His nostrils flared.

Good, now we’re equally pissed off.

“She didn’t fucking fall for you. She’s been in love with me since she was a kid.”

I forced a smile onto my face. “I hate to break it to you, asshole, but she’s not a kid anymore, and she’s too smart to ever give you another chance.”

A car pulled into the driveway behind me and the doors slammed. I whipped around to see Asa Gable. Fucking great.

“I told you to stay the fuck away from here.” Whitney’s brother came toward me, his face stamped with the urge to kill.

“Asa, don’t you dare touch him,” Jackie said as she walked toward us.

“Why? Because his family would make sure I’m shipped off somewhere and killed by friendly fire?”

I took a step down the driveway. “I don’t know who the fuck fed you all these lies about my family, but we don’t give two shits about you, Gable.”

“Both of you, stop.” Whitney’s aunt waved an arm between us, then looked at me. “You should go.”

“I need to see her. Please. Just let me talk to her for two fucking minutes.”

Something that looked a lot like sympathy flashed across Jackie’s face, but she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now. She’s . . . not coping well.”

The anguish leeching into Jackie’s expression and the rough edge of her voice sent a slash of pain through my insides with enough intensity to double me over. I stayed standing because there was no way I was going to take a hit to my pride in front of these people.

I met Jackie Gable’s gaze. “Can you at least tell her I’ve been here twice?”

Her expression softened, but Rango jumped back into the conversation.

“Twice? What the fuck?” He bolted toward me, his fists clenched.

I kept my attention on Jackie. She was my only potential ally here and knew how Whitney felt about me before. Hopefully still feels about me. And she was the only person here who would give me a single fucking chance to see Whitney.

“Please tell her I was here, and that I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Jackie squeezed her eyes shut, and she was a moment away from giving in. I could feel it. But Asa responded for her instead.

“My sister has a double funeral to worry about, Riscoff. She’s not gonna give a single shit what you have to say, now or ever.”

I spun toward him, anger filling my gut. They think they’re the only ones who’ve lost someone?

“I’ve got a fucking funeral to attend too, and I’d care if she came to my house and had a single word to say to me.”

“But she hasn’t come to your house, and she won’t.” Rango’s voice might as well have been gasoline tossed on the fire of my rage. “Because she doesn’t want a damn thing from you. She’s got her family and me, and she doesn’t need you.”