She Loves Me (Harmony Pointe #3) - Melissa Foster Page 0,127

up and sat down, wondering what his father would have done the other night when Marshall had shown up.

A few months after Marshall had quit college and lost touch, Harley had asked his father if he should go after him. His father had said, Marshall doesn’t need us to find him. He’s on a solo journey to find himself. At the time, Harley had thought leaving them in the dark was the most selfish thing his brother could do. But he’d been wrong. The most selfish thing wasn’t his leaving. It was that he’d stayed away for so many years.

Harley ran his fingers over the glass covering the picture, remembering what his father had said the only other time Harley had brought up Marshall. It was when his father had gotten sick, and Harley had come home to take over Dutch’s. Harley had spent weeks trying to find Marshall, calling the last place he’d worked, tracking down people he’d worked with, following bread crumbs until he’d finally heard back from Marshall. He’d sounded drugged out, and it had disgusted Harley, but he’d told him that their father was on death’s door, and he should get his ass home. When their father’s health had taken a dismal turn, Harley had apologized to his father for not being able to bring Marshall back to say goodbye. He’d never forget the regret in his father’s eyes as he’d said, He’s too lost to be found.

Now anger flared inside Harley, burning in his chest. You’ve got to be a fucking mess for your own father to give up on you. “Fuck it.”

He put the frame on the desk and shut down his computer, in a worse mood than he’d been in all night. Fucking Marshall. He pulled out his keys on the way out of his office, nearly barreling into his brother.

“What the f—”

“We need to talk,” Marshall said, holding Harley’s stare.

He held a leather jacket over his right shoulder, and Harley had the odd thought that the damn thing had to be easier to carry than the chip he’d been lugging around forever because of his brother. That thought fueled his rage. “Like hell we do. Stay the fuck away from Piper.”

“Harley—”

Harley dropped his keys on a table as he closed the gap between them, getting angrier by the second at the thought of him with Piper. He shoved Marshall back with one hand to the chest, seething. “I don’t live life on your terms, little brother. I spent weeks trying to track you down to let you know our only sister had cancer. Do you have any idea how lucky you are that the surgery cleared her? That we didn’t lose her?” Harley was hollering, out of control. There was no stopping the rage exploding inside him. “She could have died without ever seeing you again. Do you know how hard that would have been for her? Do you have any concept of the pain you’ve caused everyone in this family?”

Marshall gritted his teeth and threw his jacket on the floor, locking a cold stare on Harley. Harley shoved him again. Marshall stumbled back, knocking over a chair. He found his footing and came at Harley swinging. Harley dodged a punch, catching Marshall in the jaw. Marshall flew back and Harley grabbed him by the shirt, hauling him upright.

“I don’t know why I ever expected anything from you.” Harley’s tone was venomous, his fight unyielding as he let another punch fly.

Marshall blocked his punch and threw one to Harley’s gut. Harley doubled over, and Marshall’s fist connected with his cheek, sending him stumbling sideways. Adrenaline surged inside him. He ran toward Marshall at full speed, taking them both down to the floor, sending chairs scattering as they competed for dominance. They wrestled, knocking into chairs and tables, fists flying, getting out years of anger.

Marshall wrenched out of Harley’s grip and punched him in the ribs. “Same old fucking holier-than-thou Harley!”

“You should’ve been there for Delaney,” Harley seethed.

They were both on their knees, breathing hard, their bodies swaying. Harley threw another punch, connecting with Marshall’s eye. Marshall keeled sideways, and Harley made his move, putting him in a headlock. Harley’s muscles strained against his brother’s efforts as he wrestled him down to the floor, Marshall’s back to his chest.

Harley tightened the headlock and growled, “You should’ve been there for Mom and Dad.”

“Fuck you.” Marshall clawed at Harley’s arms.

Harley wrapped one leg around Marshall’s from behind, trapping them as his brother fought futilely, trying