“Why didn’t she say anything?” Luke asks.
“This is Sam we’re talking about.” I remind him with a rueful laugh. “She’s stubborn as hell. She also didn’t want anyone to worry.” I turn back to Luke and get in his face. “So if you think I’d let a rag get their hands on something like that.” I point at the phone clenched tightly in Stacy’s fingers. “You’re sorely mistaken. The bitch will be fired. I know about Scott.” The last sentence is whispered, for Luke and Mark’s ears only.
His surprised gaze finds mine and then he sighs deeply. “Fuck.”
***
~Samantha~
What the fuck just happened? I run out the front door toward Leo’s car and realize that not only didn’t I drive, but I don’t have any keys.
I can’t leave.
Damn it!
“Sam.” Natalie’s soft voice comes from behind me and I turn to find her standing on the porch, her green eyes worried and wet.
“Go back inside, Nat,” I just want to be alone. God, my heart hurts. He fucking told them.
He told them after I told him not to. And what in the name of all that’s holy is up with that photo?
“Sam, talk to me.” Nat insists, and walks to me, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle.
“Nothing to say.” I plant my hands on my hips and stare off down the driveway.
“Spill it, Williams.” Nat’s voice is hard. I glance over at my gorgeous sister-in-law, so thankful for her.
“I told Leo not to tell the family about my job.” I finally admit.
“Why?” She asks with a frown. “We would have helped you.”
“That’s why.” I kick at a rock on the pavement. “Luke would have tried to fix it, or pay off my mortgage, or something stupid like that.”
“I’m pretty sure your mortgage will be paid for by tomorrow afternoon,” Nat agrees with a grin.
“He better not.” I warn her and then feel tears start to fall from my eyes, which pisses me off more. “Damn it.”
“You know, we all love you.” Nat smirks when I start to cry harder. The bitch. “You distance yourself from us, from everyone really, but we love you so much. Your brothers would do anything for you.”
“I know,” I whisper.
“I have a feeling Leo feels the same way.” I shake my head but she just laughs at me. “Sam, did you take a second to see his face when he saw that picture?”
No. I shake my head.
“It devastated him. He’ll make it right,” she states confidently and smiles gently.
“Why are you so nice to me?” I ask her. “I was horrible to you.”
“Because I know why you were, and because I love you for wanting to protect my husband.”
I shake my head and wipe the tears off my cheeks.
“Are you crying because of that photo?” She asks softly.
“No.” I shake my head and wipe my nose on the back of my hand. “I feel betrayed by that tattooed asshole in there, and embarrassed that everyone heard that I’d lost my job.”
Nat nods and then frowns. “You’ll get another job you know.”
I shrug. “They’re not knocking down my door.”
“You will. What does Leo say?”
“He’s moving up here to be near Meg more and the band is going to record the next album here.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She narrows her eyes at me, making me laugh.
“God, you’re such a gold digger.” I fling at her with a laugh. She chuckles and nods her head.
“Yeah, don’t tell Luke. He thinks I love him for his good looks.”
I wipe the rest of the tears from my cheeks and sigh. “Leo says he’ll take care of me.”
“I bet that pissed you off, too,” she correctly observes.
“Hell yes, it did. I don’t need him to take care of me.”
“Nope,” she agrees with a grin.
“What is it with men thinking they can just take care of everything? I’m not a damsel in distress. I got this shit.”
“I hear you.” She shrugs. “But it is kind of nice to know you don’t have to do it all on your own. I like it that Luke has my back.”
“I think he prefers your front.” I smirk.
“No, he loves my ass.” She laughs.
“You have a good ass.” I confirm with a nod and then frown. “I’m still really, really pissed at him. He shouldn’t have told the family.”
“No, that was yours to tell.” Natalie puts her arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry you’re hurt.”
The front door opens and I expect to see Luke, or my parents, come outside, but instead it’s Leo, moving quickly, a scowl on his face.
“Get in the fucking car.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll see you later,” Nat whispers and kisses my cheek before letting herself back inside.
“You heard me.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I stand my ground; my arms crossed and glare defiantly at him.
“The fuck you’re not. Get in.”
“No.”
He stops and turns to me, his gray eyes angrier than I’ve ever seen them. He gets in my face, his voice low and deceptively calm. “Get in the motherfucking car before I put you there myself.”
“Leo…”
“Get in the fucking car!”
Jesus, Mary and Joseph he’s pissed.
Chapter Twenty-One
~Leo~
“Damn, you piss me off,” I mutter and grip the steering wheel tightly, enjoying the rumble of the engine as I stomp on the gas and tear out of Will’s drive way.
“You’re going to kill us both,” she mutters and glares at me.
“No, if I decide to kill you, I’ll choke the shit out of you.” She has the audacity to laugh.
“Do you think that’s the first time I’ve been threatened with a choking?”
“No, sweetheart, I’m sure that happens on a regular basis. You’re so fucking stubborn.”
She glares again and looks out the passenger window.
I’m so angry with her, I dare not touch her. I’m pissed on so many levels; I don’t even know where it starts and how to dig through to the root of it.
I just know that I haven’t been this angry since I was sixteen years old.
“Leo,” she begins, but I cut her off.
“Stop talking.”