“I don’t know shit.”
“She’s mine, Gabriel.” He was done playing around. “I don’t care what you think. I’ll protect her always.”
“No. I don’t believe it. Your claim is bullshit.” Gabriel released him.
“And why is that?” It wasn’t lost on Gideon how close their names were. He wondered if his mother had an inkling that Gabriel was Maddox’s son.
“She deserves better. Always has. Emma can have anyone.”
Gideon stared at Gabriel. “You don’t have a clue what your sister is trying to do, do you?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Gabriel asked.
“She wants out. She doesn’t want this life anymore and is trying to think of a way out where she doesn’t have to deal with any of this.”
“She’s not allowed out,” Gabriel said, taking a step back.
He watched Gabriel, seeing the shock in his brother’s face. Half-brother.
“What happened?” Gabriel asked. “She was happy.”
“Was she? Or did she fake it?”
“How can you claim her? You’ve known her for a long time. How can you claim her now?”
“I’ve been fighting it, giving her time,” Gideon said. “She’s mine. I’m not going to back down.”
“If she wants out then does that mean you’re leaving?” Gabriel asked.
“I’d like to know that as well,” Jacob said.
One by one, he watched his brothers enter the kitchen.
“Wow, talk about a sudden surge of family love,” he said, gripping the back of his neck.
“Are you leaving?” Abel asked.
“It’s not decided yet, and I’m sticking around for Landon. I’m not going to let him face this alone.”
“How nice of you,” Jacob said. “How could you keep a secret like this?”
“Easily, none of you gave a fuck about who I wanted. I’m not wanting sympathy or shit. I don’t need it.”
“You put it off for a long time,” Damian said.
Gideon shrugged. “Guess I’m strong. Now if you’ll excuse me—”
“Emma’s not getting out,” Maddox said.
The appearance of his father shocked him. Usually when his father was making up with his mother, it took all night long. He must be losing his touch in his old age.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Gideon asked.
“You’re a Denton. She’s a Colton. There’s no out for either of you.”
“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.