Page 106 of Caged

“Any time, Son. Though I’d prefer not having to do it again.”

We clinked glasses. “Noted.”

“You look like shit, Little Brother.”

“Good to see you, too, Madi,” I answered. Ma said Madi was worried, but from her greeting it was obvious she’d been kept in the loop.

It felt weird being on this side of the video. Until a few months ago, I had to video chat from whatever Marine base I was on. Now Madi was the only Sheppard still serving active duty, though she planned on leaving the Navy when her enlistment ended.

“Seriously, though, I’m glad you’re okay. Ma said you’re in bad shape, but Dad said your injuries aren’t too bad, so I didn’t know what to expect.” As a Navy corpsman, and a soon to be civilian nurse practitioner, Madi wouldn’t shy away from the gory details.

Not that I’d share them.

“A lot of bruises and a couple of fractured ribs.” I shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

My mom’s sharp intake of breath caused both my brothers to punch me, one on each arm.

“What the hell was that for?”

“For scaring Ma,” they said together. Damn it. I hated it when they teamed up on me. Even more so when they were right.

“Sorry, Ma.”

Madi laughed, “Can’t wait to come home in July and see you guys, even if you are a pain in the ass.”

“They started it.” I laughed.

Ignoring me, Jamie asked, “You’ll definitely be home for my wedding?”

“I wouldn’t dream of missing my little brother’s wedding.” She teased him.

“Twenty-two minutes, Madi,” he replied. Their running joke was as old as I could remember.Probably older.As the only girl, Madi loved being the oldest child. Even if it was only by twenty-two minutes.

“Meg!” Madi screeched.

“Sorry I’m late. Morning sickness isn’t just in the morning.” Meg looked a little green around the edges.

“Can I do anything?” Jack asked, pulling her onto his lap.

“You’re a good husband, Jack,” Madi said, her hands over her heart as she watched Jack fawn over Meg.

“I’m okay now,” Meg reassured him. “Did I miss anything good?”

“Just my brothers being shitheads,” Madi said with a laugh.

We all grumbled, but she talked over us. “I can’t wait to meet my first niece or nephew.”

“We’re happy you’ll be home to stay before he or she is born, so he or she doesn’t have to meet you over video chat,” Meg said.

“You and me both,” Madi agreed. “So, Jay, speaking of love.”We weren’t. “I hear you’ve got a thing for a former FBI agent?”

“What? No.”Maybe. “Who told you that?” No way would I have this conversation here, now.For all I know, Cate will go back to hating me now that the ordeal is over.

I didn’t really believe that, but I didn’t think she felt the same way I did. It didn’t help I was starting to question my own feelings. What if it was some version of Stockholm Syndrome that made me think I was in love with her?

I grinned, thinking Cate wouldknow the correct term.

“I think he doth protest too much,” Meg said.

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