She froze.
“Moira, where are you?”
She eyed the cat, as it watched her. “Kyle, I’m over here. There’s a cat chasing me.”
“What do you mean a cat?”
“A mountain lion.” Then it dawned on her. That w
as Dane, not Kyle’s voice. “Dane?” The cat crouched, and she realized the thing was going to attack. The men were too far away, they weren’t going to get to her in time. “It’s going to attack,” she yelled, bracing herself.
Terror gripped her. She searched the ground for a weapon, anything. The dry terrain didn’t give up much. Pine needles and small rocks surrounded her. Stand her ground or run, either way the cat would take her down. She quickly knelt down, and filled her hand with small rocks. As the cat advanced, she waited until it was only ten feet away, and then hurled the rocks at it. It jerked backwards, and she turned and ran.
“Moira!” Steven’s voice called out.
She ran blindly toward the voice. “Here, I’m here.” Her legs burned with fatigue. The cat was close behind her, adrenaline and fear filled every vein. This was worse than any nightmare. She felt the cat’s body lunge on her, the claws dug into her sides and she screamed with pain. Its fangs bit down on her shoulder, piercing her skin. White, numbing fear paralyzed her, and all she could do was scream. She covered her neck with her hands. She heard feet running toward her, and then someone was on top of her, sliding between the cat and her, protecting her body with their own. Whoever it was curled her beneath him.
He cried out as the cat turned its claws on him. Suddenly, more feet surrounded them. She heard the cat snarl, and it backed away from them as the men surrounded them, then chased it off. Arms hugged her close, and pulled her up. She blinked and looked into Dane’s eyes.
“Are you okay?” he said, breathing hard.
The adrenaline made her body tremble. She looked up to see Steven and Dane running back. Kyle released her as Steven clutched her against his chest.
“Moira, you’re hurt.”
She turned in his arms. “Kyle, are you all right?” He held onto his side like she was.
“Let’s get back to the cabin,” Dane said, wrapping an arm around Kyle’s shoulder.
They didn’t have far to walk. She’d almost made it back to safety when the cat had caught her. The bite marks stung like hell, but her adrenaline was still peaking. She figured it would get far worse in a few minutes.
* * * *
Steven helped Moira to the couch. “Dane, check the bathroom, see if there’s anything to disinfect the bites.” He turned his angry gaze on Kyle who sat down carefully in a chair across from them. “This is your fucking fault.”
“Steven, stop it,” Moira ordered. “It’s not his fault, he—” She stopped in midsentence, giving him a once-over. “What happened to you? You’re all wet, and your lip. What’s going on?”
Dane returned with a bottle and a few towels. “Don’t worry about it Moira, just a brotherly misunderstanding,” he said, handing one of the towels to Steven with the bottle. He dropped the other cloth on Kyle’s chest and gave him a rueful look.
“Misunderstanding! He tore our family apart. He practically killed Mom with the heartache he caused,” he said, pulling Moira’s blouse aside to inspect the wound.
“He had an addiction, Steven. There’s no rhyme or reason to addiction, it’s only the drug that matters. He needed you to stand beside him in his darkest moments, and you weren’t there for him. He’s in control, give him a chance.”
“An addict will always be an addict. They don’t deserve a second chance,” Steven growled.
She pushed his hand away. This wasn’t the Steven she knew. “People make mistakes, Steven.” She glanced at Kyle who stared back at her with a look that said “I told you so.”
“Addicts are weak. They’ll always break down again. You’ll put Mom and Dad through hell—again, just like last time, and because of you Moira was almost killed.”
“You know that’s not his fault,” she said, pulling away from him. He watched as she took the few steps to stand beside Kyle’s chair.
“What are you doing, Moira?”
Dane rested a hand on Steven’s shoulder. “I think,” he said slowly, “you better mind your words, Steven.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Let’s just get Kyle and Moira to the hospital,” Dane coaxed.
She stood her ground beside Kyle, her hands curled into fists. “Recovered addicts are not weak, Steven,” she hissed. “They’re stronger people because they’ve overcome a monster that squats in their mind and plays with every waking moment.”
Steven turned his gaze to Dane, not understanding. “What the hell are you talking about, Moira?”
“I’m saying your brother conquered his demons, and he wants his family back. He wants you to give him a chance.”
“Forget it, Moira,” Kyle said, grabbing her arm. “He doesn’t get it. He’s always been a self-righteous bastard.”
“Get your fucking hands off my wife.”
“Calm down, Steven,” Dane said. “She’s not your wife yet, and you’re going to fuck everything up if you don’t shut your mouth for a change.”
“What?” Steven stood up, and reached for Moira, but she took a step back.
“He’s right. You’ve always been a self-righteous prick. Just because you ended up with a few more brain cells than us doesn’t mean you’re smarter. You own a kingdom, but you’re about to lose your queen if you don’t shut your goddamned trap,” Kyle cautioned.
Steven’s brain finally kicked into gear. She stood beside the black sheep of the family, and he realized she was protecting him. “Moira?” He shook his head.
“What?”
“Not you, I don’t believe it,” he whispered.
“Moira, it’s all right,” Dane murmured, and walked to her side, wrapping his arm around her. He grabbed Kyle’s shoulder and gave him a quick squeeze. “It’s all right. Nothing has to leave this room.” He turned toward Steven. “Unless you want to leave, Steven.”
“I…I…” He looked out the dust-covered window of the old cabin, confused. “God.” He rammed his hand through his hair. “Moira, was it drugs?”
She shook her head.
“Alcohol?”
She shook her head again.
“It’s all right, sweetheart, tell him,” Dane urged. “It’s his choice whether he wants to accept it or not.”
“Dane—” He lifted his hand in the air as if warding his brother off. “Just stay out of this.”
“How can I? I love her, whether that pisses you off or not I don’t give a shit, and Kyle is our brother, but you threw him out of our lives like garbage. We all have weakness, even you. No one’s perfect, but that’s what you’ve always expected from all of us. That fucking IQ of yours always got in the way of your heart until Moira stepped into your life and rang your reality bell.”
He glared at his brother. “That’s not true.”
“It is. The perfect women, the best cars, the nicest clothes. You’re a snob, Steven.”
His eyes doubled in size. “That’s not fucking true. I just wanted…”
“What, Steven? What did you want? You never knew. You just kept getting possessions whether it was women or things, but you didn’t know what you really wanted, until a little five-foot-nothing brunette gave you a good whack across your heart.” Dane shook his head. “What if she’s not perfect either? Are you going to throw her away, too?”
“Moira, whatever it is we can handle it, together,” he said ignoring his brother.
“Addiction happens, Steven. It happens to the best people, to lonely people, to good people. It happens with the ignorance of youth like your brother—young, invincible and curious, and suddenly your life is ruined.” She laid her hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “I’ll tell you, Steven, and then I’m leaving.”
“No, I don’t care what it is, Moira. I don’t, I don’t care.”
“It wasn’t me, Steven, it was my father. He struggled with alcohol. I watched my mom being torn to pieces because of it, but she never stopped loving him, and it killed her and my brother. How could you give up on your brother? That’s not the man I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?�
�
“Because you never asked me.”
Steven swayed his head. “You’re right; I didn’t ask you anything about them. Because I didn’t want you to have to remember. I didn’t want to cause you any pain. You told me once they were all dead.” He turned and took a couple paces toward the window. “I wanted to be your family, Moira. I wanted you to have my family.”
“And I wanted to know all your family, and Kyle is your brother, your blood. I can’t give my father a second chance, but I want you to promise you’ll give your brother one. Let him prove to you that tomorrow can be different. Family is important, don’t turn away from him,” she begged.
He shook his head, “Moira, you’re tearing out my fucking heart again. I can’t.”
“You’ve missed him, Steven. I know you have. If you’re who I’ve always thought you were, you’re just angry right now, but you can’t tell me you don’t love him, in spite of his mistakes.”
Steven let out a deep breath, looking sharply at Dane.
Dane gave him a meaningful smile. “I forgave him a long time ago, Steven. I think it’s time you do, too. Moira’s right, family forgives, and they start again.”
Moira clasped her hand over her shoulder, squeezing the wound. “Promise, damn it.”
Steven darted a look at Kyle, and nodded. “Moira, I didn’t mean what I said about addiction. I’m angry at him, not you.” He looked at his identical brothers who stood silently watching them. “He did a lot of awful things to our family.”
Her hand jumped to her stomach, protecting it. “You promised, Steven, now stand by it.”
“Moira, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes squeezed shut with pain. “I think I’m losing the baby.”
“We have to get you to a hospital. We can talk about the rest later,” Steven said.
“There’s nothing to talk about, Steven. Ahh…” She doubled over with the pain.
Steven caught her in his arms. “Let’s go, right now.”
Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 30