Page 62 of Soaring Free
“I agree, and it felt right, didn’t it? Having all of us together like that?” Full court press. No bullshit.
She leans her head back and turns to face me. “Mmm. Yeah, like it all just … I don’t know, somehow fit, right?” I hum in agreement, but before I can respond, Jack sits in one of the chairs facing us and sets his tablet on the table between us.
“I had my assistant send you those contracts that we talked about,” Jack tells me. In addition to enjoying my time with the Callahans, I’ve also found myself in a bromance with her brothers, and I’m not mad about it. I find myself looking forward to the weekly poker games that have now become a standing appointment in my schedule. I also loved hearing Finn’s firsthand account of when he gifted Shane a parting gift from The Cavalry one week after their divorced was finalized—no one deserved a punch in the face more than that guy.
“Sounds good. I should be able to get those updates drafted and back to you within a few days.” Jack nods as Savannah looks back and forth between us.
“Excuse me, did you hire my boyfriend?” She narrows her eyes at her brother.
“Sure did. I trust the guy and you know how I feel about that.” Jack’s statement softens his sister’s glare. “And I suspect he is going to be around for a while, so I figured why not add someone else to my team that I trust?”
“It’s not exclusive. I’m just consulting on a few things, baby,” I tell Savannah. “The only exclusive relationship in my life is you.”
“And I approached him about it, not the other way around,” Jack clarifies. Savannah has mentioned before how people have tried to use her to get closer to her brothers, Jack specifically. But coming from the family that I do, I understood that better than most.
“Besides, he can’t have him work for him or it would ruin our poker game,” Finn adds as he sits in the chair next to Jack.
Savannah laughs. “Oh, heaven forbid that something ruins your poker game! Poor babies!” I lean over and kiss her on the top of head as she leans to rest it on my shoulder. “Speaking of actual babies, do y’all think those babies are going to give Viv a break on her honeymoon? I hope she isn’t sick the entire time.” Walker is taking his bride to Saint John for their honeymoon, but Vivian has been dealing with serious morning sickness that lasts all day. Ironically, she seems to feel the best very first thing in the morning.
“Probably not, but I get it after meeting Walker’s brothers,” Finn jokes. Walker is pretty serious most of the time, which makes sense as an FBI Agent, but his brothers brought out a playful side that I didn’t know the guy had in him. He calms down a little at poker nights, but he told me the Texas air allows him to relax unlike anywhere else. I get why Vivian mentioned them wanting to build a house on his family’s land for whenever they visit.
“We have to make sure we plan accordingly when Sam and Charlie come to deliver those horses after Walker and Viv’s house is built,” Jack tells his brother. It took about two seconds before the Bennett boys and Callahan brothers were pranking each other.
Finn nods. “Plenty of time to plan, but we need to do it right.” I shake my head laughing. Jack sounds more like anineteen-year-old kid than a forty-one-year-old man. Jack and Finn are quickly spouting ideas back and forth, while Savannah and I watch them like a tennis match.
“Thank you,” Savannah whispers.
“For what, baby?” I quietly respond.
“Coming with. Being here. Being you.”
“It’s my pleasure, Kitten.” She playfully jabs me at the nickname that she doesn’t fully love yet, but it fits her so well. I hold back before I say more, but I know I’ll be saying those three words to her soon enough. I’m just not going to tell her I love her for the first time in front of two of her brothers. I’ll announce it to the world, but only after I tell her privately first. The hard part is waiting for the right moment to tell her. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with Savannah Callahan-Williams, she’s easy to love—claws and all.
And I’m so incredibly lucky that she’s mine to love.
Chapter thirty-eight
“I don’t know why, but a fresh haircut and blowout always makes me feel like a million bucks,” I tell my sister as I hold my cell phone between my cheek and shoulder. I dig through my purse until I can find my lip gloss and quickly add a coat as I walk down the street. “I probably should have had it cut before your wedding but there literally wasn’t any time to squeeze it in.”
“I get it. I bet I would feel like a million bucks if I could stop throwing up. This has not been the most romantic honeymoon, but thankfully, Walker has been wonderful.” Her wistful tone brings a smile to my face knowing she really means that. Walker does whatever he can to support my sister, and it’s been adorable to see his eyes shine with pride and awe when he looks at her ever since they found out they were pregnant.
“You are so close to being out of the first trimester, so hopefully those hormones regulate, and the sweet babies can give you a little break.” I know most mamas look forward to the twelve-week point, but I know my sister won’t fully exhale until she is at the point of viability for the babies. I don’t bring up her late miscarriage because I know that loss is always on her heart; she will bring it up to me if she needs to talk about it. “And I’ll do my best to have Eloise absolutely worn out when y’all return next week.”
Vivian laughs in response. “Good luck. I’m sure that all the girls will need a good bath after playing at Daddy’s today, so enjoy feeling fabulous while it lasts.” She’s right, and the risk of mud is always amplified when one of our brothers joins in the fun. “Liam and Finn are both there today too so I’m sure they are rigging upsome kind of contraption that will still end with all of our girls filthy.” We visit for a few more minutes as I walk from the hair salon to the auto shop. There was some recall on my SUV and the shop needed the car for a few days, so I dropped it off before we went to Texas. We got back late last night, so Finn dropped me off before taking the girls out to Daddy’s this morning. The perk of living in a town the size of Forrest Falls means everything is walkable once you’re downtown. I wait my turn and sign some necessary paperwork for the repair before they give me my keys and tell me where in the lot my car is parked. It’s probably sat there for a day or two, but it seemed easier to have my car left here while I was gone than try to figure out daily life without a vehicle for a couple days.
My SUV is parked in the back corner of their gated lot, and I finish reading an email just as I reach my car. But as I walk around the backside of my SUV, I’m frozen to the spot, and I almost throw up when my eyes land on the driver’s side.
What in the actual hell?
I didn’t see anything from the passenger side when I walked up, but along almost the entire driver’s side of my white SUV someone has written the word 'WHORE' in something crimson red. I tentatively take a cautious step forward as I whip my head around to see if anyone is in the area, but the only thing around me right now are a few other cars parked in the lot. Despite not seeing anyone, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, making me feel like I’m not actually alone right now. As I move to the front of my SUV, my hand flies to my mouth—partially in shock, but partially to keep me from actually throwing up. Sitting on top of the hood of my car is an obviously dead squirrel and it’s clear what the red letters are written in on my car: someone used its blood to write that vile word on my vehicle.
Who would do this? And that poor squirrel!
I quickly turn away from the sight because I really might be sick. I don’t even know what I should do about this right now. I pull out my phone, pausing to debate who to call first. This might be more than Theo bargained for but my gut says to call himfirst, and I always listen to my intuition. I know he’s in court this morning, so it’s not surprising when he doesn’t answer. I could text him but I know he will call back when he’s out. Jack, Liam, or Daddy would be the next call, but I don’t want to spook the girls. Instead of opening our family chat or The Cavalry group chat, I start a separate group message with my brothers and Daddy. Vivian doesn’t need to worry about this right now.
Me
First, I’m ok. But I need help. Please do not alarm the girls! I need someone to come to the auto shop, and I need to call the police, but would rather have someone here with me. Theo is in court or I’d have him come, but Liam, can you come? I think you’re the best option right now…
