Shield My Heart (Heaven Hill Book 9) (18 page)

Liam had a seat across from him, folding his hands on the table. “You’re gonna let us help you deliver this money. If something happened to you, I would never be able to live with myself or look Mandy in the eye again. After it’s delivered, I’m gonna have a talk with Samuel about repayment. You’re not paying me back, he is. I know this is something you want to do for yourself, but he needs to take responsibility for his actions.”

Dalton ran a hand through his hair, breathing deeply. “I never wanted to bring this shit to Heaven Hill’s front door. That’s why I didn’t tell anybody.”

“I’m not dumb, son. I know that. But this is one of those times when you need help, and we need to back you on this. If I’m footing the bill, then I need to be a part of it, need to make sure shit’s done right. I have a family to think about too.”

They were quiet for a few minutes, looking at one another. Dalton was the first to speak.

“I’m really sorry.”

Liam waved his hand. “For what? Protecting family? Doing what you think is right?”

He fought for the right words to say, the words to explain his thoughts and the jumble of emotions that filtered round and round in his head. “For lyin’ to everybody.”

“And possibly getting your ass killed, right? Calvert’s a mean son of a bitch, and he knows you have a vulnerability.”

Here it came.

Liam got up, pacing around the table. “Whether you know it or not, keeping this to yourself put everybody in a lot more danger than they would have been had you come to us. Tyler and I could’ve taken care of this.”

“But it wasn’t your business to take care of.”

Leaning in so that their noses almost touched, Liam held the younger man’s gaze. “You are
my
business. You wear my patch on your cut. My daughter carries your child. You’re an integral part of this club, no matter what you think. I would do this for anybody, but you…you mean the world to a handful of people under this roof. Think about that. What would I do with those people if you weren’t around anymore?”

“She was getting along without me just fine.” His voice was hoarse, the truth of those words hitting home in a way he hadn’t let them before.

“The fuck she was, and if you think for one minute that’s the truth, I’ll fuck you up,” Liam warned, his hands clenched into fists on the table now. “She’s a lot like her mama, does what she has to do to get by and doesn’t let anyone see her sweat. But if you know her well enough, if you look just beneath what they want you to see, you can tell exactly when they fall apart. Dalton, that woman is falling apart without you, and if you aren’t ready to man up, you tell me now. We’ll take care of this, then I’ll give you your freedom, and it’ll be done.”

Dalton’s head snapped up. His freedom? That’s what he’d essentially asked for when he’d asked for the leave of absence. He’d wanted to do what he wanted to do without having to answer to anyone, and now faced with it—he didn’t want the freedom. He wanted to be here, with these people, forever. They were his family—didn’t matter they weren’t blood. Every member of the club realized it at one time or another; now the time was his.

“No, I’m going to be here. I don’t want my freedom in that way. I want my freedom in the way of being able to live my life with Mandy, to take care of our child together, and to buy that piece of property.” He stopped for a minute, composing himself because his emotions were all over the place. “I’ll do whatever it takes; just help me make that happen.”

“Just make her happy, and don’t try to fix shit yourself again.”

“I promise.” Dalton held his hand up. “Swear actually.”

“Alright, let’s go see what Steele and Tyler have found out. They’ve been trying to get in touch with Calvert to set up a meeting.”

*

“Why couldn’t you tell me?”

“Drew.” Mandy inhaled deeply, counting to herself as she turned to face her brother. “It wasn’t your business.”

He narrowed his eyes and leveled her with a glare that usually scared others, but she was his twin, and she’d been on the receiving end of that glare many times. “Wasn’t my business? I’m gonna have a niece or a nephew. You were possibly in danger. None of that shit is my business? You’ve lost your damn mind.”

“Mom,” she pleaded.

Denise looked between the two of them. “I’m sorry, but I tend to agree with your brother on this. How many times have we all been together, and you’ve had the chance to tell us what’s been going on and you haven’t?” She threw a glare of her own at her daughter. “I’m a little hurt. We could have helped you.”

That was it. Mandy was sick of having to defend her choices. “I’m a grown woman who made the choice for myself and my child. Mom, did you know it was a good choice to come here with me and Drew back then? Or did you act on instinct? Because that’s what I did, and I’m sorry if neither of you agree with that. It was my choice, and that’s the choice I made.”

Denise pulled her in her arms, hugging her tightly. “I’m proud of you for doing what you thought was right and doing this all by yourself, but I’m saying you didn’t have to.”

“I know.” Mandy grinned, feeling proud of herself, no matter the situation. She’d handled it. “But I wanted Dalton to be a part of this with me, I wanted him to be able to be around, and until we worked things out, I knew there would be tension. The situation has worked out the way it was meant to.”

No one could argue with that, no matter how much they wanted to.

“Well, how far along are you?” Drew asked impatiently. “I need to know when we can find out if this is a girl or a boy. Either way I’m buyin’ another gun. If it’s a girl, to keep the dudes away; if it’s a boy, to teach him how to shoot.”

They laughed, and Mandy wiped tears from her eyes. She really did love her brother. Walking over to him, she pulled him close to her and relaxed into his easy hug. “I’m almost twelve weeks. We’ll know soon, bro.”

He pulled back, tipping her face up so he could look into the eyes that were so much like his. “I’m proud of you for doin’ what you think is right, but I’m here to tell you something too. Don’t keep shit like that away from me again. We’ve always been a team, and it doesn’t matter if I’m married now or not. You’re always gonna be one of the most important people in my life.”

Emotion clogged her throat, and she nodded, burying her head in his shoulder. In that moment, she knew everything would be okay.

A knock on the door caused them to separate, and Mandy brushed at the tears gathered under her eyes. Layne stood in the doorway. “Liam wants to talk to you.” He pointed to Mandy. “He asked me to come get you.”

She swallowed heavily. Being summoned by her dad was never a good thing.

‡
Chapter Twenty-Four

“D
ad?”

Both Dalton and Liam glanced up at the soft voice in the doorway. Mandy entered the room cautiously, obviously not sure what was going on, or what had gone down.

“Have a seat,” he invited her to sit next to Dalton. For the first time, he looked at her like she was truly an adult. She looked so much like her mother, it stole his breath. He could see the same glow Denise had when she was pregnant with Tatum. If he’d been looking closer before, he probably would have been able to tell she was pregnant, because she looked just like Denise had. Chest bigger, skinnier in the stomach. Obviously his girl had done the sick thing like her mother before her.

She took the seat offered, smiling softly at Dalton as he took her hand. For the first time since this began, they were presenting a united front. Letting go of her hand, he put his arm around her, pulling her in close to his side. It felt good not to be alone and facing this man who’d meant so much to her for so long. But to say she was nervous was an understatement. She watched her dad as he paced back and forth, wearing a path in the floor across from them.

“Please say something,” she begged when she couldn’t take the silence anymore.

“I can’t help but think I failed you because you felt like you couldn’t come to us with this. We should have been here to help you.” He had a seat and put his head in his hands. He blew a deep breath out, letting his shoulders relax from the weight he obviously carried. “You were going through all this shit by yourself. It kills me.” He took a breath, and she inhaled deeply as she saw the emotions playing across his face. From anger to happiness to sadness. “Your mom went through that on her own with you and Drew, and I swore you and Tatum wouldn’t have to. I’ve spent a good portion of my life making sure you two girls had it better than she did, and to know you couldn’t come to me with this kind of news—fucking guts me.”

Mandy loved Liam with everything she had, but he had a hard time realizing she was a grown woman and about to be a mother. He’d always had trouble letting her handle things on her own, and she could tell this was making him want to jump out of his skin.

“This was my situation, one I had to work through on my own. I love you, Dad, but you aren’t responsible for me.” She squeezed his hand, trying to deliver that news with at least a small degree of sympathy. He took responsibility seriously and held it over his shoulders like a trophy for the most part. Realizing he wasn’t responsible for her anymore would kill him.

“I’ve been responsible for you since you were thirteen years old, and I’ll be damned if I change that now. No matter how fuckin’ old you are. Age doesn’t cut off my caring about you and wanting to do what’s right for you.”

Dalton watched this scene, struggling to keep his emotions in check. The words Liam spoke were perfect, and the type of words he’d wanted as a child. He couldn’t help but thank the stars above this man would be his child’s grandparent, because he knew all the right things to say, all the right things to do, and he loved fucking fiercely. No one would ever hurt someone he cared about and live to talk about it, and he’d sure as hell never make his kids feel like they came second to anything in his life. Dalton realized with great clarity if he could be half the man Liam Walker was, he’d somehow succeed at this whole adulting thing.

She couldn’t help the half giggle, half sob that escaped her throat. “I love you.”

He came around the table and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly to him. When she was younger it had been a hug of protection. Now it was a hug of compassion, letting her know she wasn’t alone. They hugged for what felt like years, but the strength he gave her couldn’t be matched. When he let go and she had a seat again, she wore a look of contentment he hadn’t seen in months. “I love you too, and it kills me to give you over to somebody else. Even if it is Dalton.”

“We still have a lot to work out,” she hedged, glancing at the man who sat beside her. Things wouldn’t be perfect—in all honesty they never had been—but they would make it work together.

“Understandable, and I’m glad you’re not just accepting what he’s told you.” Liam threw Dalton a glare. The guy was lucky Mandy had such a forgiving heart, he didn’t know many other people who would look past the wall he put up and try to see what was underneath the way she did.

She gave him a look of her own, but tightened her grip on his fingers when she spoke. “He definitely has some time to make up for.”