Page 24 of Whiskey Run Heroes

I pull her in for a hug and just hold on to her.Please let me get back in time, I say to myself silently. “Please don’t worry. It’s not good for the baby.”

I pull back and look into her eyes. She blinks, wide-eyed. “When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

She nods. “Okay, but you call me if you need anything. I love you, sis.”

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. “I love you too, Jenna.” I lean down, kiss her belly, and whisper, “Love you too, sweetie.”

I don’t look at Jenna again because I know if I do she’s going to see my face and know how freaked out I am right now. I walk out of the shop with my head down and vow to myself that this will be the last time I do this. Hopefully, it’s not as bad as Ethan says it is.

2

JOHN

I run into Honeybee Coffee ready to do damage. I got a text from my sister and all it said was911. I was right down the street at Red’s Diner, so I didn’t bother with my truck. I ran the few blocks and am ready to punch someone or something when I spot my sister sitting at a table, her feet propped up, looking miserable. I look around the coffee shop. Two workers are filling coffees, another one is wiping down tables. There’s nothing that looks like it’s an emergency. “Jenna, what’s going on? What’s wrong?”

The closer I get, I notice she’s crying. Fuck. I can’t handle tears... especially not hers. I sit down on the chair next to her. “What is it? Did Dylan fuck up? Do I need to beat his ass?”

Dylan is the man I work with. The man I trusted to go help my sister when I was out of the country. And he helped her, all right. He even married her, but I can’t be too salty about it, since he did get her to move to Whiskey Run.

She’s shaking her head and reaches for my hand before placing it on her belly. “You know Dylan can’t stand it when I cry. The man is walking around on eggshells as it is so he doesn’t upset me.”

My hand clenches, and Jenna rolls her eyes before smoothing my palm across her belly. Instantly, I feel the kick from my niece. I know my eyes get as big as saucers. “Oh shit... I mean shoot, Jenna. Does that hurt?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

We sit there just like that, with my hand on her stomach, waiting for the little kicks. I really don’t want to upset Jenna, but I need to know. “Uh, was this the emergency?”

She takes a deep breath, and her belly rises and falls. “No.”

I keep my voice low and calm. I really don’t want her to start crying again. “Jenna, honey, after everything with Brooklyn getting kidnapped, that 911 text freaked me out a little bit.”

Her eyes get big, and she sits up. “Oh John, I wasn’t even thinking. I’m so selfish, I’m sorry.”

I hold my hands up. “No, don’t apologize. Just for the future, if you want me to come, just tell me that. I’ll drop whatever I’m doing and come. You know I will.”

She starts to peck her hand on the table. “I know you will. I’m sorry... so are you about to leave on a mission or anything?”

I rub my hand across the back of my neck. There’s always a mission, it seems, and usually I’m the first one to volunteer, but I’m trying to stay close to Whiskey Run until after my niece comes. “I’ll be working close to home until she makes her arrival,” I tell her, nodding at her round belly.

She blows out a breath. “Okay, I need a favor.”

I don’t even hesitate. “Anything... you know that.”

She looks at me skeptically, and instantly, I know it’s something big and obviously why she sent the 911 call. “What is it?”

She purses her lips. “I need you to go with Madison.”

“Uh, go where with Madison?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I’m not sure.”

I hold my hands up. “Okay, hold up, what’s going on with Madison?” I try to keep my voice disinterested and calm, but if the 911 call is about Madison, I need to know. And no, I’m not ready to talk about my reasoning or admit any feelings for her. All I know is I need her safe.

“She’s going to bail Ethan out... again. She says this will be the last time, but I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“Ethan? Her brother, Ethan? I thought he disappeared. I didn’t even think they were talking to each other or anything.”

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