Softly at Sunrise by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

of it still sent a wave of panic down her spine.
When they pulled up to the gates of the compound, for a moment Rachel went blank on the security code. She sat there staring at the keypad, feeling like the biggest moron.
“39561*425,” Shea supplied.
“Thank you,” Rachel said as she punched it in. “I’m still not used to having to access my house through a security net.”
“It makes the guys feel better,” Shea said with a shrug. “I guess by the time the children come along, we’ll feel the same.”
“You’re right there,” Rachel acknowledged.
And it was true. She wanted her children safe above all else. With the things that had already happened to the family over the past years, it wasn’t a stretch to believe that their children would be at risk.
It was a sobering reality of the profession the Kellys had taken on and the missions they were involved with.
She drove toward her house in the distance. The idea of living on a compound with other members of the family sounded a bit hokey and even a little creepy on the surface. But each house was set up so that it maintained its privacy from the other houses. They could see as little or as much of the rest of the family as they wanted. It was no different than living in any other planned subdivision. At least this way they got to choose their neighbors.
The houses were spread out and backed up to the lake so that each one had a magnificent view of the water. The training facilities and the war room where most of the planning and staging went on were well away from the houses so that there was at least a semblance of normalcy to the residences.
So far the only holdouts were Donovan and Joe and then, of course, Frank and Marlene. Sam was working steadily on his parents, but they’d refused to consider moving from the house they’d live in for forty-some odd years.
Rachel couldn’t really blame them, but she, like Sam, worried for their safety. Marlene had already been kidnapped once. It had been a sharp reminder to them all how close danger lurked at all times.
Ethan was waiting for them, leaning against his truck, as Rachel pulled up. He offered Shea a smile and called out a hello just as Sophie pulled in behind Rachel in her SUV.
“Girls night out, huh,” he said as he dropped a kiss on Rachel’s lips.
“Yep. Sam and Nathan are holding down the fort over at Sam and Sophie’s. You should go offer them moral support.”
Ethan laughed. “More likely I’ll watch while Charlotte paints their fingernails, and then I’ll get to call them pussies.”
Sophie glared at Ethan. “Just wait, Ethan. Your day is coming. Miss Charlotte will corner you, and I guarantee that you won’t tell that child no, and you’ll be sporting pink, glittery fingernails and toenails.”
“God help me,” Ethan muttered.
The rest of the women laughed.
“You ready, Rachel?” Sophie asked.
“Have fun and be careful,” Ethan said as the women turned to go.
Rachel and the others waved and then climbed back into Sophie’s SUV.
Thirty minutes later, they were seated at one of the back round tables at the Big Sandy Feed and Grain Mill sipping iced tea and waiting for their food to arrive.
Sarah cleared her throat. “I propose a toast.”
Sophie grabbed up her mason jar mug. “Oh do tell. I’m up for a good toast.”
“To a truly eventful couple of years and coming out on top just like the Kellys always do,” Sarah said solemnly. “And!” she broke in when the others would have toasted. “To Rachel and Ethan’s new beginning.”
Shea sent Rachel a secret smile and then raised her glass. Rachel grinned at her sisters-in-law and said, “I’ll certainly drink to that.”
The rest of the evening was spent laughing and poking fun at the Kelly men, but it was obvious the women adored their husbands beyond reason. It was also evident that the Kelly brothers loved their wives just as fiercely.
Rachel gazed wistfully at her sisters by marriage and imagined them all with children.