Hero - The Ambush: Special Forces Romance by M. S. Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

healthy shot of vodka into two Bloody Marys.
    I turned my eyes to Haze. “And then my bodyguard is going to tell me why he thinks my life is in danger.”
    Ian stopped stirring and Haze scowled as my brother pointed a swizzle stick at him. “Is there something you aren't telling us?”
    “Yes,” Haze said. “You're lucky I didn't knock you unconscious.”
    Ian laughed. “Might need to brush up on my hand-to-hand combat skills, huh?”
    A chill went down my spine. “Why would you need to do that? Just stop skulking around other people's properties without an invitation.”
    Ian sipped his Bloody Mary. “I gotta tell you something, Leighton, and you can't be mad.”
    I took my glass and held it with both hands, as if expecting the alcohol to somehow warm me. “I'm not promising anything.”
    “I re-enlisted this morning.”
    I'd already known what he was going to say, but the words still sent a pain through my heart. I concentrated on a few more long sips and said nothing, not trusting myself to speak.
    “Come on, Sis, I know you're mad, but this is the best thing for me. I didn't want to leave the army in the first place. You know that. Grandfather made it happen. This is what I really want to do,” Ian said.
    “You really want to run off and try to get killed?” I asked, my voice quiet. I didn't understand how he could do this to me. To himself.
    The front door clicked again as Haze let himself out, but I barely noticed him going. My attention was focused on my little brother. Ian leaned heavily on the counter and looked at his feet. The silence stretched between us as we stood there in the kitchen together, miserable.
    “I need this,” Ian finally spoke. “You know how it is here, and it's not a good place for me. The army gives me a chance to get out, have a purpose, help people.”
    I slammed my drink down on the granite counter, surprised that I didn't at least crack the glass. “Tell yourself whatever you want, Ian. I can't stop you, but I'm not going to help you either. You get to tell Grandfather all on your own.”
    Ian stirred his drink and it hit me.
    “You already told him,” I said flatly. “What did he say?”
    “He wasn't happy. At first. But he came around, finally agreed that the army could offer me my own career.”
    Ian's shamrock green eyes were pleading and, in that moment, he looked so much like our father that it made my chest hurt.
    “I found something I really want to do, Leighton. Something I'm good at, a place I can be my own man.”
    I should have been happy for him, but it felt as if chains were tightening around my heart. Ian had a purpose, a direction, and now he had our grandfather's support. Three things I'd never had. Would never have.
    “There are millions of jobs here that you can get on your own. And if you want to get away that badly, you can move to another state, another country. You don't need to join the army to move out on your own. Grandfather would give you part of your inheritance even though you're not twenty-one yet.”
    “The army pays for my training, for my room and board,” he said. “I won't need my inheritance.”
    “And all you have to do is pay with your life,” I snapped.
    He sighed. “Leighton, I'm sorry. I know you feel like I'm leaving you all on your own.”
    I looked away. “Why does that matter? I'm fine on my own. I'm not helpless. I don't need you. Go ahead, go out and get yourself shot up and blown to bits again.”
    “The least you could do is try to be happy for me.” I could hear the hurt in his voice.
    “Happy that you're throwing your life away?” My eyes burned and I forced the tears back. “I'm not going to tell you it's okay. I'm not going to make it easy for you to run off and be an idiot.” I couldn’t stop and I felt my breath coming in and out too fast.
    Why was I the only one who could see Ian was throwing himself in the line of fire because he didn't want to be here? He never liked being linked with our parents