The Luck of Love by Serena Akeroyd Read Free Book Online

realistic.”
    “No, we don’t. Not where our baby girl is concerned.”
    She thought back to the last time they’d visited Lucas’s family house. He had a big family. Four brothers, all in the Forces at one time or another, and Robert, his father, was a retired naval captain. Each brother had at least two kids; one of them had six.
    Robert had appeared to be kind to Lexi, but now, when she looked back at each visit, she tried to analyze them to see if the signs had already been there and she’d missed them.
    That Lexi might have been repeatedly scorned by a man who was supposed to protect her enraged her. In fact, it pissed her off more than the shitty parenting behind some of the schoolyard brats who upset her little girl.
    This was close to home.
    Too close.
    Robert and Louise weren’t exactly millionaires, for Christ’s sake. Any legacy they had to pass on would help with college, but it wouldn’t buy a new goddamn house. That they wanted to exclude Lexi hurt.
    “Stop it, Gia. Don’t you think I know what you’re thinking? I thought the exact same thing. I’ve been looking for clues that he’s been mean to her without our knowing.
    “When I came out, he said he understood, and he’s always been decent to me. Never treated me differently from my brothers. But maybe that was a lie too. Maybe my entire relationship with my father is a lie? I don’t know if it is or isn’t.”
    “How long have you been thinking about this?”
    At Josh’s words, Luke rested his chin on Gia’s shoulder and peered over at his lover. “Since I got the orders three months ago.”
    She stiffened on his lap. “You’ve known for three months that you’re leaving?”
    He blew out a breath, then burrowed his head against her throat. While she was furious, she could feel tension strumming through him like live wire. She ran her fingers over the back of his skull, scraping her nails as she went, making him shudder at her touch. “Yeah.”
    “Why didn’t you tell us?”
    “Because he thinks he’s going to die over there,” Josh retorted, blunt as ever. “That’s why he spoke to his father. He wants to get all his affairs in order.” He shook his head, his silvery glare like red-hot glass that pierced her to the quick.
    And she wasn’t even the intended recipient.
    “You’re not going anywhere, baby,” she murmured, pressing her lips against Luke’s temple. “You’ve got too much to live for.”
    “It’s a different world over there, Gia.” He pulled in a breath. “Before, it was dangerous. Yeah, I’m not going to lie. But this time? With ISIS? It’s a freakin’ war zone again. I don’t know what we’re going into, what we’re doing there—I mean, I have an idea but nothing concrete. It’s a secret, and I’m not supposed to share it with you or Josh. You can’t tell anyone.”
    Josh snorted. “Yeah, like we’re going to share the nation’s secrets.”
    “It’s more than that. You know we’re not supposed to be there.”
    “The security forces still need our help,” Josh retorted. “It wouldn’t come as a shock. We’ve stuck our noses in this far; what’s a little more?”
    “It doesn’t matter. My commanding officer told me to keep quiet. They’re not even sending a full battalion over. Just a squadron.” As he swallowed, he pulled away from the tight clutch of her arms and sat back on the bench. She didn’t think he realized he rubbed a hand over his heart when he said, “I have a bad feeling about this. I can’t help it. I’m not wishing it on myself. Do you think I want this to be over? Of course I goddamn don’t. But this time, I’ve got a lot more to lose.
    “And with my father's so-called support? It’s just got on top of me.”
    “Why the hell didn’t you let us know how this was hurting you?”
    Josh huffed. “Same could be said for you, Gia. You two need to learn to share more.”
    That had both of them stiffening, then turning to gawk at him. After two seconds passed,