Page 3 of Ethan's Command

Brooklyn clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to slap the smug look off Peterson’s face. Instead, she placed a calming hand on Liam’s shoulder. “Alright,” she said through gritted teeth. “Can we just give you our information?”

“Sure,” Peterson replied, still smirking. He handed her a notebook and pen.

Brooklyn wrote down her name, address, and phone number with a shaking hand, then passed the notebook to Dave. He quickly jotted down his details before handing it to Pika, who added his information as well.

Peterson took the notebook back and nodded. “Okay, folks. Try to relax and have a good evening. We’ll be in touch if anything comes up.”

Without another word, he and his partner strolled back to their patrol car. The engine roared to life, and they drove off, leaving Brooklyn standing there with her arms around her nephew.

Brooklyn knelt in front of Liam, her heart still pounding. “How about we get some takeout and go home?”

Liam’s face was still pale and his body trembling, but he mustered up a tight smile and nodded. Brooklyn stood and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, her maternal instincts kicking into overdrive.

She turned to Dave and Pika. Her voice broke with gratitude. “I can’t thank you two enough. You saved us.”

“I think you did a pretty good job of that yourself,” Dave said with a small smile.

Pika nodded. “Agreed. That cop didn’t seem too interested, but I’ll keep an eye out. If I hear anything, I’ll let Dave know. We can’t have this happening again. Kids shouldn’t have to live in fear.”

Brooklyn nodded, her throat too tight to respond. She started walking toward her car with Liam glued to her side. Her legs felt like jelly, and every step was an effort. All she wanted to do was lock the doors, pour herself a glass of wine, and somehow forget this incident ever happened.

CHAPTER 2

Brooklyn sether glass of wine down on the counter and collapsed onto the stool by the breakfast bar. Liam had finally gone to bed, and she’d just checked on him to make sure he was asleep. She wasn’t entirely sure he’d be able to sleep after the ordeal they’d been through.

When they got home, she’d done her best to reassure him. She’d told him it was just a prank, that it would never happen again, and that he didn’t need to worry. But honestly, she was still a tangle of nerves. It had taken her quite a while to get him calmed down. After they finished eating their takeout dinner and Liam finished his homework, they watched one of his favorite TV shows. Then she’d even let him play online with his friends for half an hour. Finally, after he’d yawned several times, she sent him off to bed.

She took a long swallow of her wine. She’d wanted a glass the moment they got home, but she knew drinking in front of Liam would only scare him more. She rarely drank around him, and she wasn’t about to start tonight. A shiver ran through her. She was damn glad she’d taken Taekwondo. If they’d managed to get Liam into the van… Well, she didn’t want to think about it.

Her phone rang and she immediately answered it. “Christie.” A lump instantly formed in her throat, and she couldn’t continue.

“What is it?” her best friend and fellow dental hygienist demanded. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh my God, Christie,” Brooklyn managed to get out before her eyes filled with tears.

“Tell me everything.”

Brooklyn relayed the whole tale. She felt horrible wrecking Christie’s vacation back home in Boston, but she’d needed to talk to someone. “Don’t give it another thought,” Christie said. “You did the right thing calling me.”

“Why are you even up?” Brooklyn asked. “Isn’t it about two in the morning?”

“Jet lag.”

“How’s back home?” Brooklyn sipped her wine.

“It’s great to see everyone, but I miss the Big Island already. It’s fun to visit but I am over living here.”

Relief flooded Brooklyn’s chest. She’d been worried her best friend would move back home and leave her with just some acquaintances here on the Big Island.

“How are you doing? I know Liam is super special to you. Are you okay?” Christie’s voice was filled with concern.

Liam was the one good thing to come out of her brother’s disastrous marriage to Deanna. Every day, she was grateful Deanna decided motherhood wasn’t for her. When Jackson and Liam moved to the Big Island, she’d been devastated. They’d all lived in New Jersey up until then, and Brooklyn got to see Liam at least once a week. After losing their parents in a car crash five years ago, she and Jackson had become really close.

She often wondered if Jackson and Liam hadn’t left whether she’d still be with Nate. Once her brother and nephew headed to Hawai’i, her relationship with her longtime boyfriend hadtanked. She turned to her Nate to fill the void only to find out that he wasn’t interested in supporting her emotionally. Theirs had been a one-sided relationship. He liked her because she took care of him. Made sure his world ran smoothly, but he had no interest in hers. How she could have been so blind to that, she didn’t know.

She finally replied to Christie, “I have to say, if Jackson and Liam hadn’t left I might still be with Nate.”

“Ugh. From everything you’ve said about him, I’m so glad you’re not.”

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