Page 45 of Tactical Lies

Never enough.

And now his Becca was back in his life, possibly temporarily, but at least she was close by, within reaching distance and it was tearing him up that he couldn’t just go to her. Couldn’t just pull her onto his lap like he used to, and wrap his arms around her, hold her, rock her, soothe her, touch her, kiss her, make love to her.

None of those things were appropriate anymore and he had no idea how he was supposed to survive the rest of his life without her if she decided she couldn’t give him a second chance. It would help if he at least knew more about this fiancé. If her love for him had truly died because she’d found someone to take his place, it was a lost cause.

When his phone, which he’d tossed onto the couch beside him, began to ring, he looked at it only because Becca had his number and she might call if something was wrong. Might. Because if something was wrong there was every chance she’d rather call one of his brothers than him.

It wasn't Becca, but it was Cassandra.

Not knowing where their baby sister was sucked, but they all agreed it was for the best. If he or one of his brothers were captured by the men trying to silence them, there was no way they could give up her location. Couldn’t tell someone what you didn't know. And they all believed there was no safer place in the world for Cassandra than with Prey’s elusive Delta Team. Those men didn't exist in any legal sense of the word, and they had skills that were distinctly nonhuman even though he knew they were, in fact, human beings and couldn’t be anything else. Still, they kept their secrets locked down tighter than anyone could hope to loosen, and nobody tried anyway. Delta Team deserved their privacy.

Cassandra was in the perfect place, but he missed having her around. If it had been any of his brothers calling, he wouldn't have picked up, but for his little sister, he absolutely would.

“Hey, squirt,” he said when he answered.

“Hey, jerk,” Cassandra shot back in her sassy way that lifted his mood. When they’d said goodbye to her, and she’d left with Delta Team she’d seemed like a shell of her former self. The revelation of her true parentage had knocked her about, as it would anyone, but it was great to hear her sounding more like her old self.

“Hey, is that any way to talk to the big brother you love and adore? Your favorite brother?” It was a running joke in their family that they all pretended to be Cassandra’s favorite, even though they all knew she loved them equally. Given that she’d only been five when they lost their parents and the rest of them had been teens and preteens, they’d all stepped in to help raise her since their grandparents were old and in poor health.

“You're not my favorite.” She huffed.

“Yeah? So which one of us is?”

“Today it’s Cade since he called and clued me in on what's going on.”

Since when did Cade become Mr. Chattypants? That wasn't like his older brother at all. Yet Cade had always had a soft spot for Becca, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why he’d think it would be a good idea for Cassandra to know she was back.

Just like the son he’d never known existed could have been conceived through rape, Cassandra had been.

In his own roundabout way, Cade was attempting to play matchmaker.

None of his brothers had been able to talk him into going out to the cabin to see Becca—something he wasn't prepared to do unless she expressly invited him—Cade thought that maybe their little sister would have better luck.

“He shouldn’t have done that,” Connor said softly.

“Why not? Just because I’m eight years younger than you and Becca doesn’t mean she wasn't my friend too.”

Her little sister tone made him smile. “Becca used to babysit you,” he reminded her.

“And she was the best sitter I ever had. Brothers included.” Cassandra huffed. “I know she was raped, Connor. That’s why you two broke up.”

He probably shouldn’t be surprised that Cassandra knew, even though back then, he’d tried to shield her from the truth. She’d known that Becca had been hurt, but none of them had ever mentioned rape, and while his brothers knew about the pregnancy he’d never told Cassandra.

“That’s not why we broke up, Cass,” he told her.

“Then whydidyou break up?”

There was no point in keeping it from her any longer. Cassandra knew about the rape, and given what she’d just learned it wasn't fair to lie to her. Especially if Becca decided to give him the chance he didn't deserve because sooner or later it would come up.

“Four months after her rape Becca found out she was pregnant,” he said the words he knew would pierce his sister’s heart.

Cassandra’s gasp made him wish they were having this conversation face-to-face so he could pull her into his arms and try to soothe her pain.

“She was raped, wound up pregnant, and you left her?” Cassandra screeched, sounding borderline hysterical. “How could you do that, Connor? You are definitely not my favorite brother.”

Her words hit him hard.

Harder than any physical blows could.

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