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Liam zipped a stare at Macen.
Hammer took the news in stony silence, but shock reverberated through his whole body. Still, somewhere in his head, he knew he couldn’t keep berating himself for what she’d chosen not to share. And he couldn’t be angry because she hadn’t comprehended what was real. And being furious with fate did no good. It just was.
For once, Macen did nothing but wish they all could have been happier.
“Macen, there was nothing you could have done to change Juliet’s choice,” Bryn promised. “She regrets it now and wants you to stop thinking about ending your life, whether figuratively or literally. She doesn’t regret a moment of the time you spent together or the way you two spent it. She loved you as best she could and wants you happy. That’s why she steered Raine to your alley all those years ago.”
“She…what?” Hammer blinked.
The wife he’d spent years believing he’d destroyed had given him the greatest gift of his life?
“Aye. Juliet knew you’d save Raine. And you did,” Bryn murmured. “She’s proud of you for protecting and encouraging your girl. Especially for falling in love with her. Though your wife has spent more than a year or two spitting mad at you because you were supposed to focus on Raine and stop blaming yourself for her death. She’s begging you to throw away that excess baggage now and be happy. Give Raine and Liam all the love in your heart and start accepting theirs in return.”
Tears stung his eyes. He blinked them back.
“She says she expects you to succeed because you’re too stubborn to fail.” Bryn looked up at Hammer, who couldn’t help but laugh. “She’s just kissed your cheek and whispered her thanks.”
Something shifted inside him. Understanding? Gratitude? He wasn’t sure, but the weight he’d felt strapped across his back for nearly a decade suddenly lifted. He felt…liberated.
Then both Liam and Bryn lifted their eyes toward the heavens and smiled.
“She’s leaving now,” Liam whispered.
Bryn nodded. “Honor her and do as she asked. She’s free. You need to be, as well.”
Hammer reached out and dragged both Bryn and Liam into his arms. With his head buried between their shoulders, Hammer inhaled a shaky breath. “Thank you both for saving my life.”
“That’s what friends are for.” Liam slapped Hammer on the back.
“Thank christ,” he murmured.
When they pulled away, Liam arched his brows as he took in the state of Hammer’s car. “I think you’ll need a bit more than wax to fix that, mate.”
Hammer turned and gaped at the mangled metal that had once been his Audi. “Fuck. Guess I need a new car.”
“I’d surely haul that one out of here before Raine gets a peek at it.”
Every muscle in his body tensed. “What the hell am I going to tell her?”
Liam’s expression turned serious. “I know we’ve sworn an oath of honesty with our girl, and I’d tell her most anything else, but…”
Hammer shook his head. “If she ever finds out what I nearly did tonight, it would do more than crush her. She would never understand.”
“Ever.”
“It would change everything between us.”
“You’re right. We should take this episode to our graves, brother. Mum?” Liam gave a sideways glance at his mother.
“I wasn’t even here when Hammer decided to take out his frustrations on his poor, helpless car.” Bryn smiled. “In fact, I’ve been in bed all this time. But I’m warning you both, no more antics till morning. I need my beauty sleep.”
Bryn kissed both their cheeks and left. As they watched her retreat into the house, Liam slung his arm around Hammer’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” Macen choked out. “I damn near fucked everything up again. Forever.”
“And you were sober, too,” he joked. “Come on, let’s head to the pool, tip back a few, and talk. I’ll fill your head with common sense—one more time—and I’ll use the bloody tire iron if I have to.”
“Fuck, I need a drink or two.”
“More like a bottle.” Liam glanced back over his shoulder. “And I think I’ll install a punching bag so we don’t have to keep buying new cars.”
Hammer sighed. “I lost my shit.”
“It’s okay. You’ve been wired too tight for years. I’m sure that did you a world of good.”
Macen rubbed his chin sheepishly. “I think it might have.”
“I’ll grab some bottles and meet you on the back patio. All right?”
“That sounds more than all right.”
Suddenly, Liam bent and started patting Hammer’s pockets.
He jumped back and scowled. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Making sure you’ve not got any bricks shoved in your pants, in case you were thinking about diving into the pool and settling on the bottom.”
“No, man. You and your mom already hauled me out of the deep end. I won’t ever go back there again.”
Wednesday, February 20
“All right. All right. Hold your water…”
Liam strode to the door and peeked through the hole to ensure a reporter hadn’t rung the bell. When he saw a somber Sterling Barnes on the porch, he felt his heart lurch.
