Page 68 of Liam
“The entire Blue Halo team is protecting me like I’m their own,” she said quietly.
“And now you’ll have me too.”
She was shaking her head before he finished speaking. “You can’t stay here, Cody. It’s too dangerous.”
“I told you, I can take care of myself.”
Oh, she knew how well her brother was trained. The man was skilled. That wasn’t her concern. “You’re not bullet or fireproof. Please. Trust Liam and his team to protect me, and once it’s over, everyone can visit. Hell, I’ll bring Liam back to visit.”
A muscle in Cody’s cheek ticked. “No.”
“Cody—”
“I’m not leaving. The best I can do is try to hold off the others from coming. But even then, I don’t know if they’ll listen.”
The others being her brothers. Argh.
At the resolution in her brother’s eyes, she knew it was a battle she wouldn’t win. “God, you’re stubborn.”
His brows rose. “I’mstubborn?”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay. We’re both stubborn. Let’s blame it on genetics.”
He laughed, and man, that sound was so familiar.
She slid her fingers through his. “I love you.”
He turned serious. “I love you too, Ny.”
“How’s the bar?”
“Barry’s giving me a damn headache with his bossiness. Anyone would thinkhewas the owner. And the new guys don’t know what hard work is.”
The thought of Barry made her grin. He’d worked in the bar since their father had taken over the place and was always on someone’s ass about something. “I’m sorry about the new guys, but I’m sure Barry will whip them into shape.” She sighed. “I miss Barry. And Mrs. Sandler’s cupcakes.”
Man, those cupcakes. She’d lived off them her entire life. The older woman had a little shop that was Nylah’s personal heaven. It was all pastel colors and served cupcakes and sweet drinks. Sometimes Barry left one of those cupcakes on her desk at the end of a particularly long day.
“Everyone misses you too,” he said quietly. “And if you come back and visit, I’m sure Mrs. Sandler will give you a dozen cupcakes to take home.”
A dozen? Ha. She’d go through that in a week. She needed ten dozen and a deep freezer to stash them in.
She leaned into Cody’s shoulder, and immediately his big strong arms wrapped around her.Thiswas what she’d missed the most. Hugs from her twin. Her best friend.
When she pulled back, he wiped a tear from her cheek that she didn’t realize had fallen.
“You staying for dinner?” she asked quietly.
“Definitely. I need to vet this boyfriend of yours.”
Nylah laughed. “Any other guy and I’d be worried. Fortunately, Liam can hold his own.”
“Good. I’ve been waiting for you to meet someone as strong as you.”
* * *
Liam liftedthe plates from the table as Nylah and her brother stood to do the same. The dinner had been spent with Nylah and Cody regaling him with stories of their childhood. Stories of their brothers and the headaches they’d given their father.
He’d learned about the entire family. Kayden, the oldest brother, who was slow to trust and didn’t joke often. He’d grown up wanting to help people so had joined the Air Force’s Special Warfare pararescue team
