Page 17 of Complicated Past

“You thinkthat’swhy I turned you down?”

He shrugged.

He had nerve calling her character into question and thinking she’d be that shallow when he knew nothing about her. “That had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even see that in Bri’s file.”

“You’re going to stick to the conflict of interest because I’m your client’s brother, then?”

“Itwasa conflict of interest.” That should have been reason enough, so she hadn’t explained the entire reason then, but now? Maybe if he understood her family background, it would make this easier. “The women in my family have a bad history when it comes to military men.”

“You said no because I’m in the Army? What? You’re saying you’ve sworn offallmilitary men?”

“If I don’t want to be disowned by my family. Particularly my Grandma Ruby.”

“That seems a little extreme. Did she get dumped or cheated on more than once?”

“She got pregnant and then abandoned.”

“Okay. But because one guy’s an ass?—”

“There’s more. When my mom was a toddler, Grandma Ruby met a great guy, also a soldier. They married before Vernon left for his second tour in Vietnam, and she got pregnant right away. They wanted to have a child together in case anything happened to him. Which it did.”

“He was killed in action?” Linc’s tone dropped a level.

“Four months into his deployment. But she had to keep going for her girls.”

“That’s not his fault.”

“No, but she’d been abandoned and widowed, then came strike three—this time a Vietnam veteran who was out of the military. They started dating, and he moved in, but she wouldn’t marry him because then she would lose her survivor benefits.”

“Smart move on her part.”

“Definitely. They didn’t talk about PTSD much back then. Instead of treatment, he self-medicated with alcohol and became abusive. Verbally, then physically. After she kicked him out, she swore off military men and forbade her daughters from getting involved with any as well.”

“Yet she stayed in Fayetteville? Home of the largest Army base.”

“This was her home, and she had family here,” Kendra explained. “My mother was always a rule follower, so she didn’t date any that she admitted to. However, my aunt probably had a romanticized view of the military since her father, Vernon, was the love of Ruby’s life. Despite Grandma’s warnings, my aunt dated soldiers, and they fought about it until my aunt movedout. She married a soldier, and they had two sons. Things got ugly because he cheated on her. One night, they got into a fight. She locked herself in the bedroom, got his gun, and when he broke through the door, she shot him.” Kendra rarely shared this story, yet here she was, standing in some stranger’s bathroom telling Linc, hoping he’d understand without her having to tell him more.

“Did he survive?”

“No.” Because she’d let him bleed out rather than call 9-1-1. “My aunt was sentenced to five years for voluntary manslaughter. My parents took in my cousins, and Grandma Ruby moved in to help take care of all four of us preteens. She still lives with my parents. Lamont and Derrick—Clara’s husband—lived with us for five years, so they’re more like brothers than cousins.”

“I get the family history, but you’re stereotyping all military men. There are bad players in any profession. Most of the men I work with exemplify integrity and honor.” He paused, holding eye contact with her. “Have you had any personal experience to justify your blanket exclusion?” His eyes narrowed more, and his expression and tone softened.

The pressure in her chest expanded. “I have.” However, she was not sharing details. “It didn’t end well.” She’d thought Don was an honorable guy—until the night of their third date. She’d already learned her lesson when Linc asked her out months later. She’d followed Grandma Ruby’s advice rather than give in to the temptation of her client’s sexy and protective brother. And she put Linc out of her mind—until yesterday. “Now you know, it’s nothing personal or about your history. It’s strictlymyhistory andmyissues.”

“I’m sorry you felt I was treating you like an enemy. That was not my intent. You’ve been good to Bri and Jalen. I’m worriedabout Bri—and Regina—and feel helpless.” He swallowed and let out a heavy breath.

“Trust that Clara and the police are doing everything they can.” She laid a hand on his arm, then removed it once she realized what she’d done. “You need to be here for Jalen.”

“Yeah. I need to get back out there.” He hesitated. “Thanks for explaining. Though I still think you’re wrong for stereotyping all of us military guys.”

At least he cracked a smile.

Linc stowed the gun case on top of the fridge. “After this episode, it’s bedtime, J-man. I need to hit the rack too.” Linc pulled out another sheet from the linen closet and covered the couch.

“You’re not going to sleep in the other bedroom?” This guy really would do anything for his nephew.

“We hadn’t finished the renovations before we left. There’s no bed.”

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