Violent Ends (The Denton Family Legacy 5)

“Emma doesn’t have any enemies.”

“She’s a Colton, Gideon. Don’t be fucking stupid. She’s got enemies regardless of if she’s the cause or not. That kind of name. What her father was like, that shit carries for years to come. She’ll never be safe. Do you think you could handle losing her?”

Just the thought nearly brought him to his knees. He didn’t buckle though. Not in front of his father. Staring at the man who’d been training him for years, he saw the sorrow in Maddox’s eyes. None of them knew what it was like to lose their woman.

He stared at his father. Something twisted inside him. The battle that he’d have to face.

There wouldn’t be much choice.

If his father said no, but Emma wanted out, he knew what he’d have to do.

“I’m going to see Landon,” he said.

“He’s out of it for the night.”

“I’m still going to see my brother.”

He didn’t linger. He couldn’t.

Fighting with his father was a big no, and if he allowed himself to let go and pummel the smug bastard’s face, it would be the end for him.

Leaving the kitchen, he made his way up to Landon’s room. He paused in the doorway as he saw Tamsin sitting on the edge of the bed, Landon’s hand in her lap.

She looked so sad.

“Hey, squirt,” he said.

“He’s so sad.”

“I know.”

“Is there nothing we can do?”

“No. She’s dead, and we can’t bring her back. There’s limits to what we can do.”

“Don’t be an ass, Gideon. Not right now.”

“I’m not.” He walked into the room, lowering himself down into a chair. Resting his head on his hand, he watched his brother, who was completely out of it. “Just be pleased that he’s not feeling a thing right now.”

“How could they let her get run over?” Tamsin asked. “She belonged to Landon.”

“There’s not a lot we can do, Tam. We can curse, point the finger, but it’s not going to change anything.”

“I hate it when you’re so cold.”

“I’m not cold. I just don’t have any answers for you right now. I’ve got nothing. I’ve got my own problems right now.” He sighed,

running a hand down his face. This was not how he wanted his day to go, and it pissed him off to know his father was right. The thing was, he’d do whatever it took for Emma to get what she wanted.

“I saw Emma go to her room.”

“You have a way of being everywhere, don’t you?”

“I’m a girl. No one cares where I am. They always underestimate me. They just want me to be this princess who accepts who they want me to marry.”

“No, they don’t,” he said, lying.

He wished it was different for his sister, but the truth was the opposite. Their father would always do what they wanted, regardless of if they liked it or not. At least with their curse or legacy, whichever anyone thought it was, they weren’t forced into a marriage they didn’t want.