Page 137 of Delicate Escape

Thea blinked up at me, trying to clear the tears away. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

She dropped her head to my chest and let my arms engulf her. It was too much. Getting Thea to let me help her was a battle on a good day. To have her give in so easily now…it ground into me. I missed that stubborn streak. The fire.

But I held on to Thea. As if I could somehow bleed reassurance, strength, and safety into her.

A familiar black truck pulled up amidst all the law enforcement vehicles. I knew what it took for Anson to come here with all of them present. It took him back to a time he hated remembering, but still, he’d come. A true friend. A brother.

Rhodes got out of the truck first, her dark brown hair flying around her as she charged toward the back deck. Even in the low evening light, I saw the concern and fear in my sister’s hazel eyes.

But I didn’t take it on as mine this time. Because it wasn’t. I didn’t instantly try to fix it either. Because I knew that worry was a gift for a friend she loved.

Thea straightened at Rhodes’ approach, and I took the mug from her hands, setting it on the small table next to the chaise. It was a good thing I did because the second Rhodes was within reach, she pulled Thea up and into a tight hug.

Rhodes held on to her for a long time without saying anything. Then a few curses left her lips. “I’m going tokillhim. But I’m thinking I’ll torture him first. Gonna remove a few fingers. Or maybe I should start with his balls.”

“Jesus,” Anson muttered, making his way onto the deck. “Do I need to build you a murder shed, Reckless?”

Rhodes turned angry eyes toward him. “Whatever it takes to make that douchebag, dipshit, puke stain suffer.”

A laugh bubbled out of Thea, and it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. I waited for relief to come at hearing it, but it didn’t. I was still too keyed up.

“Puke stain?” Thea asked, pulling back from Rhodes’ hold.

She shrugged. “It fits. Not even his own stomach wants him.”

Thea shook her head, but a faint smile stayed on her lips. “Thanks for being such a good friend.”

“I’m okay, but when I turn ole Bren-Bren into a ballless wonder, I’m really going to deserve a gold star.”

Thea turned to Anson. “Are you watching your back when you sleep?”

He chuckled. “Definitely careful not to step a toe out of line.”

Rhodes rolled her eyes. “You spanked my ass in front of the entire crew this morning.”

Anson simply shrugged. “You were getting sassy. And you know what those shorts do to me.”

“Please, God, make it stop,” I muttered as I stood.

Thea laughed again, moving to me and wrapping an arm around my waist. “Earmuffs?”

“Even the world’s best noise-canceling headphones wouldn’t be good enough.”

“Sorry, Shep,” Rhodes singsonged.

“You are not.”

She just grinned back at me. But that smile died as she took in the greenhouse. “I didn’t know it was this bad.”

Thea stiffened next to me, and I wanted to curse. But I bit itback and forced calm to my tone. “We’re going to rebuild it. Even better than before.”

Rhodes turned back to us, worry in her eyes. “I’ll help. And you know Duncan will give you an extra discount for plants.”

Thea shook her head. “He doesn’t have to do?—”

“He’ll want to.” Rhodes met Thea’s eyes. “It’s what family does.”

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