Page 21 of Sworn to Protect

MACKENZIE

The moment I step inside,the sight before me shatters any high from earning my CPR certification. Nate stands with his gun raised and pointed at Jordan. My stomach drops. A gun? In my house?

“What the hell are you doing?” My voice wavers, sharp and filled with panic. Both men snap their heads toward me, but all I see is red.

“Call the police, Mackenzie. This man is crazy.”

“Shut up, Jordan.” I direct my command at my idiot brother, but my focus is pinpointed at Nate and that goddamn weapon in his hands. Where did it even come from? He sure as hell didn’t find it lying around here. He brought it. Into my home. With my kids. My jaw clenches as heat rises beneath my skin. “Put the gun away. Now. That’s my brother.”

Nate’s eyes narrow in disbelief. “Your brother?”

“Yes. My brother. Lower the weapon. Now.” My tone is venomous as I try to contain the anger bubbling inside me. Nate hesitates, then clicks the safety and tucks the gun behind him.Unbelievable.

Jordan rises to his feet, brushing dust off his jeans with a smirk. “Real nicewelcome, sis.”

I don’t question why Jordan was on the floor or why he’s even here. The red haze is still strong. How dare Nate assume I’d be okay with him packing? My stomach lurches.I left this man with my children.

“You have no right bringing a concealed weapon into my house.”

A crease forms between Nate’s brows. “I’m sorry, Mackenzie. I usually carry?—”

“Inmyhouse? With my kids? No, Nate. That’s not okay.” My voice shakes, fury mixing with something dangerously close to fear.

The crease between his brows deepens like he can’t comprehend why I’d be upset. It’s as if he’s genuinely confused. “Sorry, I didn’t think?—”

“No, you didn’t think. Newsflash, not everyone is okay with guns.”

“Especially when they’re aimed at one’s brother,” Jordan says, moving closer to me.

Nate’s jaw tightens. “He broke in. Through the damn window. What was I supposed to think?”

My eyes snap to Jordan. “You did what? Are you serious?”

He shrugs, that same infuriating half-shrug he’s been perfecting since childhood. “I thought it’d be funny to scare you.”

“You think scaring a single woman with two kids is funny?” Nate interjects, his voice low and incredulous.

And just like that, I’m furious with both of them. I point my finger at Nate. “You need to leave.”

“Mackenzie, I’m sorry?—”

“Mommy?”

My breath catches. Liam stands in the hallway, Nick just behind him, his small hands clutching Liam’s shirt. Pain grips my heart from the familiarity. Liam’s stance is protective, shielding his little brother. Too much like Ethan. Too much like before when Ethan and I fought. The room feels smaller all of a sudden. I don’t want to rehash those memories, and the kids don’t need a reminder. We’removing forward. Everything I do, everything I’m working toward, is for them. I’ll be damned if I backpedal.

I force a smile. “Everything’s okay, sweetheart. Go back to your room, and I’ll be there shortly.”

Liam’s eyes flick to Nate and then back to me. He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”

Liam murmurs something to Nick before they scurry down the hallway. I summon every strength to not cry. My emotions are spinning; I’m so mad.

Mad at Nate for bringing a weapon into my home.

Mad at my brother for giving Nate an excuse to draw it in the first place.

Mad at Ethan for spending the small amount of time we had arguing with me.

Do my kids even know how functional families live? Or do functional families even exist?

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