Family Values Read Free Page B

firm.”
    “I’m a receptionist. That’s what college degrees get you these days.”
    “Ouch.”
    “Yeah. But it pays well enough.” She slumped. “The job will probably be gone by the time I get back. You don’t work for two months then ask for several weeks off.”
    “It’s nice of you to fill in for your mother.”
    “Nice? I’m annoyed. And a little scared,” she said, darting a glance at him.
    “Understandable,” he said gently. “But you know we’ve all missed you.”
    “All?” She shook her head. “Brand didn’t look happy to see me. Probably remembers pulling me out of that bedroom.” She immediately regretted mentioning the incident and closed her eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to dredge up old history.”
    “You can talk to me about it…if you like.”
    She gave a strangled laugh. “Do you want the down and dirty details? Want to know how I lost my mind and let Nate…do those things?” She let her head fall backward as she gazed at the pretty moon. “I regret that night. Not because I didn’t love every minute of what we did, but because of the pain I caused…everyone, but especially to my mama. She didn’t deserve to have a whore for a daughter.”
    “You’re not a whore!”
    The voice came loud and so near she jumped to her feet and whirled.
    Brand stepped out of the darkness, his face as dark and frightening as it had been four years ago.
    “I have to go,” she said, her voice breaking. She ran past Brand, who kept looking straight ahead, and didn’t stop until she reached her room.
    “I should never have come back,” she said, climbing onto the bed and curling her body into a miserable ball. “He still hates me.”
    And then she sobbed, because while she knew she could repair her relationships with Eli and Nate, she didn’t stand a chance with their more distant brother. And she needed his approval most. Always had. He’d been father, brother and best friend all rolled up into one, which was what made her feel even more deeply ashamed, because she wished she could add lover to the list.
    Brand didn’t breathe until the sounds of Angelina’s running steps faded.
    “Well, that went well,” Eli said, sounding disgusted. He stood and dusted off the back of his jeans, all the while shaking his head. “You shouted at her? What the fuck?”
    He deserved the condemnation, he supposed. “I didn’t like hearin’ her say that. It’s my fault she feels that way.”
    “Yeah, it is,” Eli said, his gaze steady. “What are you gonna do about it?”
    Brand ground his jaw shut. He didn’t have a clue. “I should talk to her.”
    “Maybe you should give her some space.”
    But Brand couldn’t let it lie. Not overnight. He couldn’t leave her thinking he was angry, or worse, let her continue to feel bad about herself.
    He left Eli and made his way back inside, through the kitchen, to her door. About to rap it with his knuckles, he froze at the sound of crying. Brand leaned his forehead against the door and squeezed his eyes shut. Damn, damn, damn. Anger at himself burned in his gut.
    He was the wrong brother to handle this. But he was responsible for so much hurt. Much as he wished he wasn’t and knowing he’d probably just make things worse, he leaned away and knocked.
    “Go away,” came a surly reply.
    “Angelina, open the door.”
    All sounds quieted.
    “I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”
    “You never want to talk.”
    Her voice came from the other side of the door. He could imagine they were only separated by a few inches of wood—the closest they’d been in years.
    “Angel…”
    She gave a heavy sigh, and then turned the lock. “Come in.”
    Into her room? He’d never been inside while she’d lived here, although after she’d gone he’d often come to sit on her bed to talk to her whenever the loneliness crowded in. He turned the handle and stepped into her bedroom.
    Angel sat on her mattress, cross-legged, gazing back at him. Her black eyelashes