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Life’s giving me a second chance. There’s no way I’m going to fuck it up by thinking of the man who did everything to destroy me.
We soon come to a separate part of the military estate. Several two-storied cottages line the area. Tall, bare trees fence the wide street, giving it a suburban look.
A group of children hurry past us on bikes, shouting and cheering loudly.
“This is where resident officers live,” Seth explains as he glances toward the kids. “Some of them stay with their families.”
“Do you guys have a school here too?” I ask, walking down the street and looking around at the cute white-washed cottages.
“Nah,” says Simon. “There are no schools or churches here.” He gives me a side glance. “Are you religious, Rory?”
“Not really.”
“Not a believer?” Oliver asks, nudging my arm playfully.
“I do believe in God but I don’t believe in showing off my beliefs,” I say slowly. “Isn’t it better to be kind to those in need rather than blab how religious you are? Shouldn’t our actions be louder than our words and ego?”
He suddenly lays a kiss on my cheek, taking me by surprise. “We’re all about the action here, Princess,” he says, winking at me.
Oliver has no idea what his naughty grin does to me. I pretend to cough behind my hand, desperate to hide the blush spreading on my cheeks.
“This is going to be our place,” Seth announces, coming to a stop before a cottage at the end of the street. Set on a wider plot, it boasts a tall apricot tree in the corner of the front yard.
I look up at the bare tree branches creeping over our heads. The darkening sky is visible through the gaps, reminding me of my home.
“This tree would look gorgeous in spring,” I say.
“Can you tell what kind of tree this is?” Oliver asks, looking surprised.
I nod. “This is an apricot tree. We have one in our backyard. They’re gorgeous to look at when they’re in full bloom in springtime.”
“Come on. Let’s check out the house now,” says Simon, leading the way through the wooden gate that forms part of a fence that surrounds the house and front lawn.
“Go take a look,” says Seth, unlocking the front door.
The three brothers step back, allowing me to be the first person to enter the house.
Lights flicker on the moment I walk inside the hallway. Following it, I come across the living room. It’s a cozy little space that is filled with comfortable old-fashioned furniture.
A combination of subtle scents hit me. Combined with the smell of whiskey, coffee, and tobacco, I sense hints of rosemary, lemon, and ginger.
Breathing in deeply, I look toward Seth, Oliver, and Simon. “You guys have lived here before,” I say.
Surprise flickers in their eyes.
“We come in here to chill sometimes,” says Simon.
“Mom doesn’t like us smoking, but we like celebrating our wins with cigars and whiskey,” Oliver adds. “It’s almost a tradition that our dads taught us. Mom nags about the dangers of smoking, but it’s not like we’re addicted and do it all the time. We just do it on certain occasions.”
Seth rolls his eyes. “Mom already knows that you come in here to smoke. She simply chooses not to repeat the same things over and over again.”
“Seth-bear disapproves too,” says Oliver, cracking a grin. “But, we make him smoke too.”
A chuckle escapes me at the annoyed look on Seth’s face.
“You don’t mind, do you?” Oliver asks, suddenly looking desperately curious.
I shake my head. “You guys fight battles with terrorists like the Black Widow. I’m more worried about the guns and bombs you face rather than an occasional cigar.” A whisper of cold spreads through me at the very thought of something happening to Seth or his brothers.
