you lectured me endlessly about making damn sure I never did something so stupid again.
“Now, you tell me how that’s any different than what’s going on with you. You need help. You’ve got a family who’s all dying to pamper you and spoil you endlessly. Not everyone is as lucky to have a family like yours.”
She pulled away and stared up at him, a mystified look on her face.
“I guess I am being pretty stupid. I just feel so ashamed. It kills me that I can’t just turn off the need. Most days I’m okay, but then days like today I need it so much I feel like I’m going to die without it.”
“Those are the days you need your family the most,” he said gently.
She blew out a long breath and sagged against the seat.
“I’ll drive you home. Ethan can have one of his brothers come back to get the truck. You shouldn’t be driving right now. You’re damn lucky you didn’t wrap yourself around a telephone pole.”
She reached over and hugged him so tight he couldn’t catch his breath.
“Thank you,” she breathed. “Just thank you.”
He pulled her away long enough to level a hard stare at her. “Promise me something, Rachel. Promise me if you ever find yourself in that situation again, you’ll call me immediately. Don’t make me respond to a call because you’ve gotten involved with the wrong person and I have to be the one to tell Ethan you’re dead.”
She shivered and her eyes went wide, but he didn’t regret for a minute scaring her this time.
“I promise,” she said in a low voice.
“Okay then, let’s get you home.”
CHAPTER 29
“LEAVE it to Dad to make us all feel like shit,” Ethan grumbled.
Sam chuckled and Garrett just scowled.
The brothers stood outside with Nathan and Joe, while inside their mom was busy mopping up Rusty’s tears and laying down the law. Again.
“It was a stupid stunt. She should have known better,” Garrett growled.
“She’s a kid,” Nathan said in her defense. “A scared, strung-out kid who’s never had anyone give a damn about her. Cut her some slack. We all did some pretty stupid shit when we were her age.”
“Speak for yourself,” Joe said mockingly. “I was an angel.”
Snorts abounded.
“Where’s Van today anyway?” Nathan asked. “I wanted to see him before Joe and I head back to Fort Campbell.”
Sam and Garrett exchanged glances, and Ethan leaned forward in interest. So did Nathan and Joe.
“Researching a mission he’s taken on,” Sam said.
Joe’s brow went up. “He’s taken on? I take it you don’t approve?”
Garrett made a rude noise. “He’s heading the job with part of Steele’s team. Sam and I just don’t happen to be going along.”
Nathan made an exaggerated expression of shock. “You? Mr. Have to Be Involved in Everything? Not going?”
Garrett held up his middle finger. “Fuck you.”
Ethan’s cell phone rang, and he quickly dug into his pocket. Everyone who’d have any business calling him was with him. Except for Rachel.
He glanced at the LCD and frowned. Sean? He flipped the phone open and stuck it to his ear.
“Hey, man.”
“Ethan, hey. Look, I’m driving Rachel home, but I need one of your brothers to go pick up your truck. It’s on the shoulder of 79 just outside of town.”
Ethan motioned for his brothers to be quiet.
“What the hell? What happened? Why is Rachel with you?”
“She’s fine, Ethan. Relax. I don’t want to get into it on the phone. I’m on my way. We’ll be at your house in about ten. I just wanted to be sure you’d be there.”
Ethan held the phone away in shock when the call was disconnected. What the fuck? Blood pounded in his ears. Why hadn’t she called him, and why the hell was his truck on the side of the highway? He was going to kick Sean’s ass for this.
“What’s up?” Sam demanded.
Ethan shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Look, can one of you go get my truck? Sean said it’s parked on 79 just outside town. He’s driving Rachel home.”
“Shit,” Garrett swore. “Is Rachel okay?”
“Sean said she was but wouldn’t say anything else. I need a ride home. He said he’d be there in ten.”
“Come on,” Sam said in his usual take-charge manner. “Garrett and I’ll drive you home. Nathan? Can you take Joe to get Ethan’s truck and drive it back to his house?”
“Yeah sure. No problem.” Nathan looked in Ethan’s direction. “Hope everything’s okay, man.”
Ethan wasn’t paying attention. He was already climbing into Sam’s truck.