Page 61 of Mine to Protect

Another man, looking similarly out of place and dressed as a tourist, approached from the north.

No vehicle in sight.

Interesting.

And not necessarily smart.

“I care about Shelby, and I’m not going anywhere,” Rhett said. “How good of a shot are you really?”

“I compete with some of the best in both civilian and military marksmanship badges. I’d say I’m better than you. Not to mention, I’m studying to be a cop.”

Rhett jerked his head. That was brand-new information. “How does your sister not know this?”

Chris exhaled. “As close as we are, there are things we don’t tell each other. It’s an odd dynamic because of our mom and my drug use and I want to change it.”

“Good,” Rhett said. “And for the record, My mom’s hiring. She could use someone like you.”

“Jackie and I were talking about how nice Lighthouse Cove is. And considering my sister is probably going to want to move here—”

“Jumping the gun, but I hope you’re right.” He concentrated on his breath, taking it in slowly through the nose and letting it out through his mouth. “I don’t know where their SUV is, and since they know what you look like, I’m going to walk over and find out what the fuck they’re doing.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“It’s not the worst.” Rhett watched as one of the men walked around the back of the RV while the other tapped on the door. “Have you ever been skeet shooting?”

Chris sighed. “I’ve got your back.”

“If I die today, your sister isn’t going to forgive you.”

“Nope. She’ll make me suffer for the rest of my life, so let’s live to see another sunrise, okay?”

“That’s the plan.” Rhett rolled his shoulders. Time to put an end to this bullshit so he could start the rest of his life.

With Shelby.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Shelby flew from Rebecca’s car and raced into Rhett’s house. “Chris? Jackie? Where are you?” She skidded to a stop in the middle of the family room, staring at a couple of people she didn’t know.

And Jackie.

No Chris.

She turned to Miles. “Where’s my brother?”

He shrugged and turned.

Jackie stood. “He didn’t tell me he was going to stay behind.” She inched closer to Shelby, standing about a foot away. “I would have stopped him if I’d known what he was planning.”

“You couldn’t have,” a man, who Shelby knew as Jackie’s uncle, said. “He’s strong-willed, and Miles agreed with his plan.”

“You what?” She turned back to Rhett’s brother and glared. “Why? My brother’s not a cop or a private investigator.” She waggled her finger at Miles. “And if you start in on his gun skills, I’ll find a weapon and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.”

“Wow. I like this side of you,” Rebecca said from somewhere on the other side of the room. “However, there’s nothing we can do. What’s done is done.”

Shelby’s blood turned to fire in her veins. Her brother had always had an obsession with guns, and it drove her crazy. When he was using, she’d stressed that he’d do something stupid.

Sober, she just worried.

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