Don't Give Me Tainted Love novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: The Yard

"Go sit with him," I told Melanie.

She took Eric's crutch from his hand and turned him gently toward the den.

"It's just a man out in the yard, baby. Daddy will talk to him."

She looked at me over his head, and her eyes said please.

I did not know what for.

I went out the front door.

The night was cold, and the streetlight made a yellow circle on the grass.

Bradley stood in the middle of it with his hands in his pockets, rocking on his heels.

"You two looked cozy at the window."

"Get off my property."

"Is it yours?" He smiled with his split lip. "Melanie's name is on the deed. Did you know? Her company bought it. You're a guest here, brother."

"She's been paying you."

"I'd call it support."

"For eight years."

"For my son." He said the word lightly. "I want to see him, Dal. That's all. Is that so terrible? I waved at him from a fence, and you all lost your minds."

"You terrified him."

"Because she taught him to be terrified. What kind of mother does that to a boy?"

I felt my hands close.

"What did you do to her?"

"I loved her."

"Liar."

"I love her still." He said it in a hurt voice, loud enough for the street. "She's the only woman I ever wanted, and you got her because you were first. You always got there first. The firm, the house, the good name. Even Dad."

"Dad took you in."

"Dad chose you as a baby. He took me at nine, from a shelter, when I was already damaged. It isn't the same thing."

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