Page 102 of At Her Will

When Vera moved her hand back to his leg, he laced his fingers with hers, looking down as he traced the tip of a manicured nail. Then he raised his gaze back to Cyn. “What I said that first day in your office is still true. No matter what happens, Miss Cyn, I’ll care for her heart. I promise you that. I promise all of you that.”

Just as he had that day, his gaze moved to Ros, acknowledging her as the head of the family.

“I know Vera can take care of herself, Rev,” Ros said. “She’s handled some deep hurts in her life. I’ll give you an assurance, too, because I know you mean what you say. If you end up being one of those deep hurts, not because you intend her harm, but because it’s another step in the journey, like you described, she’ll be able to handle it. Because she has us, always.”

His mouth tightened, but he nodded. “Thank you, ma’am. I glad to know that.”

He glanced at Cyn. “If it all right with you, Miss Cyn, I think it might be time to enjoy this fine meal without more serious talk. Maybe we could talk more later, if you want.”

“Amen,” Abby said, inspiring laughter around the table. When Rev winked at Vera, she freed her hand from his to squeeze his thigh.

Neil nudged a bowl of sugared pecans closer to his plate. They’d had them out as appetizers before the meal, and transferred the remainder to the table to have with dinner. “Noticed you tucked away a couple handfuls of these,” the SEAL said. “I think you just earned some more.”

Rev chuckled. “My sweet tooth can get away with me. I like those in particular. They sell heated ones at the candy shop along my bus route.”

Cyn gave Vera a “we okay?” look. Cyn’s expressed feelings about their friendship and faith made Vera feel like hugging her. Such a gesture would horrify Cyn, which was reason enough to do it. However, since Vera didn’t want to move from the warmth of Rev’s side, she gave Cyn the “I’m watching you” gesture as her answer. It made Cyn grin, as expected, and restored things to an even keel.

For a few moments at least. Once the dinner was concluded and the dishes were cleared, her contentious younger sister-of-the-heart had another mission. She brought it up as they were lounging in chairs on the deck, letting the meal digest before coffee and dessert.

Neil was cleaning the grill while Lawrence and Abby perched on the rail. Tiger leaned against it, a beer clasped in loose fingers. Mick and Cyn had chosen two side by side chairs, and Ros was in one that gave her a good view of Lawrence. Skye sat on the bench near Tiger, her knees folded up and heels on the edge of the wood as she sipped a soda. Vera and Rev were on the two-person love seat with canvas cushions.

“What kind of fight skills do you have, Rev?” Cyn asked.

“This is her soap box,” Vera informed Rev. She rested against his side, her fingers playing with his on her shoulder. “She thinks everyone should be a trained assassin.”

“I believe everyone should have the skills to protect themselves and others,” Cyn corrected. “And from what I’ve seen, it seems like he could use some.”

She was remembering the video she’d watched over Vera’s shoulder. The slight tension in Rev’s body told Vera he’d made that connection himself. “I wouldn’t have hit Craig,” Rev said.

“No? Even to keep him from shooting anyone else? There are tactics you could have used to disarm him.”

“Yes, I know. I used them.”

Rev and Cyn’s gazes locked and held.

“Cyn.” Vera spoke, low, drawing the woman’s gaze. This was raw wound territory, and Cyn had to know it.

“She trying to protect you. And me. I’ll take that as a compliment.” Rev attempted a smile, moving them to more amiable ground. “You’re right, I haven’t had much call to learn how to fight like that. Never needed to know how before, don’t exactly know why, because I been places where people are too used to fighting. But don’t hurt to be prepared. The kids I played with growing up were afraid Teena Joy, my aunt, would take a strip off them if I came home with a scratch.”

“Overprotective females are the worst, aren’t they?” Mick commented to Lawrence. He gave a narrow-eyed Cyn an innocent smile as Lawrence grinned at his own Mistress.

“I wouldn’t know.”

Ros shook her head at them and turned to Rev. “Whether elbowing your way through tourists on Bourbon Street or breaking up a fight with middle school kids, it doesn’t hurt to have some moves.” She shot a glance at Cyn. “Despite her breathtaking lack of tact and timing, she’s a very good self-defense teacher.”

Neil gestured at Rev with his beer. “Don’t worry. Her trained assassin shit is a more advanced class. That’s where she requires a blood oath.”

“I think that’s a blood donation.” Lawrence squinted as if trying to remember.

“I’ll be happy to draw some of yours later,” Cyn promised him. “Asshole.”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Tiger wagged a finger at her and Mick. “None of your foreplay shit in front of the rest of us. I’ve just eaten a heavy meal.”

Cyn rose. “Neil has a workout area out front. I’ll show you a couple things, Rev. We can spar.”

Rev stood, but looked her up and down and shook his head. “No ma’am.”

“You pull the ‘you’re a woman’ shit, and we’ll go a round right here.”

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