Their Reason Read Online Free PDF Page A

expected you to fix everything, and then lashed out at you for helping. I…the shit I said to Red…”
    “Is long in the past. All of it.” Bull grabbed Owen’s chin and forced him still. That frantic gaze met his and Bull could see all the turmoil his brother couldn’t seem to let go of. More and more he wondered what had caused these reactions in his brother. The crap he got into—running with the wrong crowd, dabbling in drugs—was petty shit. He wasn’t a bad man, just a misguided one who thought they were in competition. What—or worse who—had put those thoughts in Owen’s head? And what continued to haunt him? Bull no longer believed it had anything to do with his drug bust. “You’re not that man anymore, Owen. I don’t see you that way and I know Red doesn’t either. Why would I ask you? ’Cause you’re my brother and I know, no matter what, we’re there for each other. I love you, man.”
    “Shit. Just…shit.” Owen sniffled, coughed, and jerked his head back. “Shit, why’d you do that?”
    Bull could only watch in baffled amusement as his brother lost his shit right there. The sniffle turned into a sob, then the waterworks started, and Owen lurched forward. Strong arms grappled around him, hands grasping for purchase, as Owen sobbed against his chest. It was the ugliest cry Bull had ever heard. Even Red hadn’t sound this pained when he finally shared the truth about his life. How long had Owen been holding this in?
    Bull held him, rocked him and, shameful as it was, considered again whether he should get Chris. Owen never responded well to his attempts to help, never took comfort in their relationship, and he feared he wasn’t the right man to help him through whatever this was. But, damn it all, they were brothers.
    Owen jerked away and roughly wiped the tears from his face. “Sorry, I don’t know what the hell that was.”
    Bull didn’t know what the hell it was either. What he did know was that his brother needed help and he didn’t think he or Chris were going to be able to fix it. “Have you considered talking to someone?”
    “About what?” Owen looked at him warily. Yeah, this was more than petty crimes.
    “About whatever it is that you’re keeping inside.” Bull sighed and grabbed Owen up in another hug. “I’d say you can tell me, but I don’t think you will. I hope you’ll tell Chris, and yet that cry just now makes me think you need more than either of us can give you.”
    “Chris is—” Owen started and stopped, frowned and ran a hand through his hair. “He looks at me differently lately, like he’s waiting for something. What’s he waiting for?”
    Bull just shrugged. It wasn’t like Chris was confiding in him, or anyone for that matter. He’d seen the looks too, they all had, but whatever Chris was looking for he was keeping to himself. “I don’t know, maybe you should ask him.”
    Owen’s eyes widened comically and he sputtered, “What the hell are we talking about this shit for? You’re getting married in three weeks! Honestly, Bull, be selfish for once. Tell me to shove my issues already.”
    “All right.” Bull grinned. His brother had issues, but he damn sure had come a long way. A year ago he wouldn’t have noticed, much less cared, that his issues had taken over a conversation. It was the most encouraging act he’d seen from Owen in a long time. “What the hell, man? You gonna be my best man or what?”
    “Damn straight I am. We’re brothers, for fuck’s sake, of course I’m your best man.” Owen crossed his arms and grunted. “I’d have kicked your ass if you asked one of the others.”
    Probably not. Owen would have sulked and convinced himself that he was a failure, but the bravado was good. Maybe if he kept talking smack, he’d start believing it. Bull grabbed him in a headlock and started tickling him. “You think you can kick my ass, huh?”
    “It’s the wiry ones you gotta watch out for, bro, you know that.” Owen