Defiance (The Protectors #9)(81)

That wasn’t quite true. I did know one thing I wanted, but it was the one thing I couldn’t have.

“You’re not locked into anything, Nathan. There’s still time to make changes.”

I knew what he was talking about. Of all the people in my life, he was probably one of the few who suspected the profession I’d chosen to pursue wasn’t a choice I’d made with my heart, but rather with my head.

“Fuck, Nathan,” Brody whispered as he suddenly stood up and wrapped his free arm around me. He bent over me and pressed a kiss to my head. “I hate what this is doing to you.”

“Sorry,” I said softly, even as I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my head against his stomach. “You can feel it, can’t you?” I asked, since I couldn’t fathom that he’d picked up on my distress just from my words alone. He had to be picking up on my emotions through the bond that came with being twins.

“Yeah, I can. And I promise, we’ll figure it out. Okay?”

“Nathan?”

Vincent’s worried voice had me pulling away from Brody and climbing to my feet. He was walking towards us, his concern clear as day.

“I’ll give you two a second,” Brody said as he took a few steps away from us.

“You okay?” Vincent asked when he reached me.

I nodded. “Yeah, just…memories, you know?” I murmured.

“Yeah,” he replied before he pulled me into his arms for a quick hug. “Ronan called.”

I pulled back. “Is it Reese? Is he okay?”

“He’s awake. He’s lost feeling from the waist down, but his doctors are hopeful that the paralysis they’re seeing is temporary.”

I managed a nod, even though I felt sick to my stomach.

“Listen, Ronan was also calling me to tell me his guys caught the shooter.”

“What?” I asked, not sure I’d heard him right. They’d gotten the guy who’d attacked me? It was over?

“One of the shots Reese fired at the guy hit him, and he eventually passed out from the blood loss and crashed his car into a ditch just outside Dare. Ronan’s guys found him before anyone else could, and they’ve moved him to a secure location. I’m flying out there to question him myself. I want to find out if he was a lone wolf or if he was working for someone. I need you to stay here, okay?”

“Okay,” I said as my head spun with all the information he was throwing at me.

“Don’t leave the property, do you understand me?”

“I won’t, I promise.”

Vincent brushed his mouth over mine. “I’ll call you when I land.”

I nodded and kissed him again. “Be careful.”

“I will.” One more kiss, and then he was gone.

I sank back down on the chair I’d been sitting in. I wasn’t surprised when I felt Brody’s hand on my shoulder. I reached up to grab it, grateful he was there.

It was a lot more than I deserved.

But I’d definitely take it.





Chapter 28





Vincent





It was early afternoon by the time I arrived in Missoula. As eager as I was to question the man who’d tried to kill Nathan and who’d hurt Brody and Reese, I needed to check on Everett first. I hadn’t been completely honest when I’d given Nathan an update on Reese’s condition. I’d heard the despair in Everett’s voice, and while I knew he had some support in the form of Agent Nash and Ronan, I knew it wasn’t enough.

The hospital was quiet and the man who’d picked me up from the airport – another of Ronan’s men – led me past the information desk and straight to the third floor. I’d expected him to take me to Reese’s room, but instead, he showed me to what looked like a small conference room. Nash was standing stiffly outside the door.

Ronan’s man bid me farewell, leaving me and Nash alone.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “Is Everett in there?”

Nash nodded. “He is.”

I glanced around us. “Why isn’t he in Reese’s room?” Panic flared in my belly. “Did something-”

“No,” Nash quickly interrupted. He dropped his voice. “His son asked him to leave.”

“What?” I asked, not sure I’d heard him correctly.

“When Reese woke up and saw him…” Nash hesitated and dropped his eyes. “It wasn’t pretty.”

Anger simmered through me. “Thanks,” I said to Nash as I opened the door. Everett looked up at me from where he and Ronan were in deep conversation. My steps faltered as I took in Everett’s disheveled appearance. His rumpled clothes were the same ones he’d been wearing yesterday and his hair was all over the place, like he’d been running his fingers through it over and over. His eyes were swollen and red, proof he’d been crying.

I walked over to him and instead of sitting down next to him, I crouched in front of him. I put my hand on his arm. “Talk to me,” I murmured.

The only time I’d ever seen Everett like this had been the few times he’d gotten drunk and allowed himself to truly mourn the loss of my brother. He’d always hidden his grief behind closed doors otherwise.