Silent Scars (Surviving #4) by Ada Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

say.”
    “So you’re happy with it?”
    “Will, I signed the man’s contract. Yes I am happy to take the job. After hearing everything, I really do think she needs someone watching her back.”
    “She seemed nice.” Oh Jesus! My brother truly had turned into a girl since I’d been gone. I heard the hidden meaning behind his words. But he could forget it. That shit wasn’t happening.
    “She was,” I said, and then switched topics quickly. “Am I okay to get Izzy from school and you spend some time with my sis-in-law? I can take her to Jo’s for a few hours, give you two sometime alone and then bring her home before I head to Aloura’s. The tech guys should be finished by then.”
    “Yeah, all sounds good.”
    “I also note, little brother, you didn’t dispute me calling her my sister-in-law,” I joked, glancing at him from the corner of my eyes.
    “I think we both know I want to marry her.”
    “So?” At his silence I turned and faced him. “Why not ask her already?”
    His hands strangled the steering wheel, gripping it so tightly the leather creaked. “Because I need to think of the perfect –”
    “She isn’t Marissa. Emily she doesn’t need all that shit. What’s this really about?”
    “I don’t think my heart could take it if she said no,” he mumbled. His first wife was a total bitch who demanded the most ridiculously corny proposal known to man. Three times I believed the guy proposed before she agreed, and then she cheated on him.
    “She isn’t going to say no. Where’s the ring?”
    “What?”
    “I know you man. You’ve had it for weeks if not months until you grow some balls to ask her.”
    “I haven’t had it that long,” he huffed. His ears turned pink, and I wanted to howl with laughter.
    “How long?”
    He blew out a harassed breath but stayed silent. His jawed ticked. I was pissing him off.
    “How long Willy boy?” I chuckled.
    “Fuck off,” he spat. I waited, staring at his profile.
    “I spoke to Mom’s jeweller when Jo and I were over there after seeing you in the hospital.”
    His words stabbed straight into my gut at the reminder my family had to see my fucked up body.
    “A year. You’ve had an engagement ring for a year. Christ, Will.”
    “It needs to be perfect, damn it.”
    “Where is it?”
    “In the safe at the office.”
    “You are showing me, and then we are talking about your lack of fucking balls, my man.”
    Less than twenty minutes later, I was letting out a whistle when I opened the black velvet box. Will watched me, his hands in his pockets, tension in his jaw.
    “It’s platinum.” He pointed at the band.
    “It’s unusual,” I stated. It wasn’t at all what I expected. He picked a solitaire clear diamond for Marissa. Jo had gone with diamonds too for Lou.
    “What does that mean? Have I fucked up?” His hands went into his hair, and he looked utterly broken. I stared down at the ring in awe. In the centre was a heart-shaped brown diamond, with three tiny jewels encasing it. On the band on both sides were small emeralds and sapphires. This ring cost him thousands. I glanced up at my brother, a little shocked.
    “She always says my eyes remind her of emeralds.” He pointed to the tiny emeralds. “Hers are blue; that’s the sapphires. And Izzy’s are brown. She’s our heart so that’s why the brown diamond is front and centre and cut into a heart. I know it isn’t your typical engagement ring. Do you think it’s dumb? The colours are wrong aren’t they? I should have just gotten her the usual diamond. She’s going to think this is tacky.”
    “Will, bro, calm down. I think you have your perfect setting. This ring is all she needs. Apart from the fact she may kick you in the ass for the colossal amount you’ve spent. You have included her baby girl in a ring. Tell her what you told me, and I swear after she stops bawling, she’ll say yes.” I cleared my throat. “Even I can feel ovaries growing I'm so emotional.”
    I