Everywhere and Every Way(67)

No way. His brother was wrong. “Bull. You like to pick and choose what parts of this company you want to be involved in. I’m sorry, some jobs just aren’t that glamorous.”

Dalton glared. “Tristan and I can also grow this company, but you refuse to listen. You don’t get it. Maybe you’ll never get it. Or maybe you’re just exactly like Dad.”

Cal stiffened. The hurt cut as nasty as a paper cut, except through his heart rather than flesh. Never. He’d die before he became another Christian Pierce. Coldness replaced the hurt until he was able to gaze back at his brother in complete control. “And maybe you’d just be a big disappointment to Mom.”

Dalton sucked in a breath. Guilt punched through Cal. Everyone knew Dalton had been Mom’s favorite. She’d doted on the baby of the family, especially since Christian treated Dalton like a screwup. It was as if they’d been a team against their father, protecting each other from his scorpion sting.

Learning that Mom had packed her bags to leave Christian on that fateful day she was killed haunted them all. Something died in his brother along with Mom, like his foundation cracked and could never be repaired. He’d stuck around for Cal’s engagement, but when Cal discovered his brother’s betrayal, Dalton had quickly left along with Tristan. In one swoop, Cal had lost his mother, fiancée, and two brothers.

Dammit, he hadn’t wanted this. He didn’t want to go another round with his brother. Why couldn’t he find that bond they’d had when they were young? When each of them could finish the other’s sentences and long nights were spent sharing dreams and secrets. His brothers had been his world, his safety net, the only thing that made sense to him. Now he looked upon strangers, and he hated every second of it.

“Dalton, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Dalton refused to meet his gaze. “Yeah, you did. Whatever. Mom’s gone, and she’s not coming back. You want me to be your trained seal for the next few months and build your house? Fine. Just tell me what you want and when you want it. I’ll show up and be a good boy. But don’t pretend we’re something we’re not. Don’t pretend we mean more to you than the company, or that you want us to stay. Because we both know the truth.”

Misery settled on his shoulders. How had this all gone so wrong? He’d been in the right, and now Dalton was twisting everything to get out of trouble. Cal tightened his lips and refused to back down. “What are you going to do about the mess you made?”

Dalton yanked the power cord from the saw, grabbed his baseball hat from the rung, and headed toward the door. “I’ll fix it.”

“How? More lies? Gonna promise to marry her until after the inspection comes through? That’ll really help us.”

His brother spun around. “I said I’d fix it. From now on, keep your damn nose out of my business and my sex life. Get your own.” He gave a snort. “Interesting, though, you lecturing me on combining work with pleasure while you’re hot for Morgan Raines. How about that as a potential disaster, dude?”

His ears buzzed with pure rage. “Did you touch her?” he asked softly. Deadly. His hands trembled with the urge to beat his brother senseless for taking another woman he was interested in. The image of that fateful night rose up before him in full, mocking imagery.

Excited about his upcoming wedding, he’d been tipsy as he stumbled into the house, making his way toward his bedroom. The room spun, but he was happy. He loved Felicia with the ardor of a man who had a future full of bright vision and endless fortune on the horizon. He had a plan, and finally all his hard work was paying off. He’d get out from under his father’s thumb, make his own way at Pierce Brothers, have a big family, and be happy. God knew, he craved a slice of happy after his mother’s death. Until the door swung open and he caught his brother with his future wife wrapped in his arms, her head tilted back, lips curved in a soft, intimate smile telling him they’d done this many times before. Dalton whispered something in her ear, and she gave the familiar giggle he associated with her happiness, but this time it wasn’t for him. He stood and watched his brother hold his fiancée, and a strange numbness overcame him. Was he enraged? Brokenhearted? Ripped to pieces? He should be. Cal remembered thinking in that moment that he should go apeshit crazy. Instead, he felt . . . disappointed. Such a lukewarm emotion for a man who watched the woman he thought he loved and adored in his brother’s arms.

The rest was a blur. The accusations. The tears. His brother’s defense. Cal walked away, and the strong bond between them was splintered into a thousand pieces. It was more hurtful than losing his future wife. Losing his brother had been far, far worse.