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“It’s why I moved heaven and earth to track down your number, Prince Charming. His dad and his brother showed up here, raising hell, calling him a sinner and an embarrassment.”
Her words dragged him back into the moment. “Where are they now?”
She shrugged. “I hoped you’d be able to track him down. Make sure he’s okay. Of course, I didn’t know then you were capable of throwing him away just like everyone else ever has.”
Sara squeezed her eyes closed and drew a deep breath before opening them again. “I’m not saying your boy shouldn’t be your first priority. I think a lot of us would be better off if our parents cared so much. But you can’t just throw up your hands and let Robby go without a fight.Didyou fight for him? At all?”
“No,” he breathed. Had anyone ever fought for him?
The answer dropped like a lead balloon.
Not until now. Not before Brick and Kane and…him. Hewouldfight for Robby. He would meet Patty’s challenge head-on. Make her understand. For once in his life, he would stand up and fight.
If Robby killed a man, he did it to survive. He’d never hurt someone for pleasure or for personal gain. Matt knew it as sure as the sun, and he’d make sure Robby knew it too.
Heat crept up his neck. It wasn’t too late, though. Was it?
“You did the right thing, calling me. No matter how much of a fool I’ve been, I won’t make you regret it.” Though Robby probably regretted ever laying eyes on him after he walked away with the man’s heart still on the floor. “I should’ve trusted we could find a way to make things work. I want to help him now, though. See if there’s anything left to salvage.”
And see if there was any chance Robby might trust him enough to finally tell him the whole story.
Chapter
TWENTY-EIGHT
Robby
The splash of cold water on his face helped ground Robby amid the rioting emotions sparked by his family’s surprise visit. Leaning against the bathroom, he closed his eyes and focused on the sound of the running faucet.
His father didn’t deserve to occupy his thoughts. He’d written the entire lot of them off a long time ago. But the derision in his father’s voice brought him back to the night his entire world fell apart. He needed to stuff it all back inside the little box in his head.
The doorbell rang and his breath caught. Surely, they hadn’t followed him home, not after he’d sent them packing so spectacularly. His father did what he wanted, though. Always had.
Fine, then. He’d just tell him to go to hell all over again.
The bell sounded a second time before he could get his hand on the knob. “Wasn’t I clear enough—” The words died on his lips at the sight of Matt on his doorstep. He’d honestly never expected to see the man again.
He hardened his expression when he realized his jaw had gone slack. “I think we’ve said all we needed to say, don’t you?”
“Sara called me.” Matt bit his bottom lip. “She said your dad showed up. Are you okay?”
“Okay?” He scowled. “Yeah, Matt, I’mokay. I’ve learned how to live with disappointment.”
“I’m sorry,” Matt murmured. “Can I—Can…I please come in?”
Robby turned his back, but he left the door open as he walked into the living room. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the wall.
Matt shuffled in behind him. “I handled everything wrong the other night.”
Robby cocked his head. Waiting.
“Steve’s boyfriend overheard us talking to Patty at the tattoo place. He said he knew you. Told us all kinds of horrible stories about your past.”
Sinking onto the sofa, Matt dropped his head into his hands. “I didn’t believe him. I called him a liar and told him to go to hell. So, he offered to take me there—to the club—and I saw you.”
“I wasn’t there for kicks,” Robby growled. The very idea made him want to be sick.
“I know. I didn’t go there to catch you doing wrong. I was trying to prove to Patty it was all a lie.” Matt lifted his head, his gaze searching. “I met Brady today. He and Sara set me straight on a lot of things. I was a fool not to fight for us. There’s so much about you I didn’t know. Why didn’t you just tell me before?”
