Page 21 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
“If you didn’t know what Myrt had beendealing with, then you can’t be pissed at yourself for not helpingher.” He entered the room and closed the door behind him, thenfolded into a squat, balancing himself with a knee on the floor.“You can’t take that on, Marian.”
“Herapedher.” The words were hardto push out, a verbal acknowledgment of the horror her littlesister had suffered. “She was just a child. Thad isstillachild.”My baby brother.Fists pressing to her temples, shebent over her lap, muffling her scream against her knees. “I wanttokillhim.”
“Would you? Given the chance, would you takethings into your own hands?”
“Yes.” No time to think, no time to wonderif she spoke the truth, the word burst forth from her lips. “I wantto. I want to go back to that mountain and hurt him. Kill him. Makehim feel a fraction of the pain he’s given my family.”
“And your father? What would you do tohim?”
Lifting her head, she leveled a glare atGunny, knowing he’d understand he wasn’t the true target. “I’llkill him, too.”
“If something happened to them both, wouldyou want to know? Want to hear the truth?”
She pulled her chin back, feeling the harshexpression on her face softening.He did something.“Yes.”Hoping he wouldn’t have noticed the instant of hesitation, shepushed forwards. “I’d want to know everything.”
“Would you feel justice had been served,even if not at your hands?”
“If they were both dead?” She swallowed hardand held out her hands, showing him how they trembled as with apalsy. “I’m so angry, Gunny. If they were here, I’d tear them limbfrom limb.They hurt my family.” Marian straightened,realizing she’d bent forward with the force of her shout. “Theyneed to pay.”
Silence stretched between them until Gunnyblinked, the corners of his mouth curling upward. “Fuckin’bloodthirsty woman. No wonder Shar likes you so much. Two of akind.” His head traveled side to side once, left, then right, thenback to center. “They paid, Marian. Paid in blood and pain. It’sdone, honey. And you’ll never have to worry about them again.”Deep, sonorous, his voice wrapped around her, the fierceness in histone holding her upright. “They fuckin’ paid.”
“Good.” Lifting her head, she stared intoGunny’s eyes, not flinching away from the anger she saw there. “Noregrets from me.”
“How often did your daddy beat you?”
“As often as he wanted.” The pain in herbody had been pushed aside during the emotional exchange and nowcame roaring back. “Since my momma passed. Even when he had Myrt’smomma, he’d turn his frustration on me.”
“Oh, darlin’. That’s a shit life,woman.”
“Yeah.” Her laugh could score glass, roughand brittle. “Yeah. It really was.”
“Now that? That sounds really good.”
Marian narrowed her eyes, lifting a brow asshe stared at him.
He grinned. “Puttin’ that shit in yourrearview. Past tense means you’re startin’ to move past it.”
“I’m going to miss you and Sharon when yougo home.” Forcing a smile on her face, she could only hold it for afew seconds before she had to look down and clear her throat,blinking back tears. “How does it work that I just met you but feellike I’ve always known you?”
“Don’t matter. Just matters what is. Sharand I are the same. We talked about it last night. You’re a littlesister at this point.” He huffed out a laugh and stood. “Come on,woman. Shar’s prolly freakin’ out, and her losin’ her mind ain’tgood, not for me at least. She’s gonna wanna make sure you’reokay.”
He held out a hand, and Marian accepted theoffer, meeting his palm with hers and marveling at how hisswallowed hers whole. He gave a tug and she was on her feet.
“If I’m the little sister in this scenario,does that count for Sharon too?” He nodded and opened the door,stepping back to allow her to pass through first. “Hmm. I think aperson can’t ever have too much good family.”
“That’s a true statement if I ever heardone, lady.”
They walked down the stairs with him acouple of steps behind, surging ahead when they got to the firstfloor so he could open the front door. Sure enough, Sharon andVanna both were on the porch, keen gazes locked on Marian as shecame through the opening.
“She’s good.” Sharon made a noise at Gunny’sstatement, and he held up both hands. “Swear, baby. Plus, you galsare two sticks, one fire. She’s got a retribution streak just aswide as yours is.” He pretended to wipe away a tear. “Made abrother proud. Real proud.”
Marian snorted and moved into Vanna’s arms,held wide to gently embrace her.
“You good, girl?”
Marian’s nod moved her face farther into thecrook of Vanna’s neck, and tears threatened again just becausethis—a level of motherly concern and affection she couldn’tremember ever being on the receiving end of—was almost too much.“I’m good.”
Heat enfolded her as Sharon’s voice camefrom next to her ear, and she understood the woman had pulled bothMarian and Vanna into her own hug. “Even if you aren’t right now,you will be. Saw a shirt the other day that resonated with me. Said‘It’ll be fine in the end. If it’s not fine, it’s not the end.’ Wejust gotta get past this mess, and you can settle into a lifesurrounded by people who love you for you. You and your sister.”Sharon’s laughter was low and filled with as much affection asVanna’s hug. “Birds of a feather. You deserve so much, and we’regoing to make sure you get it all.”
