Matt stiffened. His eyes closed briefly, and he lifted his head to reopen them. “Yes. I guess it does.”
Ah, so much like Shane. The need to protect was ingrained. “I always wanted a brother.” She ignored Matt’s loud exhale. “Alone in the foster homes, sometimes scared, always lonely. I prayed so hard for brothers.” It was the truth. So many times she’d hoped a brother would show up to protect her. Love her. Just be hers.
“You’re killing me.” Matt’s voice dropped to a rumble that sounded just like Shane.
“I know,” she whispered. The second they’d all shown up when she needed help had cinched it for her. She wanted a family—no matter how damaged it might be. “But I’m not letting him go this time. You might as well get on board now.” Realizing the truth, admitting it out loud, filled her with determination. “I’ve wanted a family my entire life. Now I’ve got one.” Whoever they were, whatever they’d done, they were hers. Right or wrong, she was keeping them. “That includes you, Matt.”
The sound he gave may have been a groan. A strangled groan. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Of course I do. The danger is over. We know one of my clients bugged my house. This isn’t about Shane. He’s safe.”
“Ah, darlin’. Shane will never be safe. And if he alerted us to his presence, he alerted the—”
“The?”
Matt cleared his throat. “Jesus. You’re good.” He took a turn between two large blue spruce trees onto a weed-riddled path. The Toyota jerked and dipped along the uneven road. “You need to understand we have enemies, and now they probably know exactly where Shane is.”
“You could get him to safety.”
Matt nodded. “Yes. I will get him to safety—whether he likes it or not.”
Relief had Josie’s shoulders relaxing. “Thanks. Now tell me about the military camp you all went to as kids. It sounds bad.”
“No.” Matt squinted into the pelting rain.
“Okay. Tell me about you. What do you do?”
“Um, I’m a U.S. marshal.”
Now that made no sense. Otherwise he would’ve called the cops and not let Shane torture George for information “No, you’re not.”
Matt flashed a grin. “Yeah, I am. For now, anyway.”
“Why?” She actually felt like a pestering younger sister. Warmth filtered through her along with curiosity. “I’ll bug you until you tell me.”
He rolled his eyes. “I need to find somebody, and marshals find people.”
“Who are you trying to find?”
“A woman who has answers I need.” His jaw hardened.
“It sounds like you don’t like her much.” Josie shivered. Having Matt as an enemy would be downright terrifying.
“No. Let’s just say she’s not a softie like you.”
Frustration ripped through her nerves. “Tell me something. What the hell is up with you guys and soft women? I mean, what makes you think most of us can’t face this world?”
“Ah, Josie. There are parts of this world you can’t even imagine. I wouldn’t want you to.” He shook his head. “More importantly, I wouldn’t want someone to hurt you to get to Shane. There are people out there who would be overjoyed to harm you.”
So much responsibility and determination in the set of Matt’s shoulders. “You’re the oldest, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Responsible for everybody?”
“Yes.”
“That’s quite the burden, Matt. Three brothers to be responsible for.”
He pulled abreast a large log cabin, switching off the ignition and turning to face her. “Two brothers these days. And now one sister.”
Chapter 19
Shane slipped out of the SUV, his gaze on the quiet cabin. Blood covered his clothing from his interrogation. Was Josie already asleep? “I just need to walk for a minute.”
Nathan shut his door and tossed a flask at him. “Drink.” Highlighted by the moon, he leaned against the Jeep’s grill, arms crossed. Broad and dangerous, even leaning he didn’t appear remotely relaxed.
Shane unscrewed the cap and took a hit of Bourbon. The blend burned down to his gut.
“Now, talk.” Nathan didn’t move an inch from his position.
Shane shuffled his feet and threw back the flask. “You talk. I need to know about my past.”
Nathan turned, pinning him with a dark gaze. “How’s your gut? Your head? Your legs?”
His gut hurt, his head spun, and his legs felt wobbly. “Fine. Why?”
“I’ll hit you if I have to, Shane. I’d rather not.” Nathan tipped back his head and drank.
Shane jerked his head. “I feel sick.” Now. But while he’d been interrogating George, he’d been calm as a dead pond. “I knew just how to get answers from that bastard.” Frankly, he’d scared the shit out of himself. Well, afterward. During, he hadn’t felt a damn thing.
Nathan wiped off his bottom lip. “Our training is good.”
“We’re not normal.” There was no way they were normal. “God. The things he could do—the things he would do. He was a fucking abomination.
“Not even close.”