Then Came Indecision (Southern Love #2) (17 page)

“I’ll call your bluff,” she said simply.

He shook his head. “I can’t believe you won’t help me after everything I’ve done for you.”

Danielle said nothing.

“I’m done with you,” he said simply. “Don’t call me for anything. I won’t answer. Even if Evan is beating you to death, I won’t come to you. You’re on your own.”

“You wouldn’t do that…”

“I just did.” He rose from the table.

“Wait!”

He looked at her.

“Blaise, please don’t do this.”

“I’ll protect you if you tell her the truth. That’s my bargain.”

“What?”

“If you want my services, they aren’t free. Tell Alexandra everything and I’ll be there night and day.”

Danielle closed her mouth.

“Seriously? You would rather risk your life than see me with someone else?”

Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Love does crazy things to people.”

“Love? Fuck you, Danielle. I’ll see you at your funeral.”

She gasped at the comment.

He left the restaurant then walked to his truck. The man inside him felt guilty for abandoning a helpless woman, but her refusal to help him crossed a line. If she wouldn’t help him, why should he help her? Alexandra was the one thing he wanted. He’d give up his company, his house, everything just to sleep with her every night. But that was becoming less possible by the minute.

He drove to his uncle’s house then marched to the front door. He rang the bell many times, impatient to get this conversation over with. His aunt answered the door.

“Blaise?” Her eyes were wide with surprise. “It’s late.”

“Where’s John?”

“Oh. He’s watching TV.”

Blaise walked inside without being invited. He moved into the living room and stood in front of the TV, staring his uncle down.

“What a nice surprise,” he said sarcastically.

“I s
hould kill you for what you did.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He looked down at his shoes then back up.

Blaise knew he was lying, but he didn’t need that terrible performance to confirm it. “Save me the bullshit. What the fuck is wrong with you? I’m your damn nephew!”

“I beg your pardon?”

Blaise wanted to scream. “I know you poisoned my fields. You really thought I wouldn’t figure it out?”

Theresa stood i
n the doorway, looking nervous.

“You keep talking but I have no idea what you’re saying.”

Blaise grabbed him by the collar then yanked him harshly.

John’s eyes widened. “Don’t touch your uncle like that, you piece of shit.”

Blaise punched him in the nose.

Theresa covered her mouth and gasped.

“If you step on my property ever again, I’ll fucking shoot your brains out. You understand me?”

“I’ll call the cops,” Theresa said.

Blaise ignored her. “Do you understand me?”

His uncle spat in his face. “Get out of my house.”

“Gladly.” He punched him again until he fell back onto the couch. “Have a good night.” He marched back to the door then slammed it closed. He heard his aunt crying on the other side as he walked back to his truck. He had another stop before he went home.

Cole had a small house in the country. It was hidden
from the road so it was hard to find unless you knew where to look. Blaise pulled into the dirt driveway then reached his door. When he tried the handle it was unlocked. He stepped inside.

“Cole!”

He came down the hallway. “Don’t you knock?”

Blaise shoved him against the wall. “You helped Uncle John poison my crops.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Yes you did, asshole.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Cole tried to push him off but Blaise held him in place.

“I’m your fucking brother!”

Cole’s eyes widened. “I didn’t do it.”

“I’m officially done with you. You’re out.”

“What?”

“You’re out of the business.”

Cole shoved him. “What? You can’t do that.”

“My name is the only one on the business license. I can do whatever the hell I want. I only l
et you stay on because of Mom and Dad, but after you tried to completely ruin the company, I don’t feel obligated to help you.”

“Wait,” he said quickly. “Let me explain.”

“So you did lie?” Blaise hated liars. Nothing got further under his skin.

“Hear me out,” Cole said. “Uncle Joh
n said we needed to manipulate you into taking that deal. So he and I changed the pesticide amount. But he told me it would only damage some of your crops, not all of them. Since you’d have less cotton, we thought you would sell to South Korea and get locked into a contract, which would provide plentiful business. I swear I had no idea it would be so damaging.”

Blaise glared at him. “I can’t believe you would backstab me like that.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I really am.”

“Fuck you.”

He sighed. “I would never ruin the company on purpose. Why would I? It’s my income and it belonged to Mom and Dad.”

“You still conspired against me with Uncle John. What kind of brother does that?”

Cole ran his fingers through his hair. “Like I said, I didn’t know this would happen.”

“You’re dead to me,” he said simply. “Family fights, family argues, but family never betrays each other, not like this. You may be my blood, but you aren’t my brother. Don’t come near me again.”

Cole looked like he’d been shot. “Blaise, I’m sorry. Keep the money. I don’t care. But please don’t cut me out of your life. I’m your brother.”

“I’m done with you.” He turned back to the door.

“Blaise! I said I was sorry.”

“Fuck you, asshole!

“Give me another chance.”

Blaise walked outside and headed to this truck.

Cole came after him. “Blaise—”

He turned around and punched him in the face as hard as he could. Cole fell to the ground, clutching his nose. “Don’t come near me again.” He got into his truck then pulled out of the driveway, his brother still lying on the grou
nd.

Chapter Twenty

Alexandra was asleep when her phone rang on the nightstand. She fumbled for it then opened her eyes, seeing Blaise’s name on the screen. She had no idea what he wanted at this hour. She glanced at Paul and saw he was still asleep.

“Hello?” she whispered.

He was quiet for a long time. “I need to see you.”

The despair in his voice was paramount. “What’s wrong?”

“I just need to talk. Can I come to you?”

“Uh…” She glanced at Paul. “I’ll come to your place.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you driving around in the middle of the night.”

“There’s no one on the road. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

Alexandra hung up then
slipped out of bed. She was careful not to wake Paul. He turned on his side but didn’t open his eyes. After she changed and left the house, she drove down the deserted streets to his property. The stars were bright in the sky. The only other light was from the dashboard.

When she pulled into the driveway, he was standing on his porch.
Kane was sitting beside him, his tongue hanging out.

She approached him and saw the sadness on his face. “What is it?”

He sighed then sat on the step. “Cole.”

Alexandra sat beside him. “What happened?”

“I confronted him about the poisoning. He lied and said he had nothing to do with it. But when I threatened to take his income away, he fessed up. Cole said he didn’t mean to destroy all the crops. He was just trying to hurt some of them so I’d take that deal in South Korea.” He shook his head. “He fucking betrayed me.”

She rested her hands in her lap. The pain in his voice and the despair on his face broke her heart. “I’m so sorry.”

“I told him I never wanted to see him again.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Did you not hear what I said?” he snapped. “He went behind my back and tried to purposely poison my crops. How can I ever trust him again? What kind of brother does that? He cares more about money than my trust.”

“Well, maybe Uncle John talked him into it.”

“Don’t take his side,” he snapped.

She looked at him. “Blaise, why did you call me?”

He stared at his hands. “I needed to talk to you.”

“And I’m the voice of reason when yours is lost. This is your brother we are talking about. And you only have one.”

“What would you do?”

Alexandra played with her hands. “Abby would never do that.”

“Abby?”

“She’s my sister.”

“And what if she did?”

She shrugged. “I would know it wasn’t intentional. She would have good reason.”

“Well, Cole doesn’t.”

She grabbed his hand. “Did he seem sincere?”

“He said I didn’t have to pay him anymore, but he doesn’t want to lose me.”

“That sounds pretty contrite.”

“Or just one final attempt,” he said bitterly.

“Did you talk to your uncle?”

“I gave him a nice beating. If he comes on my property, I’ll shoot him.”

She ran her fingers down his palm, feeling the grooves and lines of his skin. “You don’t deserve this, Blaise.”

“I know…” He sighed. “I wish my dad was here.”

“You’re doing a great job without him.”

He shook his head. “I let this happen. I should have taken better caution.”

“No one should ever have to be suspicious of their own family.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said quietly.

“Please stop blaming yourself, Blaise.”

“I will if you will.”

She squeezed his hand but closed her mouth.

“I’m sorry I woke you.”

“You know I’m always here for you.”

He nodded. “You’re my best friend. I don’t have anyone else.”

Alexandra couldn’t reciprocate the statement. Now she had Paul in her life again. And for the past month, they had become much closer, closer than they were when they were initially together. When she thought about him, she felt confused. But she felt even more confused about Blaise.

“I should ask Martha to shoot both of them,” Alexandra said.

Blaise chuckled, the frown finally disappearing. “I would appreciate it.”

She smiled.

“Thank you for coming.”

“I’ll always come.”

Blaise rubbed his fi
ngers across her hand. They sat in companionable silence, looking at the stars in the sky. “I talked to Danielle today.”

“Oh.”

“She said she wouldn’t tell you the truth.”

Alexandra felt her heart race. “Isn’t that convenient.”

“Please don’t start,” he whispered.

She closed her lips.

“She said she wouldn’t help me because she wants to get back together. I tried to convince her otherwise but she wouldn’t buy it.”

Alexandra didn’t know what to say.

“In retaliation, I said I wouldn’t protect her anymore. If her crazy ex comes after her, I really don’t give a shit what happens to her.”

She took a deep breath and looked at their joined hands.

“The only thing I have left is my word, Alexandra. And I’m not a liar. I realize everything is working against me, but please put your faith in me. You’re the love of my life, the only woman in my heart, and the only person in my bed. Please come back to me.”

She pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry…”

“Please,” he whispered.

“I can’t. I can’t stop picturing you with her…”

He sighed. “It meant nothing, Alexandra.”

She shook her head. “I won’t change my mind. I need something more than that.”

“Danielle told me she would confess everything if I slept with her again. But I said no because I would never do that to you. I could have just did it and never told you about it. Doesn’t that mean something to you?”

“Once again, there’s no proof that’s even true.”

He covered his face. “I can’t win with you…”

“Blaise, you should forget about us and move on.”

“I’ll never move on from you. I’ll be as patient as I have to be.”

“I’ve moved on…”

“Fuck no you haven’t. You never will.”

Alexandra thought about telling him about Paul but decided against it. Blaise was already having a horrific night. There was no reason she should make it worse. She stood up. “I should go.”

He didn’t move from his spot for a long moment. The silence stretched on. “Okay.”