Page 54 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

Zach moved around to join Reaper. “This is my team, five men who have put their life on the line, time after time. We’ve managed to get into some tight situations, but I’ve never had to question if any one of them has had my back. We may not have been born from the same blood, but our bond is just as strong. Kennedy, Rayne, and Audrey, you have my word as the leader of this team, if you ever need us, no matter what time of day or how severe the reason, I will always be there for you. When you say goodbye to the man you gave your heart to, I swear to do everything in my power to return him in the same condition he left you in.” Heads all around the screen nod in affirmation.

“Kennedy, I think I speak for the group, when I say,” Doc starts, crossing his arms over his chest. “You couldn’t have picked a better man than Zach. He will stand by your side, keep you laughing, and never make a promise he can't keep. But if he ever screws up, give me a call and I’ll kick his scrawny ass.”

Matt covered his mouth, coughing an oath into his hand. Rayne squeezed my hand, pulling my attention back to her smiling face. “So what do you think, Honey?”

I feel slightly overwhelmed with the brotherhood and respect they have for one another, Zach’s pledge to keep his team safe and the unity they all had with what he swore.

“C’mon, Kennedy, what do you have to lose? Hell, I’ll have Reaper tell you an Uncle Ray story.” Whatever this uncle story was, it had to be plenty exciting as the cheers came for Reaper to tell a particular favorite of each member.

“Tell her the one about the snowstorm and frozen balls!”

“No, the one about the carmel corn and glow sticks!”

Zach slapped his hand on the counter, causing all the shouting to stop, and me to jump with a gasp. “Enough! We want her to agree to stay with me, not run away when she hears about a man freezing his nuts off on a guardrail.” His eyes return to mine, a silent plea hidden behind the authority. “As juvenile as we can be at times, we are equally as serious. Right now, I need to have an honest answer from you, before this goes any further.”

With All eyes on me, as they awaited my decision to stay with Zach. No matter what kind of allegiance he had formed, my choice had been made the moment I laid eyes on him. I loved him for saving me, for caring enough to let me find my voice and for letting me be silent. For showing me life was so much more than avoiding disappointing people in your life, it was for living it instead.

“I will agree, on one condition.” Zach crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. Matt leaned back in his chair, his face unchanged. “I get to hear this story about the man and the guardrail. And why the heck he would be naked in a snow storm.”

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