Page 37 of Irons

She nodded real big.

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Uncle Patrick is dumber than a Marine. You don’t want to sound dumber than a Marine do you?”

Her little eyebrows grew closer, and she looked at me through hooded eyes. “No way.”

“Then don’t ever repeat anything Uncle Patrick says, okay?”

She nodded. “Dat pwetty wady is coming today. Uncle Scott will be a dipshit.”

I shut my eyes in defeat. It was sad that even little Addie knew Drakos could be such a dickhead when it came to women.I wasn’t real happy that people weren’t watching what they said around Addie. She had a hard enough time keeping her inner badass tamed, so she didn’t get into trouble at school. Bad language seemed to be the newest behavior she picked up and it’s an uphill battle. She didn’t have a good childhood up until she moved to Creed’s Lake with Morgan and Creed, and Bolton was working with her to help with the anger. Addie also didn’t have many good people or other kids around her to teach her more positive behavior. It hadn’t been long since her biological parents died, so she was only a few months into her therapy. “Yeah, so I’d say to stay clear of Uncle Scott for a few days and watch your language. That was another bad word, Addie.”

Her eyes softened. “Awe, did dat hurt your fewings Uncle Twabis? Do you need a safe spwayce?” She patted my cheek. “Are you going to cwry?”

I laughed. “Addie, you’re too much.”

She looked away from me and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose again, although they were already there, and it must have been a habit for all the years of ill-fitting pairs. “I know. I da best.” She looked around the room then gasped. “Sam!” She squealed and quickly jumped from my arms and ran, but stopped like she forgot something and turned before she ran back to me and wrapped her arms around my legs. “Lub you Uncle Twavis!”

I chuckled. “Love you too, kid.” She let go and ran away from me and toward Sam. Sam Owens was our other superstar resident at Creed’s Lake. He was a pro football quarterback for the Jets, then his brother was killed in action. The dude literally walked away from a pro ball career to join the Army and then Delta Force. Unfortunately, he was injured and now uses two prosthetic legs. I winced as Addie ran straight into him, but he had it under control. He was one tough son of a bitch that foughtdamn hard to get where he is now and still manages to be one of our most valued operatives. When he’s not on a mission, he helps out with the K-9 training center.

I went back to moving tables and setting out chairs after the disappointment of Addie running off. If there was anyone that helped calm my nerves it was Addie. Like her mom, she was like a ray of sunshine that could entertain just about anyone. As I worked I thought about how much she and her mom changed Creed’s Lake for the better. Sure, Club X was just as raunchy as always, but there were new programs put into place, and it was more upbeat. Morgan was always up to something, and her newest project was a black tie New Years celebration. It was a ways off, and most likely she would be having the twins around that time, but she wanted a formal event and Creed always gives her exactly what she wants. Most of us just wanted to get through Thanksgiving and Christmas in one piece. Dread came over me as I realized what Morgan and Felicity were putting together for Christmas. The next few months were going to be insane. I knew Morgan would turn Creed’s Lake into a winter wonderland. All while pregnant with twins, it was crazy.

After I was done setting out the chairs, I went to Club X to grab a keg of beer for the banquet hall and asked a prospect to bring several bottles of whiskey and wine over. I was hooking up the keg behind the bar in the banquet center when I paused. It felt like the hairs on my neck stood up and my heart began racing so fast it took my breath away. Something inside of me said not to turn around, while something more powerful told me to do the opposite. The prickly sensation only grew as I realized my breaths were coming faster to keep up with my racing heart. I was the only one in the room up to that point and the silence was almost deafening, but I knew I was no longer alone. The feelings overcoming me were ones I had not felt in almost fifteen years.Slowly, I turned, and my eyes met a set of blue ones that struck something painful in my chest.

Stunned

Wrenly

Before walking into the banquet room, I was nervous. It almost felt like my heart was going to jump from my chest and my legs felt weak. I knew I was early, but I thought I would waste some time by having a glass of wine at Club X. I wasn’t sure what came over me, but I had an overwhelming feeling that told me I needed to walk into that banquet hall.

I heard some noise behind the bar and instinctively knew it was him. My heart raced so fast that I felt a pain in my chest. I was frozen, unable to move or react as I saw him stand facing away from me. I was forced to take a sharp breath at what I saw, and he hadn’t even turned around yet. He was crazy tall, just like Tony, and it was obvious by just looking at him from behind that his body was toned and muscular. I wondered if he knew I was there without seeing me, because he hesitated to turn around and look at me. There was a burning sensation behind my eyes and I could already feel every built up emotion that collected in my heart over the last fifteen years exploding inside me.

He turned and our eyes met, almost instantly making my legs weak enough to fall to the floor, but I fought to stay strong. The look on his face was unreadable and I took a sharp breath just before I felt the tears building in my eyes. Flashes of those same eyes from years ago ran through my memory, but I was nolonger looking at a boy. The Travis I knew was long gone from this earth, replaced by the most handsome man I ever saw in my life.

“Wrenly.” He spoke my name softly and I nodded my head as the first tear escaped. I watched as he placed a hand on his chest and took a few deep breaths. “My girl?” I could see tears building in his eyes and I nodded my head again.

“Always.” I drew in a broken breath then laughed through my tears when a smile finally formed on his face. The beautiful eyes I missed so much sparkled in the light. “Always your girl.” I let the tears fall as he suddenly jumped over the bar and ran for me. Then I laughed through my tears as our bodies collided and he pulled me into his arms. He swung me around and squeezed me so tightly I could barely breathe. When my feet met the floor he pushed back then clasped my face in his hands.

His eyes studied mine for just a moment before he pulled me back in and kissed the top of my head as he wrapped his arms around me. “I can’t believe it’s you.”

“I missed you so much.” I sobbed and also heard him sniffle.

“You have no idea.” He kissed my head again as I took in his scent and the feeling of finally coming home. I had felt empty for so long but realized instantly that being in his arms was filling me with everything I lost all those years ago. There was no doubt left, I hadn’t lost an ounce of the love I always had for him.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered and I shook my head.

“There is nothing to be sorry for, Travis.” There really wasn’t and it wasn’t a lie. He did exactly what I did when I joined the Marines. I was running away from all the bad memories, the pain, and the grief of losing my baby and Travis. He ran foralmost the same reasons. “We’re not as different as you might think.” I sniffled.

He pushed back then looked me up and down. “You’re all grown up.”

I wiped my tears away as I nodded. “You are too.” He had no idea how grown up he looked to me. Between those muscles, same intense blue eyes, and chiseled jaw line, he was all man. He was no longer that boy I once knew, or that scared teenager they took away in handcuffs. The girls of Creed’s Lake were not joking when they said he was just as handsome as Creed, Axton, and Magnus. In my opinion he was the most handsome man I ever saw in my life. I couldn’t help myself when I reached up and ran my fingers through that sandy but sexy messy haircut. I studied his eyes then ran my fingers down to his cheek. He had stubble like he hadn’t shaved in days, but it looked sexy as hell on him. “This is new.” I giggled just a little. He looked so much like Tony it was unreal. Then again, biologically they could have been father and son since Tony and Robert were identical twins.

His eyes were soft and warm as I looked into them while his pointer finger caught a tear on my cheek. “Where’s that tough as nails Marine Raider I heard so much about?” He asked.

I felt the smile form on my face. “I left her over in that sandbox. I’m just Wrenly again.”

He nodded as his eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I should have come back home, even if it was just to you and Clint. I’m a fucking coward, Wrenly. I didn’t want to face all that pain again.”

I nodded. “I know the feeling, so don’t ever apologize.”

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