Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
When Zach broke, Big Tag didn’t falter. He didn’t retreat to sarcasm.
He was just a dad.
After a moment he felt another hand on his back.
“Come home, brother.” Cooper. His brother.
“I’m sorry,” Zach managed.
Cooper hugged him, enveloping him. “It’s okay, but we have some things to talk about.”
A long sigh was heard from his left and then Tris was joining in. “I forgive you, too.”
“Tristan,” Big Tag barked.
“No.” Tris threw himself in. “You can keep me out of the drama but not the family love, uncle.”
He heard Tag growl, but the circle got a little bigger.
He never imagined having a circle at all.
He hugged his brothers as they welcomed him home.
* * * *
Devi really wanted to know what her uncle was saying to Zach. She tried to turn around. There was a place at the end of the hall that would be perfect for eavesdropping. “You guys get settled in. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Kala stood in the way. “Nope. What’s happening in there is not meant for feminine eyes. I’m absolutely certain my father is about to break Zach down in that way he does. I should know. He’s the only person in the world besides Coop who can do it to me.”
“I break down all the time,” Kenzie admitted with a smile. “It feels good to let it all out. Do you want to cry? I’m worried about Ben so I’ll cry with you. Normally I need a session to get going, but you have tormented love vibes right now. I think that should do it.”
“You’re such a menace,” Tasha said and pointed to the door. “Go on, Dev. We’re not listening in. Zach deserves some privacy. Believe me. I know what it feels like to have the man I love in conference with my father. Things are going to turn out okay. I’m actually happy it’s my dad talking to him and not yours.”
Because her uncle loved Zach and her dad didn’t really know him. In her dad’s mind Zach was the asshole who lied to his daughter. She would have some work to do on him.
No. She wouldn’t because it was all a mess and it was ending and it was too soon and she… Devi took a long breath, trying to banish the panic. Tasha. She forced herself to look at Tasha. He loved Tasha, and she was as far from her cousin as a woman could be. She needed to remember that. Zach was in trouble and he was facing something grim, and he didn’t want to go through it alone. Who would? They were friends. They liked each other. It was okay to spend this time with him.
She couldn’t fucking breathe.
“I’m sure he wants to know what Zach’s been doing and any intelligence he can give about his mom.” Devi was happy the words came out even, and she was pretty sure she wasn’t showing how close to the edge she was. She needed to survive this whole mess of a meeting and get some sleep and tomorrow they would run their op and…
“He wants to talk to Zach about you,” Kala assured her.
“He shouldn’t.” If her uncle was going to pressure Zach to leave her alone, she was going to stop him. Anger felt way better than sorrow and fear.
She was going to lose him. He wouldn’t be careful. He would fight until they killed him, and even if they didn’t, he was adamant that he would turn himself in. He would be in jail for the rest of his life if he was lucky. He would probably be an asshole about it and not even marry her so they could have conjugal visits. He would tell her to forget about him. How was she supposed to forget about him? How was she supposed to go home and pretend like this time never happened? Like they never happened? Was she supposed to fly home in time for play night at The Hideout? Find a new Dom?
“She’s freaking out.” Kala let herself fall onto one of the two queen-sized beds in this room.
Lou plunked her bag down on the other. “She seems to be taking it well. I’m surprised.”
Kenzie studied her for a moment. “Nah, Kala’s right. She’s freaking, and like usual she’s trying very hard not to talk about it. I don’t get this. It’s good to talk about our feelings. I try to talk about how hard it is to love an enemy all the time.”
“He’s Canadian. He is not our enemy. No matter what happens, we’re still family,” Tasha said with a shake of her head. “Besides, I think we’re now working with them, so it definitely doesn’t feel like we’re enemies. Didn’t Dad and Mom decide you can tell Ben about the whole ‘hey, I’m twins, and I’m not the mean one’ thing when you’re ready?”