Crystals by Theresa L. Henry

about him, it wouldn’t have taken much effort for her
to find his father and brother’s crime record.
    “I didn’t want to
lose you. You mean the world to me. I didn’t want to see this look in your
eyes.” Shane registered her expression of angry disbelief, yet most of all he
saw disappointment. “I’m not like them, Crys.” His words were simple, but they
carried a pleading he didn’t try to keep from his voice.
    The sounds of her
sobs were nearly his undoing, and sweat broke out all over his body. But he
wasn’t ready to give up on them.
    “Do you hate me,
love? I couldn’t stand it if you hated me.”
    “What’s going on
out here?”
    Shane didn’t need
to look in the direction of the person who broke into their tableau of
revelations. He somehow knew it belonged to the man that had been dancing with
Crystal. It didn’t matter to him if there was one more person who knew about
his background. All that mattered was what Crystal thought of him.
    “Owen, thank
goodness you’re here. Take Crystal inside!”
    “Go away, Owen.
This doesn’t concern you,” Crystal told the interloper as she brushed away her
tears.
    “What doesn’t
concern me?”
    “Didn’t ya hear
her, piss off before I make ya!” Shane warned taking his eyes off Crystal only
long enough to sneer at Owen.
    “See what I mean,
the only thing he knows is violence!” Gwendolyn exclaimed.
    Shane ignored her.
“Come with me, love. At least give me a chance to explain.”
    “I can’t. I have a
room full of guests; and honestly, I just need some time to think.”
    “When then,” Shane
insisted reluctant to push but unable to help himself.
    “I’ll call you.”
    “When?”
    “When I’m ready!”
    “What, don’t call
me, I’ll call you. Is that how it’s gonna be, Crys?”
    “Didn’t you hear
her? She’ll call you, if and when she’s ready. And if I have anything to do
with it that day will never come!”
    “Mother, stay out
of this. This is my life and you’re not going to dictate how I live it!”
    When Crystal
turned back to him, he knew what he wanted her to say—what he wanted her to do.
But his omission about his family meant he was on shaky ground.
    “Okay, Crys, I’ll
wait because I love ya. But I’m not responsible for what me father and brother did with their lives. I know you’re pissed off with me and I
deserve it—so I’ll wait until you’re ready to talk.” When he realized she
wasn’t going to respond, Shane looked at the people who stood around him.
    Owen had a blank
expression on his face. Gwendolyn looked smug and Crystal just looked dazed and
hurt.
    Shane wasn’t
finished. He had one more thing to say and he didn’t care who heard him. “Just
for the record, I love you Crystal Buchanan, but I’m no pussy, so don’t think
I’m gonna wait around to be treated like one.”

 
     
    Chapter 6
    Shane drove home with a reckless disregard for the
speed limit. How he managed to get to his destination without being pulled over, remained a mystery. All he could think
about was Crystal and the miscalculation he’d made in not being completely
honest with her.
    Pulling up in
front of his garage, he left the engine running as he hopped out of his car.
About to key in the code that would engage the mechanism to open the door to
his workshop, he sensed he wasn’t alone.
    Turning sharply,
he felt a punch connect with his jaw that momentarily stunned him. More than
able to defend himself, before another blow made contact, he was pummeling the
fool who’d thought to jump him. His assailant retreated under the force of the
blows he threw his way.
    In those first
moments of surprise Shane thought there was only one attacker. Being caught
around the neck and yanked backward, was his first inkling that there was at
least two of them. In the darkened shadows of the alleyway, he fought them.
    A glinting light
flashed before his eyes and he sprung back. Distracted by the sight of the
knife; one of the men