“Lilly pulled herself together through pure grit and determination. Make no mistake, her mama had a lot to do with it, but that’s not surprising. I’ve never meant a stronger, sweeter woman than Rochelle Bertrand. Remember, she practically raised me after Mama died, even when I was a stubborn, angry little cuss. Given the chance, that woman could probably cure the world with her tough love, faith, and peach cobbler. As far as I can see, those Bertrand sisters are exactly like their mama. Don’t underestimate any one of them, because you will only be proven wrong.”
“That is the truth. I’ll see you in a bit.” Disconnecting the call, Brock let out a breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding. Memories swamped him as he rolled down the highway. After his mama had died from cancer, Rochelle Bertrand took him and his brothers under her care.
His daddy had been lost in grief for years and had no idea what to do with three boys. Had it not been for her, they might have all grown up feral. She was a no-nonsense woman with a huge heart. They sat at her dinner table every night for two years and many nights after that.
The normalcy of that house had saved him and his brothers, and it wasn’t anything they would ever forget. For Brody, she was more of a mother to him than the woman who gave birth to him. Probably Brady, too. As the oldest, Brock had real memories of his mama and held them close to this day, but his younger brothers didn’t have enough time with her to have memories of their own.
Running his hand over his hair, he tried to release the tension in his shoulders. Thinking of Lilly in danger made his anger hard to control. The fact that he’d been on the other side of the world and wasn’t there to help her burned a hole in his gut.
Well, he was here now and was going to make damn sure that nothing like that happened again. The first thing he needed to do was gather intel. After he had that, he would make a plan to ensure her continued safety. No matter what she said.
Brody had been right; the Bertrand sisters were just like their mama. Nothing would move them off their path, no matter the circumstances. All he had to do was make sure he came up with a plan she could live with. Because the truth was, it was his fight now. Anything that threatened Lilly always would be.