Read A Thousand Lies for Free Online

on the bed, and plopped her down beside him.
    Chance was still trying to process what Brendan just said. “She can’t walk? Why the hell not?”
    “First-degree burns on the bottoms of her feet. Second-degree burns on the tops and between her toes.”
    “Bren carried Mama to the bathroom,” Linny said softly.
    Sam frowned. “This didn’t need to happen.”
    “But it did, and we all know why,” Brendan said.
    Another set of footsteps was coming up the stairs. Anson was on the way.
    “He’s not gonna like this,” Sam said as Linny positioned herself behind him.
    “As if I give a fuck,” Brendan said and then he pointed at Linny. “Mama wants her pink nightgown. Can you find that?”
    Linny ducked into the closet just as Anson walked into the room.
    Like the boys, he’d expected to see Delle laid out on the bed, not a half-packed duffle bag. He eyed his sons’ expressions, and he knew they were pissed at him, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t the first time, and it most likely wouldn’t be the last. At six feet two inches, he was an imposing sight, especially when he was mad, and right now, he was furious.
    “Where’s Delle? Where’s my wife?”
    “She’s staying with me,” Brendan said. “And so’s Linny.”
    Anson eyed Sam and Chance’s expressions. Brendan had just usurped his power, not only by defying him, but taking his wife and daughter away. It was time to remind them all he was still boss.
    “Like hell,” Anson said softly and started toward Brendan with his fists doubled.
    “Oh, we’ve already been down that route,” Brendan said and pulled a handgun from the back of his belt and aimed it straight at Anson’s face. “The urge to pull this trigger is so strong I can taste it,” he said softly. “You burned her bad, you son of  a bitch! It’ll be weeks before she will be able to wear a shoe, and several days before she can walk. For a human being, you are a worthless piece of shit.”
    Anson grunted. “You boys gonna stand there and let him point that gun at me?”
    Sam looked at Brendan but didn’t speak.
    Chance glared. “You shouldn’t have done that, Daddy. Mama is a good woman and didn’t deserve that.”
    Anson’s eyes narrowed as a cold smile spread across his face. “I’ll remember this.”
    Sam looked up. “So will we.”
    Anson caught movement from the corner of his eye and saw Linny standing in the shadows of the closet like a mouse, watching to see what the tomcat did next. Still convinced he could handle this situation, he pointed.
    “Fine, but she stays with me.”
    With the gun still aimed, Brendan moved between them. “No. She’s a little girl who needs her mama. And right now, Mama needs her, too. She’s gonna have to be Mama’s feet until she heals. If you don’t like it, suck it up. You brought this down on yourself, Anson.”
    Anson doubled up his fists. “I am your father, goddamnit! You do not call me Anson.”
    “I have no father,” Brendan snapped.
    Enraged, Anson started to lunge.
    Brendan pulled the trigger. The hat on Anson’s head went flying as Anson froze mid-step.
    “You tried to kill me,” he whispered.
    “If I wanted you dead, we wouldn’t be talking. Now stand back.”
    Anson was in shock. Brendan has just as good as castrated him in front of his children. He thought about going for a gun, but from the temperature in the room, he knew he’d have to kill them all to walk away, and he wasn’t ready for that. He lifted his chin, staring Brendan straight in the face.
    “You’ll pay for this,” he said softly.
    Brendan didn’t flinch. “Linny, what’s next on the list?”
    “Mama’s nightgown.”
    “Right. Maybe you better get a couple, and her robe, too.”
    Linny stepped out of the closet, slipping past Brendan with her head down, she began gathering up the rest of her mother’s clothes.
    Anson turned and walked out.
    “We’ll keep an eye on him,” Chance said, as he and Sam followed. “Just hurry.”
    Brendan went