Page 34 of Hendrix

My lips twitched. “Well, yeah.”

He barked a laugh. “That’ll make the fucker squirm.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I said under my breath as I signaled left and took the turn for the hotel.

Breaker hadn’t been here before. Cash and Cara had, and of course, Freya’s dad, John Stone, had visited her and Colt a few times along with his wife Elise. Atlas had also made it his business to come and check the place out and get to know Diablo, his counterpart. Considering Breaker called every week to check on Carina and Gigi, it suddenly occurred to me it was strange this was his first time in Virginia.

“It’s good to finally have you here, brother,” I told him. “It’s been a long time coming.”

“Good to be here,” he responded quietly, throwing me a furtive glance. “Getting VP hasn’t been a natural progression for me. I’ve had to work hard at balancing everything, as well as making sure I was on top of my Vet Center meetings and keeping my head straight. Glad to be here; wish it was under better circumstances, but rest assured, Drix, we’re gonna get Anna outta there safely.”

My heart panged at the mention of her name.

Anna Bouchard was kind and thoughtful, and she’d do anything for anyone who deserved it. The problem was, I stopped deserving her good grace the minute I began to fuck her around. I was scared of what she was to me and tried to make myself believe she wasn’t important.

Now, we were both suffering the consequences.

My breath caught the same way it always did as the hotel emerged from behind the flowering dogwood trees. “Welcome to The Lincoln, brother.”

Breaker sat forward, mesmerized. “Jesus, Drix. This place is spectacular, and the welcoming committee’s here.”

My stare caught on the double entrance doors of the hotel to see Colt engulfing Freya in his arms with Iceman beside him.

Freya broke away from her ol’ man and flew down the steps toward the car, her long, dark hair streaming behind her.

With a chuckle, Breaker threw his door open and jumped out, opening his arms wide for his sister to run into. “How ya doin’, Frey?” I heard him ask as I slid out of the SUV and walked around the hood toward them.

Freya pulled back from their embrace, her hands raising to hold her brother’s cheeks so she could carefully inspect him. “You look well,” she murmured, her eyes misty as they roved over his face. “Healthy.”

He grinned down at her. “I’m good. You’re even more beautiful.”

She waved off his compliment. “Are Kennedy and the kids okay?”

His grin widened. “Perfect. Kitten’s still kicking ass and taking names with her law practice. Kai’s started training, and he’s already nearly as tall as I am. The baby’s good and healthy, and Kady’s growing up to be so fucking pretty it scares the shit outta me. They all send their love, and Kennedy said to tell you it’s on for this summer once school’s out.”

“Can’t wait,” Freya breathed. “It’ll be amazing.”

I watched Colt saunter over with Iceman trailing behind him. “Yo, Break,” he called over. “How’s it hanging?”

Breaker released Freya, gently pulled her to his side, and slid a casual arm across her shoulders. “Shit. The Feds have finally caught up with me.”

Colt approached, grabbing Break’s hand and pulling him in for a man hug. “Good to see ya, brother.”

Breaker clapped him hard on the back before letting go and moving onto Iceman and doing the same. “Good to see you guys, too. This place is fuckin’ crazy gorgeous and right on the water, too. Bet summer’s a blast.”

“Gotta admit, I don’t hate it,” Ice told him. “Where the fuck have you been, bro? Thought you weren’t gonna be a stranger.”

Breaker pulled away and shrugged. “Work, treatment, wife, new baby, kids. You know how it is.”

“Not really, except for the whole work thing,” Ice responded.

“Has nobody made an honest man of you yet?” Break joked.

Ice winced slightly, probably thinking of Marney from the night before. “Nah, ‘fraid not. Still looking for Mrs. Right.”

“SPC Snow!” a deep voice boomed from the top of the hotel steps. “Thought you got lost.”

Breaker turned toward the hotel, and a wide smile stretched across his face. “Yo, LT. Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

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