AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He scoffs. “Not hardly.”
“Army, then?”
He laughs, turning around and heading back to the front door.
“Air Force!” I try one last time before he slips inside, shaking his head and flipping me off as he closes the door.
Navy. He’s got to be Navy—or Coast Guard, but there’s no way he would waste that attitude not getting to shoot people. He’s definitely Navy.
And I’m definitely smiling.
It seems nice out here, with the sprawling acreage and hateful company. If this is Julia’s house, I bet she loves it. She’s always wanted farm animals and several kids. We were the opposite in that regard. I never desired children or wanted to get up early and feed a bunch of animals. I was just fine living a life of excitement.
I snort. Boy, did I fulfill that dream. Van is nothing but excitement, and while I don’t have to call him in an hour, I will because that man has had long enough to stew. I’ve never listened to him before, and I’m certainly not going to start now. Enoch may have betrayed him, but I didn’t.
We are not getting a divorce, and he is not running away from me again.
We have an agreement—twelve years of marriage and not a day less.
The front door bangs open, and I barely catch the streak of blonde hair that races down the porch and freaking sprints the remaining distance, right into my arms.
“Reese!” Her body hits me before her voice registers. “Reese. Reese. Reese.”
Tears fall down my cheeks as I bury my face in her soft hair. It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve felt a hug from my big sister. “Julia.” A snort escapes me as my legs quiver, struggling to hold me up. For so many years, I’ve prayed that she was safe and healthy, and here she is, solid and firm, wrapped around me in a bear hug.
“I can’t believe you’re here!”
Finally, Julia lets me pull away, brushing my tear-soaked hair off my face. “Look at you!” Her smile has changed. It’s brighter, much like our mother’s used to be before she was killed in a car accident. “You’re all grown up!”
I laugh. “I was always grown up.” Hell, I was eighteen when I found Van.
“No.” She shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. “Not like this. You look…” She brings my hands to her face, leaning in as if she’s going to kiss them, and stops. “You look married.”
Ah. “I am.” Holding the enormous garnet stone encased by diamonds in the sunlight, I smile. “I married my best friend this year.”
“Oh my gosh! Come in. You have to tell me all about him!” With my hand still clutched in hers, she pulls us toward the front porch, where the giant man awaits with half a smile.
“Navy,” I guess. “You’re a Navy SEAL.”
My sister’s entire face lights up. “The best Navy SEAL.”
“It’s nice to meet you—” I hold my free hand for him to shake, even though it’s my left one.
He stares at it for a moment, but as soon as my sister clears her throat, he moves, taking my hand. “Widowmaker,” he offers, “but most people call me Kane.”
Van
I retaliated the only way I knew how—I set Enoch’s car on fire.
“Did that make you feel better?” The only man I’ve known as a father comes to stand next to me, watching as his beloved Bronco turns to ash.
“Depends. Did it make you feel better when you reported me to the Orange Grove Sheriff’s Office?”
“Ah.” He sighs. “You know.”
“Yeah, I know everything—except the reason why.”
It’s been three days since Reese left to find her sister. Three days since I heard from her. And three days that I’ve stewed in my fury.
