Violent Ends (The Denton Family Legacy 5)

“Do you have any idea how to stop this?”

“Not right now. I need you guys to be like a rash around her. I’ll be okay tomorrow, but don’t let her go back to work.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can take care of myself,” Emma said.

“Em, babe, I love you, and one day we’re going to be married and have kids, but you pretty much declared war on my father.”

“It’ll be fine.” She smiled at him. “Have a little trust and faith here. I do in you.” She sat beside him, kissing his lips. “Trust in me.”

“I don’t know what you’re doing.” He ran a hand over his face and came away with blood.

Emma left once again and returned seconds later carrying a pot of water.

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Wyatt and Owen are going with you wherever you go though.”

“I won’t argue.”

“Gabriel’s pissed,” Owen said. “He’s already called us both a dozen times.”

“He picked his side,” Emma said.

“He was just doing what needed to be done.”

“Gabriel doesn’t do anything in this world unless he wants to do it,” Wyatt said.

“Don’t underestimate him, Gideon. He comes across as a wounded little puppy, but he is far from it.”

Gideon looked at Wyatt, Owen, and Emma. He saw the warning in their stares.

“He’s dangerous. Don’t think because he’s taking orders that it will last. There’s a reason our father used him to train. Gabriel is ruthless when he needs to be, and he’s not so sweet and calm either. There’s a temper there.”

He noted their warnings.

Emma helped him remove his shirt, which was filthy with mud and blood.

“Does your mom know he does this?” Emma asked.

“No. It’s not something we talk about.”

She tutted. “I don’t like this one bit.” She continued to clean and wipe at the cuts and bruises on his body.

Wyatt and Owen excused themselves.

Reaching out, he twirled a curl of Emma’s hair.

“I like that you took care of me,” he said. She was the first woman to do so. “I love you so much.”

She didn’t say the words back, but that was okay. He didn’t expect her to.

Leaning back, he let her attend to his wounds, playing the victim. The pain was already starting to lessen. Now he needed the time to plan.

****

Gabriel stood waiting, knowing his brothers would arrive.

Hands in his jacket, he watched as they parked the car, and headed toward him.