Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

Ethan reached out a hand. “Come on, Parker. You know I’m just looking out for you.”

No, he was butting in as usual. “I have nothing more to say to you.” He stormed out of the kitchen and headed upstairs to find Emily, hoping he could undo some of the damage his brother had done.

* * *

Emily sat on her bed and attempted slow-breathing exercises to calm herself down. She was beyond hurt and insulted that Parker’s brother treated her the way that he had. The man didn’t know her at all. Although, she could see how, on paper, it looked like she was taking advantage of his brother. She’d been concerned about doing that from the beginning. Still, she and Parker had been nothing but honest about her feelings regarding borrowing his money. And that’s what she and her father were doing. Borrowing. They had the paperwork to prove it.

She sighed, leaning back against the pillows, hating how she could hear the raised voices coming from downstairs. Parker shouldn’t be arguing with his sibling over her. She knew how much he loved Ethan, how Ethan was like the father he should have had, and she didn’t want to come between them.

A knock sounded on the door, coinciding with silence from the main floor. She opened the door to Parker.

“My brother’s an asshole,” he said without preamble.

She sighed. “He’s got a point, though, doesn’t he? You’re shelling out money to us like we’re a charity case.”

Anger flared in his eyes. “I’m lending money. There’s a difference. And I’m investing in real estate, which is a smart thing to do. All of which are decisions I’m free to make without my brother’s approval, I might add.”

Leaning against the door, she met his gaze.

“Can I come in? I want to explain a few things to you, which might help you to understand why Ethan jumped to the conclusions he did. Nothing will make what he said to you acceptable, but there are some things you should know.”

She stepped aside so he could enter. With nowhere else to sit, they settled on the bed facing each other.

“Ethan is jaded to say the least.” Parker met her gaze as he spoke. “His wife died eight months ago. After that he found out she was cheating on him and stealing from our company. He’s obviously distrusting of everyone and everything right now.”

“Particularly women,” Emily said, understanding a little more where the man had been coming from. She even felt bad for him, losing his wife and being blindsided by information that had to have been devastating.

Parker placed his hand on hers. “It doesn’t make it right how he spoke to you. It’s my life. He’s not my parent, and even if he was, I’m an adult. It’s all so fucked up,” he muttered.

Emily managed a smile despite the lingering hurt along with the fact that, despite his reasons, Ethan’s words had hit home.

“There’s one more reason he came to the conclusion he did.” Parker drew a deep breath and Emily sensed whatever he was about to say held more sway than Ethan’s own personal issues.

“I’m listening.”

He glanced down at their intertwined hands. “I told you that Rina died. What I didn’t tell you was that, not long after, her parents came to me asking for money. They listed all these things they needed the funds for and I was so wrapped up in grief and guilt for living when she didn’t, I paid them.”

Emily narrowed her gaze. “Okay?” She knew something was missing in the story, a connection that would make her understand more.

“It became excessive. Year after year. I tried to say no but they’d cry about how much they missed their daughter, about all the things she’d never be able to do and the debt they’d accrued. Medical bills, her student loans.”

He didn’t look at her then and she remained silent, giving him the time to tell the story in his own way. She wasn’t sure what to feel about these people who’d suffered the ultimate loss, but she felt for Parker, who felt so guilty.

He stared at the flowered comforter on her bed and finally spoke again. “Right before I came on this trip, Ethan found out and did some digging. Turns out they were using the money to fund a complete life of luxury on my dime. He told me they were playing on guilt I had no business feeling. It wasn’t like I caused the car accident that killed their daughter.” He swallowed hard. “I was furious with him for looking into my life – and told him to mind his own fucking business. Clearly the man doesn’t listen.”

Emily smiled. “Because he loves you and worries about you. The way he expresses it is the issue.” She grew more serious. “But he’s right, you know. You don’t owe them. They’re taking advantage of your grief and guilt.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and he covered it with his own.