Page 34 of Vicious Sabotage

“Forest Gracey was one.”

He gave her a penetrating stare. “He lost his life before that attack. But both events changed all of us… brought me back together with Colton and Hunter. When I learned they’d come to Montana, I knew I had to be here to make sure they weren’t fucking up their lives.”

The heavy statement hung between them. Livia was the first to admit that she didn’t do well with emotional stuff, so her tactic to deflect was the first thing that popped into her mind.

“Jeesh. And you think I’m controlling. Colton and Hunter aren’t even under you anymore.”

His gaze wandered over her face as if searching for things she tried to hide from anyone else. “You are controlling. I’m concerned about you, but in a totally different way.”

She dropped the chip she nibbled onto her plate. “How so?”

“My need to be in control comes from the military, discipline, brotherhood. Yours comes from childhood trauma where you felt like every bit of your life was out of your control, so now you must control everything.”

Stunned, she stared at her plate. Damn. Shots fired.

“What makes you think that?”

He pointed to a photo behind the bar, a framed print of her father and his daughters.

She rolled her eyes. “Everybody has daddy issues. I bet you do.”

“I don’t have any issues. I have a good family.”

“When was the last time you saw them?”

“Two years ago.”

She hiked up her brow. “And you say you don’t have issues with them? If that’s the case, why didn’t you visit them when you left the SEALs?”

“They just don’t understand me like my guys do.”

She stilled, feeling his emotion wash over her.

“My family always says I’ve changed. That’s why I love my SEAL family. We just know. We don’t have to say it.”

She processed this for a moment, nibbling on her potato chip again. They resumed eating their meal, which helped ease his obvious discomfort at speaking about his feelings, and she recovered from his stab about her father.

Looking at the photo, she felt an admission she’d never said aloud before—to a single soul in the world—slip onto her tongue. “I think my father liked his regulars more than his family.”

Carver turned his full attention on her.

“He liked to drink with them.”

His nod felt like the most validation she’d ever received in her life. She knew that he understood and she didn’t have to say a word—just like his brotherhood.

Time to lighten the mood. Livia brushed the crumbs off her hands. “I need to go check the distillery.”

He slid to his feet before the words were out of her mouth. “Not without me.”

For the first time, she truly appreciated having the bodyguard along for company.

* * * * *

Carver caught Livia by the shoulder. Standing at the door of the distillery, she tossed him an annoyed glance.

“Yes?”

He cleared his throat and angled his jaw toward the door.

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