Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(66)

She didn’t want to know what his brother thought nor did she have any desire to communicate with him in such an intimate manner.

She took in several steadying breaths. She would not allow herself to be afraid or intimidated. Nathan needed her. This was difficult for him, made more so by the fact that he was thrusting her into his world and expecting his family to risk their lives to protect her.

“I’m Shea,” she said in an even voice before anyone else spoke. “Shea Peterson, though there is some doubt as to whether that is my real last name. I am, however, very real. I’m telepathic. I’m sure you have doubts where I’m concerned. I don’t blame you. Nathan risked a lot to help me. I’m sure you question why he would do it. And why he would expect you to help me as well.”

To her complete astonishment, the man in the middle, the one she thought looked so similar to Ethan, took a step forward, pulled her into his arms and hugged her so tightly that she worried she’d suffer broken ribs.

He lifted her off her feet, squeezed a little harder and then kissed her right on the forehead.

“I’d be pissed if he didn’t expect us to help. I’m Garrett, by the way. Nathan’s older brother. This is Sam on my right and Joe to the left. We’ve heard a lot about you, Shea. But you’ll understand if we’re more interested in hearing about you straight from the source.”

“Put her down, moron,” Sam said in a dry tone. “We need to be on our way. We can save the pleasantries for later.”

Garrett put Shea down but then he faced Nathan, staring at his younger brother, his expression giving nothing away. Then, as he’d done with Shea, Garrett pulled Nathan into a tight hug and pounded him on the back.

“You’ve got a hell of a lot of explaining to do, little man.”

Nathan punched Garrett in the gut. “Watch who you call little man.”

Garrett grinned and rubbed his abdomen. “Nice to see you haven’t wussed out on me in the last months. Was afraid you’d turn into a girl or something.”

Shea frowned, sure that there’d been an insult in there somewhere.

Joe still hadn’t said anything. He stared at Nathan like he was waiting. Sam glanced back at the twins and then tucked an arm around Shea’s shoulders. “Come on. We should get you into the SUV. Beavis and Butthead there will come along after they’ve had their come-to-Jesus moment.”

Shea looked back in concern, but Garrett nudged her away. “They’ve got a lot to work out between them. Joe needs to vent his spleen. This has been brewing between them for months now. The sooner they get it out in the open, the sooner things will get back to normal. As normal as things ever get in this family.”

Still she hesitated. She didn’t know these men. Didn’t know the group of men still standing in the background. She didn’t want to intrude on Nathan’s conversation with Joe, but neither was she going to get into a vehicle full of strangers without him.

“I’ll wait for Nathan here,” she said firmly, stopping several feet away from the line of SUVs.

Garrett looked surprised, and then grudging respect flashed in his eyes. He glanced over at the men standing to the side and motioned them over.

“Shea, I’d like you to meet the other members of KGI. I don’t know how much Nathan has told you about us, but we’re a private organization that does jobs no one else can or wants to do.”

“Could you be a little more vague?” she muttered.

He grinned but didn’t respond.

He pointed to a darker-skinned man with longish, unruly black hair and dark eyes. “This is Rio, one of our team leaders.”

Rio flashed her a smile. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Behind him, his team lurked, silent and tense as if ready for anything. Garrett didn’t single them out, which was just as well. She’d never remember all their names and her head was already spinning. Did it matter if she knew who they were? It sounded bitchy and ungrateful, but she was only concerned with Nathan.

Garrett then pointed to a tall man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Cold eyes that made her shiver as he stared at her.

“That’s Steele, our other team leader, and that’s his team just behind him.”

Steele didn’t offer a greeting. He just nodded and then took a step back. Which was fine with her, because he unnerved her.

Swanny stepped in next to her. Relieved, she took his hand and clung to it. All these people made her nervous, and she was grateful for Swanny’s comforting presence. Which she supposed didn’t make a whole lot of sense given that she’d only just met him too, but they had a bond through Nathan and she felt at ease around him.

He glanced down in surprise and she thought she had offended him or unnerved him with her gesture, but when she started to pull away, his grip tightened around her hand, and to her further amazement, he offered a smile. A genuine smile. It was the first time she’d seen any emotion, good or bad, on his solemn features.

“They’re a little hard to take all at once,” he whispered down to her.

She smiled and nodded because that was exactly what she’d been thinking.

“But Garrett is right. You should be in the SUV and not in the open. I’ll go with you until Nathan makes it over.”

It was then she realized Garrett hadn’t called his men over for a meet and greet. They’d positioned themselves strategically around her. A protective shield, since she’d balked about getting into the SUV without Nathan.