Shayne’s gaze flickers toward me. I give a slight shake of my head.
“Wow. You’ve been fooling us all.”
“Keep talking to my woman like that, and we’re going to have a problem,” Shayne booms.
“Or what?” Ellis challenges.
“I’ll forget that you’re my boss and her brother, and show you how I’ll treat the man disrespecting what’s mine,” he rumbles as he steps closer to Ellis.
Closing my eyes, I allow myself to bask in the moment. I can’t remember the last time I had back up during a family disagreement. It’s the curse of being the youngest.
“Yours?” Ellis scoffs. “You’ve known my sister for all of what six months?”
“Which is why it’s a damn shame I treat her better than you.”
Ellis surges forward, and I step in between them. “Say what you came to say.”
“I know you’re trying to get a loan, but what I want to know is why.”
“You want to know why?” I could deny it, or stall, but right now all I want to do is clear the air. He nods his head. “It’s my turn. I waited, and I came up empty handed at every turn. I’m done with that.”
“What are you talking about?” Ellis asks.
“Did you really think I was going to sit back, work my fingers to the bone again, helping you with truck number two while I continue to be passed over? I’m many things, but stupid isn’t one of them.”
His face darkens, and he scowls. “So you’re going to do what? Bail? Be a bitter bitch and make sure our next venture fails?”
His venom sets me off. I shove him. “How dare you? After all I’ve sacrificed for your dreams you dare begrudge me mine? Who’s the selfish one?”
He steps toward me and nearly slams into Shayne who appears in front of me like a secret service member ready to take a bullet for the President.
“This is a family issue. My sister doesn’t need to be protected from me,” he spits.
“That’s a matter of opinion.” Shayne clenches his fists, and I lay my hand on his arm to steady him.
“How did you even hear about the loan?” I ask.
“I have friends who happened to see my sister’s name come across a desk and wanted to know what we were up to next,” Ellis admits quietly.
“First of all, that’s a breach of policy, and secondly, I was going to tell everyone once I heard back. I would’ve talked it over with Shayne tonight if you hadn’t bust up in here like a maniac throwing accusations and a shitty attitude around.”
“You’re really going to leave?” The pain in his voice wounds me.
“I have to.” I beg him to understand with my gaze.
Ellis shakes his head. “Do you expect me to keep quiet about this?”
“What you choose to do is up to you, Ellis. I’m done expecting anything from the men in my family. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to salvage the rest of my evening before I have to go back to work bright and early.”
“I feel like I don’t know you at all,” Ellis whispers.
“How could you? There’s an entire side of me I haven’t shown. I’ve been on the outside looking in for years. You can’t tell me no one saw this coming when Dad pitched the idea for a second truck.”
Ellis’s round face reflects his confusion. His almond-shaped brown eyes are narrowed, and his thin lips are turned down at the corners.
I sigh. Why would they expect me to do anything differently after so many years of ignoring my own needs? This is as much my fault as it is theirs. I won’t place all the blame at their doorstep.
“Think on it, big brother. Once you review things objectively, you’ll see this was inevitable for me to find happiness.” I risk a glance at Shayne. To anyone else, he looks at ease, but I can feel the anger building inside of him. With his shoulders back, chest out, and jaw tense, I know we’re going to have our first argument.