Page 73 of Sutton's Shadow

“Okay. But why now? Aren’t you afraid they’ll still come after you if the pictures get out? You’re kind of famous, right? They had to have known you were there.”

The “famous” part of Bethany’s comments made Sutton smile. She may have been famous once, but she was over it, enjoying her retirement. She’d made friends she never would have made if she still traveled for her job. She had a home. And she had a potential new relationship that brightened her soul and banished the shadows that lingered.

“Yes, they probably knew about me. And yes, I’m still scared.”

“So why now? What’s changed?”

“Your brother,” Sutton admitted, another smile tugging at her lips.

Bethany’s head shot up as her eyes widened. “Really?”

Sutton nodded. “He helped me let go of some of the fear. He helped me remember who I was... before. Before, I would never have let the fear of retribution stop me from doing what was right. But I lost that part of myself when I watched Liam die.”

“Jeez, you watched it happen?”

Sutton wiped at a tear she hadn’t realized she’d created as she nodded. “He died in my arms. He wasn’t alone. And that’s what Wyatt reminded me of... I wasn’t alone anymore. I had him, my friends, the Nighthawks, and you. I wasn’t alone, and that knowledge gave me strength. I’m still scared, but with Wyatt by my side, something I never thought I’d have again, I feel like I can do more good in this world.”

With those words, it dawned on her that she was in love with Wyatt. She loved him and the quiet strength he gave her. With him, she had the power to grip her sword and shield again and use it to slay the evil that had haunted her for too long.

“Do you think it will work? Do you think they’ll find those men?”

“I don’t know, Little Bee. I hope so. And even if they don’t or it takes years, I will at least know I did the right thing. I will know I fought for all those who have suffered or died because of what those men did.”

Bethany placed her chin on her knees again, lost in thought. Sutton let her have her silence.

“Anything else you want to talk about?” Sutton prompted after a while, hoping again that Bethany would share whatever weighed her down.

Her heart sank when Bethany shook her head. Sutton saw the moment it happened. The girl’s expression went completely blank, as if she’d pulled a shade down to block people from seeing inside. There was a smile on her face as she stood and crossed the room to Sutton, but it was as fake as the fur blanket thrown over her bed.

“Thank you, Sutton,” she said before giving her a hug. Sutton returned the embrace, squeezing her a little harder than necessary. Not only had she fallen for Wyatt, but she also loved this girl like her own sister. And she wished more than anything she could slay the shadows that dwelled in her eyes.

“I hope you marry Wyatt. Ooh, then we could be sisters!” Annnd, the boisterous young teenager was back, as if they weren’t just having a heavy discussion that had left Sutton drained.

“Slow down, Little Bee.” Sutton forced a laugh for Bethany’s sake, even as the worry churned in her gut. “We’re still new.” Not to mention, she didn’t know where she stood with him. She knew he cared about her, but what about love? Was it one sided or did he share her feelings? Suddenly, her stomach pitched for a different reason.

Chapter 23

SinceBethanyhadoutedthe fact that he and Sutton were together, he was able to talk the woman who had meant more to him than anything into spending the night. For the first time, she’d slept in his arms all night. Except for the times he’d woken her up to make love again. He should have been exhausted, but his soul was singing so exuberantly it gave his feet wings.

It was freeing. He’d always been attracted to Sutton but had to hide it for so long because of Liam. But now, he was free to show, not to mention experience, how much he cared for her. Hell, who was he kidding? He loved her. She was it for him, and he wanted to have a future with her.

But first, he needed to face his past. Which was why he now stood on the cracked sidewalk outside the hovel his mother had done a piss-poor job of raising him in. Studying the façade, he remembered the times he’d wished a tornado would come through and destroy the structure. In his childish brain, he’d associated the house with Ronnie. If the house vanished, she would too, and he could go live full time with his grandparents.

It would be years before the latter part of the wish was granted. He’d left the house, and Ronnie, and never looked back.

At least not until Bethany was born.

The first time he’d stepped foot back in the house to see the baby, he’d wanted to run far away but forced himself to stay. His baby sister was more important than his aversion to the place.

But when things disintegrated with Ronnie, he again associated the house with the fucked-up woman. He found other places to meet up with Bethany, rarely stepping foot in the house. The least he could do, since he couldn’t get custody of her, was give her an escape for however many hours he had with her.

When he’d left the service and started working for Nighthawk, he’d stayed in the barracks while he searched for the perfect house with Bethany in mind. He always believed she’d come live with him, refusing to accept any other outcome. His place was the complete opposite of the run-down ranch he hated.

He’d stayed in Bethany’s school district, unwilling to tear her away from her friends. He’d bought a newer build. A cookie-cutter in a neighborhood of similar homes. The back deck and yard had sold him on the house. He’d pictured all his friends and his sister enjoying summer evenings around a firepit he intended to build.

And now, that dream was becoming a reality, but it was even better because now it included Sutton, a woman he was falling in love with.

But before he could fulfill more of that dream, he had to face the house from his childhood one more time... for Bethany.

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