AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Of course, the soldier would catch the badge pinned to Nash’s belt. It didn’t seem that Adam’s brother was going to miss much or be intimidated.
“You have to understand that we’re a little protective over Adam,” Lucas said. “He’s been through a lot since we’ve known him and that doesn’t count before he came here.” Lucas alluded to Adam and Maverick’s childhood.
“I think it’s great.” Maverick held up his hands. “I’m glad that Adam is happy. He deserved it after what we’d been through.”
“Even if it’s two men that make him happy?” Nash asked.
“Yes.” Maverick shrugged. “Even then. You won’t get shit from me, Detective because my brother is in a poly relationship.”
Nash finally relaxed. That seemed to be what Nash had needed to hear.
Adam elbowed Nash’s side. “Better now? Can you stop interrogating my brother?”
“Sorry, baby.” Nash kissed the side of Adam’s head. He glanced at Maverick. “So you got a man? Woman? Non-binary partner?”
“Single,” Maverick said. “No partners, children—hell, I don’t even have a pet.”
“How long are you here for?” Lucas asked. “Need a place to stay?”
“I was just getting to that.” Maverick glanced at Adam. “I hoped to be here longer, but I received a call to head back to base. I need to leave in the morning.”
“We have a guest room,” Lucas offered. “You can spend time with your brother and leave in the morning.”
“I’d really appreciate that man. I do need to talk to you about something important, Adam.”
“Uh, what’s that?” Adam asked.
“You want them here for this?”
There was no hesitation when Adam nodded.
“Remember I said I did go back. To check on you. I’d just received my first post here in the states. I wanted to bring you with me.”
“I’d already left.”
“Yes. I went by the old house, but it had been sold and was empty. I tracked our stepfather to his church. He had to be persuaded to talk to me,” Maverick said. “He finally told me that he’d had enough of our mother and had replaced her. He had a new wife that was taking care of our siblings.”
“Siblings?” Nash said. “How many siblings are there?”
“I’m the oldest of six. Adam is the second oldest. Our father took off when Adam was three months old. Our mother remarried a pastor from the local church and had four more children. Have you not told them any of this?”
Adam shook his head. “I don’t like to talk about it.”
“I hate to say that you’re probably going to have to.”
“Why?” Lucas demanded.
“Because now that our mother knows where he is, she’ll could come after him. Anything to make him miserable. Bleed him dry of money, or emotionally, anyway that she can hurt him. She blames him for our stepfather kicking her out. The only reason I can think of why she hasn’t yet is because she wasn’t quite in the right frame of mind. I worry about what she’ll do if and when she sobers up.”
“Why would he even care? I spent more time at the farm those last couple years you were gone than in that house,” Adam spat.
“I don’t know. All I do know is when I finally tracked her to some run-down motel, she was drunk and high. She called both of us every name in the book and threatened to get even. I’ve kept an eye on her, but she’s losing her mind.” Maverick sighed. “I came to warn you.”
“Warn me?” Adam shook and Lucas threw his arm around Adam’s shoulder as Nash grabbed his hand.
“She’s unhinged, Adam,” Maverick said.
“But…but she wouldn’t come here, would she?”
