Take (Fury Brothers #4)

With a nod, I headed for the front door.

In my kitchen, I stood with a steak on the griddle pan, rice in the rice cooker, and green beans sautéing.

The lights of the city twinkled outside the wall of windows. I wondered what Frankie was doing.

Stop thinking about her.

I plated up my steak and the rest of the food, then sat at the end of my dining table. She’d be fine. She’d pulled herself together after the attack. She was strong.

And I’d have my team over there tomorrow to install a security system.

As I ate, I kept thinking about her.

I was halfway through my steak when I set my utensils down. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed my cellphone and walked to the windows. I touched the number.

“Hello?” Frankie’s voice.

“You doing okay?”

There was a pause. “Yes, Dad. I ate dinner. I locked the doors.”

Her sass had returned.

“I’m all right, Reath. I had a long chat with my mom.”

I didn’t say anything.

“God, you’re just like Jack. He doesn’t say a word, and I feel the need to spill my guts.” I heard a sound, the slap of the cushion. I imagined her curled up on her couch. “I’m a little shaken, but I’m not letting that asshole get the better of me.”

I smiled at her tone. “Good.”

“I’ve checked the locks like five times.”

My smile evaporated. I didn’t like the idea of her feeling afraid in her own home.

“But it’ll pass. And I still have my field hockey stick. I’m going to take it to bed with me.”

“You played hockey?”

“Yes. I wanted to play ice hockey, but my mom said no. We couldn’t afford it. I played field hockey in high school.” She paused. “I bet you played football.”

“No. I moved around too much. Makes it hard to train when you start at a new school too often.”

“I’m sorry. Jack told me you were in foster care.”

“Yeah.” I wandered over to my own black leather couch and sat. I rarely talked about my childhood with anyone.

“You met your brothers in foster care?” she asked.

“Yes. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. And then joining the military and meeting Jack was important too.”

“He talked about you all the time. I was kind of jealous of you when I was young. I know how close you and Jack are.”

“I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like these days.”

She made a sound. “I’ve never gotten to see him as much as I’d like. I wish Jack would stop flying off to who knows where and doing dangerous things. He pushes himself. Just like our father did.”

“I’ve tried. I’ve offered him a job at PSS.”