Shield My Heart (Heaven Hill Book 9) by Laramie Briscoe Read Free Book Online Page A

him first. “My man, what’s going on? Are you in some kind of trouble? We can help you.”
    Dalton wanted badly to ask for the help that the older man was trying to give, but at the same time, Dalton was reluctant to bring the club into this. Maybe if he couldn’t handle it on his own, he’d fess up, but it was too embarrassing—the fact that his uncle couldn’t stop the gambling, the fact that Dalton couldn’t fix the problem.
    Add onto the mix that Mandy was pregnant.
    What kind of a fuck up had he turned out to be?
    “This is something I have to do on my own. I appreciate the offer, but it’s family related.” He was careful not to go into specifics, because Liam could pick up on something quicker than anyone he knew except Tyler.
    “This doesn’t feel right to me,” Liam argued. “If you need help, you come to us. That’s what we’re here for. We’re a family so that you don’t have to handle shit on your own.”
    “This is my shit.” Dalton raised his voice, punctuating his point by slamming his hand down on the table. “I don’t want to bring anyone else into this. Samuel is my family, and I’ll take care of it.”
    Realization flashed on Liam’s face. He understood the situation much better now. “So it’s your uncle?”
    Dalton was losing his patience, and he was pissed at himself that he’d let the small tidbit slip. “I’ve said too much already. Do I have my leave of absence or not?”
    “I’m gonna cut you a break because I can tell you’re going through some shit right now, but you need to lose the motherfuckin’ attitude with me. You have two weeks. Figure your shit out, and whatever you do, don’t drag my daughter down with you. I find out you have, and you’ll deal with me. Got that?”
    Exactly what he’d been afraid of the entire time. “Loud and clear.”
    As he turned away from the table, Liam yelled after him, “Next time you talk to me like this, you’ll leave the cut at the door.”
    He didn’t even glance back as he walked out. A clean break was the best way to do it, and he didn’t want to think about what he could possibly be leaving behind.
    *
    Liam waited until Dalton had left, he’d made sure the bike was gone, before he invaded Travis Steele’s cave. Their intelligence guy was one of the best and could find out almost anything on anyone.
    “Whatever you’ve got goin’ on in here, I want you to put it on the back burner. I have something else I want you to do.”
    Travis gave Liam his full attention, popping a piece of candy in his mouth. “What do you have for me?”
    “Dalton’s uncle has gotten himself in some trouble. Dalton was just in here asking for a leave of absence, so you know it’s bad. I want to know what we’re facing and if this could blow back on the club. Not to mention, it’ll more than likely involve Mandy. Just do some poking around and see what you can find out.”
    “Got it, boss.” Travis was already letting his fingers fly across the keys of his computer, the clackity-clack a welcome sound.
    “Let me know when you have something you think I should know.” He pressed his hands against the door frame. “Might as well check on Deacon too.”
    Leaving Travis’ office, Liam did his best to tell himself Mandy was a grown woman and could take care of things on her own. If she needed him, she’d let him know.

‡
Chapter Eight

    T here were few times in her life when her dad had sent her a text that said…
    Dinner tonight. Don’t miss it.
    Usually it was when he or someone else had an announcement, or it was because he was missing his nuclear familial unit. As far as she knew, nobody had an announcement, so it had to be that he was missing everybody. The older he got, the more sentimental he got. Mandy had to admit, she was missing her family too.
    In order to keep her secret, she’d withdrawn herself from everyone, because she was so scared of someone finding out or slipping up and telling them. Doc Jones had told her