brother.
Praying for the ability to be objective and not rant or rave, Scott calmly
asked, “What about Marisol?”
Reeve allowed himself another furtive glance ensuring the pri-
vacy of their conversation. “She called me today, which was who I was
on the phone with when you stopped by the beach house. Anyway, she
said she’s pregnant.” He paused for a second before adding the words
that Scott didn’t want to hear. “It’s mine.”
Jesus. “Ahh, Reeve, what have you done?” Scott asked, setting
his large frame down on a stool.
Harrier's Healer
69
Anger flashed in those dark eyes. “She loves me, man. She told
me so. I was hoping you’d understand, but…” He shrugged.
“How do you know it’s yours and she’s not just playing you?”
Scott argued.
Reeve slammed his hand down on the counter. “I could ask you
the same thing, bringing her into the family.” His words were hissed.
“Be very careful with the next words out of your mouth, Reeve.”
Scott’s whole body had become tense and battle-ready.
“At least the woman I got pregnant is white and will be accepted
into the family fold.” Reeve hurled carelessly.
In less time than it took Reeve to blink, Scott had tossed him up
against the wall, momentarily stunning him. One large hand began to
close off the windpipe of the younger kinsman. “That woman who
claims you got her pregnant is a liar and a whore,” Scott ground out
between clenched teeth. “The only thing y’all probably shared is some
STD.” He lowered his face to his younger brother’s.
“Don’t you ever, ever , think about implying something racial like
this again. Especially not about Lex. She is more of a woman than
Marisol will ever be. She got her M.D. from Harvard and is the best
damn doctor I know.” The hand closed tighter. “If you feel the need to
keep those particular views on race, then do so without me in your life.”
Scott stepped away from his brother as if he no longer could stand to
touch him.
Gasping for air, Reeve rubbed his sore throat. Scott had never
done anything like that to him before, but he’d never been so angry,
either. He picked up the stool he’d knocked over and sat back down on
it.
Growing up, Scott would never let him or Godric, the youngest
brother, speak ill of another person because of the color of their skin.
But it seemed after he left for the Navy, Reeve had fallen into more of
the mindset of his family, which was an act that placed him in total
opposition to Scott’s beliefs.
Reeve held his hands out in silent plea. “I’m sorry, man. I al-
ways say things I don’t mean when I get defensive.” No expression
moved across Scott’s face. “I know she wanted you. Marisol, man…I’m
talking about Marisol.”
With a cautious step, Reeve approached the bar well aware Scott
regarded him with expressionless eyes. “She offered to leave if I paid
her. She said although she loves me, she didn’t want Mom and Dad to
disown me.”
70
Aliyah Burke
“Of course not,” Scott stated. “If you get cut off then there will
be no more money for her.”
“I really screwed up, didn’t I?” Reeve muttered.
“You’re not a baby anymore, Reeve. You need to grow up and
act like an adult. You’re thirty-four. You are more than capable of
making something of yourself instead of living off the allowance that
Mom and Dad give you.”
“I’ll never measure up to your expectations, will I, Scott?”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me. It’s your life, not
mine.” There was not a single thread of sympathy in Scott’s voice.
The SEAL’s entire being softened his blue eyes saw Alexis in the
doorway. “Done with your call?” Scott asked, as one arm reached out
and beckoned her over to him.
Alexis nodded as she flowed in her easy gait towards his mus-
cled body. “I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation, but the food
needs to be put away.” Her dark hand reached out
Praying for the ability to be objective and not rant or rave, Scott calmly
asked, “What about Marisol?”
Reeve allowed himself another furtive glance ensuring the pri-
vacy of their conversation. “She called me today, which was who I was
on the phone with when you stopped by the beach house. Anyway, she
said she’s pregnant.” He paused for a second before adding the words
that Scott didn’t want to hear. “It’s mine.”
Jesus. “Ahh, Reeve, what have you done?” Scott asked, setting
his large frame down on a stool.
Harrier's Healer
69
Anger flashed in those dark eyes. “She loves me, man. She told
me so. I was hoping you’d understand, but…” He shrugged.
“How do you know it’s yours and she’s not just playing you?”
Scott argued.
Reeve slammed his hand down on the counter. “I could ask you
the same thing, bringing her into the family.” His words were hissed.
“Be very careful with the next words out of your mouth, Reeve.”
Scott’s whole body had become tense and battle-ready.
“At least the woman I got pregnant is white and will be accepted
into the family fold.” Reeve hurled carelessly.
In less time than it took Reeve to blink, Scott had tossed him up
against the wall, momentarily stunning him. One large hand began to
close off the windpipe of the younger kinsman. “That woman who
claims you got her pregnant is a liar and a whore,” Scott ground out
between clenched teeth. “The only thing y’all probably shared is some
STD.” He lowered his face to his younger brother’s.
“Don’t you ever, ever , think about implying something racial like
this again. Especially not about Lex. She is more of a woman than
Marisol will ever be. She got her M.D. from Harvard and is the best
damn doctor I know.” The hand closed tighter. “If you feel the need to
keep those particular views on race, then do so without me in your life.”
Scott stepped away from his brother as if he no longer could stand to
touch him.
Gasping for air, Reeve rubbed his sore throat. Scott had never
done anything like that to him before, but he’d never been so angry,
either. He picked up the stool he’d knocked over and sat back down on
it.
Growing up, Scott would never let him or Godric, the youngest
brother, speak ill of another person because of the color of their skin.
But it seemed after he left for the Navy, Reeve had fallen into more of
the mindset of his family, which was an act that placed him in total
opposition to Scott’s beliefs.
Reeve held his hands out in silent plea. “I’m sorry, man. I al-
ways say things I don’t mean when I get defensive.” No expression
moved across Scott’s face. “I know she wanted you. Marisol, man…I’m
talking about Marisol.”
With a cautious step, Reeve approached the bar well aware Scott
regarded him with expressionless eyes. “She offered to leave if I paid
her. She said although she loves me, she didn’t want Mom and Dad to
disown me.”
70
Aliyah Burke
“Of course not,” Scott stated. “If you get cut off then there will
be no more money for her.”
“I really screwed up, didn’t I?” Reeve muttered.
“You’re not a baby anymore, Reeve. You need to grow up and
act like an adult. You’re thirty-four. You are more than capable of
making something of yourself instead of living off the allowance that
Mom and Dad give you.”
“I’ll never measure up to your expectations, will I, Scott?”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me. It’s your life, not
mine.” There was not a single thread of sympathy in Scott’s voice.
The SEAL’s entire being softened his blue eyes saw Alexis in the
doorway. “Done with your call?” Scott asked, as one arm reached out
and beckoned her over to him.
Alexis nodded as she flowed in her easy gait towards his mus-
cled body. “I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation, but the food
needs to be put away.” Her dark hand reached out
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