“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Cut it out,” Cal interrupted. “Do you really think I’ll just step back and let you take over what I built, T? You have great ideas. I want to hear them and implement them, but we have to get through this project and the next few months before we can start experimenting.”
Tristan made a rude noise. “Right. You’ll never give me validation, Cal. You and Dad were alike and never enjoyed having anyone question your decisions. You don’t want input—never did. It’s happening all over again, but this time I’m not going to run away. This time I’m fighting for what I want.”
“You want me out?” he asked calmly. He tamped down on the slight panic. His own brother seemed like a stranger. There was no trace of the boy he’d grown up with. Going on adventures in the woods, and sharing details of their first kisses, and facing down Dad as a team, always a team. All of the memories drifted in front of him, but Tristan saw nothing. Just what he thought he wanted.
“Of course not,” Tristan said politely. “I want to work with you. But the dynamics need to change. I want you to take a step back and let me spearhead Pierce Brothers. I do have some ideas I’d like to implement, and of course you’d continue as the main builder, but this company needs more than you can give. It needs a new direction you’re not able to take it in. I can.”
A humorless laugh escaped Cal’s lips. “Oh, boy, this is good. You run off and leave me with Dad and the mess left behind, refusing to come home for five years. Now you want to ride in on your perfect white horse and make it yours? Life doesn’t work like that, bro. I’m the one who’s stuck around, taking the daily crap. The problem you’ve always had was tunnel vision. I’m fine if you want to incorporate real estate and redesign. Hell, I think it’s great. But we’re builders first. Pierce Brothers Construction. If we lose sight of our main goal, we’re going to forget who we are.”
Tristan shook his head. “You’re wrong. My tunnel vision is being able to see the future. I just bought two properties and plan to flip them for a huge profit. If we keep being afraid to branch out, Pierce Brothers will wither and die. You’re afraid to grow. You think like Dad. Hell, you’re still taking his orders from the grave, just like a damn lackey.”
Rage shot through Cal. His fingers curled into fists. “And you’re a damn coward. Instead of fighting for what you wanted, you slunk away. Now you want to come back here and take the company because you think it’s easy. You know nothing about this company.”
Tristan raised his voice. “I know when I asked for your backup, you screwed me. You watched me walk without a glance back. I’ll never forgive you for that.”
“It wasn’t the right time!” Cal yelled. “I begged you to wait. Instead, you got bullheaded and pushed too hard, too fast. I had no choice, especially once Dalton followed you. One of us had to stay.”
Dalton threw up his hands. “I’m tired of both of you. Whine and bitch when you always had more than me. Dad treated me like crap.”
“He recognized you had a gift,” Cal said. “He treated all of us like crap. I just took it instead of heading out.”
Tristan glared. “Don’t get all high and mighty, Cal. You probably planned it that way. You always wanted what was mine.”
“It was all of ours to take or leave,” Cal said. “You made your choice.”
“Well, I’m making another one. This time I’m fighting for Pierce Brothers. Whether you like it or not.”
They stared at each other. The tension crackled like a live wire between them, ready for a drop of water to fully explode.
“There will be nothing to fight for if we don’t deliver this house,” Cal finally said. “We have three months left.”
Tristan’s face reflected cold civility. “I’ll do what needs to be done. But once the terms are met, things are going to change. Whether you like it or not.”
Tristan left.
Dalton cursed and gave the worktable a vicious kick. “His ego is out of control. He needs to get laid.”
Cal groaned and rubbed his temples. “I don’t know who he is anymore.”
Dalton cocked his head and studied him. “Maybe you never knew either of us,” he said softly. “Maybe you saw exactly what you wanted to.”
Cal jerked back. “What the hell does that mean?”
Dalton picked up his tool case. “Nothing. Never mind. I’m outta here.”
Cal watched his brother walk away. The house fell quiet except for the soft creak of wood settling and the hum of crickets. Each time he hoped they were growing a tad closer, they had a blowout. Now Tristan wanted to yank away control of Pierce Brothers, and Dalton spouted confusing philosophical statements he probably didn’t even understand himself. All Cal wanted to do was finish the house and present the lawyer with the profit margin. The rest he’d deal with later. If he thought about trying to build a relationship with his brothers and finishing the house and trying to figure out his relationship with Morgan all at the same time, his head would frickin’ explode.
Cal left the house, thoughts of his brothers and broken family following him home.
chapter seventeen
Morgan poked her head into Sydney’s office and waved. The redhead was chatting on the phone while typing furiously on the computer, several files open in front of her. Sydney smiled back, motioning with her head to wait.
Since that fateful night of Morgan’s arrest, Sydney had become a close friend. The woman had a wonderful sense of humor, as well as a sharp directness Morgan appreciated, and made sure a fun female event was scheduled once a week. For the first time, she’d discovered the value of hanging with another strong woman who had her own challenges, yet faced them with her chin up and a positive attitude. She’d finally met Becca and enjoyed a Disneyfest of princess movies and popcorn. The little girl looked exactly like Sydney and had a wicked sense of mischief that charmed her immediately. Morgan was already half in love with her and was looking forward to spending more time with the dynamic female duo.