Winter's Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

That’s what O’Connell had told her on their wedding night. Catherine hadn’t known what he’d meant by it. But he had.
    For a time, he had been stupid enough to believe it. But second chances were for fools.
    And Catherine could never again be his.
    â€œI’ll come with you, Pete. Just put her down.”
    Pete nodded. “Good boy. I knew you’d see things my way once you saw them again.” Pete squeezed the girl’s cheeks and tilted her head up to where he could look into her face. “She is kind of cute, isn’t she?”
    Rage infused every cell of O’Connell’s body. “Take your hands off her, Pete, or I’ll kill you for it.”
    His brother met his gaze and for several seconds they stared at each other in mutual understanding. “You know. Kid, I believe you would.”
    â€œYou can count on it.”
    O’Connell didn’t breathe again until Pete set the girl on her feet, and she ran to Catherine’s outstretched arms.
    Pete glanced to Catherine and the little girl. “Since it’s Christmas and all, I’ll give you five minutes with them. I’ll be waiting outside by the horses.”
    O’Connell waited for him to leave before he turned to face Catherine, who cradled the little girl to her chest.
    His daughter.
    He felt so much pride and delight, he thought his heart might burst. But the joy died as he remembered his brother waiting for him outside.
    O’Connell reached a hand out to touch the dark brown curls. The softness of his daughter’s hair reached deep inside him, carving a place in his heart.
    â€œShe’s beautiful,” he breathed.
    Catherine saw the pain deep inside him and she noted the tenseness of his hand on Diana’s hair. “Her name is Diana.”
    He gave a bittersweet smile. “Named for your mother?”
    She nodded.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me about her in Nevada?” he asked, his eyes misting.
    â€œI didn’t know I was pregnant until after you left.” She narrowed her gaze on him as she finally understood everything that had happened. “You left because of him, didn’t you?”
    â€œHe’s my brother,” he said simply. “I had no choice.”
    â€œWe always have choices.”
    He shook his head. “No, we don’t. You don’t know what kind of man my brother is, but I do. I know he’s cruel, but I owe him. If not for Pete, I’d have never survived after the death of our parents. He’s harsh because that’s the way the world made him.”
    â€œHe’s harsh because he’s—”
    O’Connell stopped her words by placing his fingers on her lips. His heart tearing apart, he leaned over, kissed her gently on the mouth, and whispered, “Until the day I die, I’ll always remember you.”
    He touched Diana’s hair one last time, then he turned and walked away.
    *   *   *
    O’Connell met Pete by his pinto, which Pete must have saddled. His brother was as fair-haired and fair-skinned as O’Connell was dark. The two of them had always been opposites in most everything. Even Pete’s eyes were a brownish green.
    And never before had O’Connell felt so much resentment and hatred for the brother who had once protected him.
    â€œWhy can’t you just let me go?” he asked Pete. “I’ve paid my debt to you a thousand times over.”
    Pete gave him a hard glare. “You’re my family, Kid. Like it or hate it, it’s just you and me.” Pete smiled wickedly. “Besides, you’re the only man I know who can blow a safe and not destroy half the money with it.”
    â€œYou’re not funny.”
    Pete shucked him on the shoulder. “Now, don’t get sore on me, Kid. You can do better than her. I told you that years ago. She ain’t nearly pretty enough for you.”
    He grabbed Pete by his shirtfront. “I’m