“You’re worried I’m gonna run and tattle to my woman that her big brother stopped by for a chat?” I didn’t miss the way Echo’s eyes flared when I called Shiloh my woman. Best for him to get used to it now. “Brother, as you said, I got balls. Seeing as I do, I don’t tattle. But I also won’t lie to her if she asks me straight out if you’ve been here. And if you gotta problem with her knowing then you should’ve thought twice before looking for me.”
“Twice a month, Sundays, we get together for dinner. Next one’s this weekend. I expect you there.”
Seriously, who the hell did he think he was?
“Two things, you want me at your table, you ask me and I’d be happy to share a meal. This Sunday’s TC’s company picnic—Shiloh and I have plans. You and your brothers want to stop by that’d be cool. Carter ordered two huge-ass pigs to roast and I heard Addy and Quinn talking about needing an extra table for all the food so there’ll be plenty. The invitation comes with a warning; when the Lenoxes, Walkers, Clarks, and McCoys get together anything goes. It will be bedlam. You’re up for that and don’t mind kids, come hungry.”
Echo studied me a minute and gave me a chin lift.
“I think I might like you.”
“That’d be good seeing as I’m falling in love with your sister and it’d suck I’d have to explain to her why her brother’s got a black eye and I got blood on my tee.”
I startled—actually jerked back when Echo Kent let out a roaring laugh. It was loud, it sounded menacing, and I wondered how many men he’d scared away from his sister using that maniacal cackle.
I’d venture to say all of them.
“Yeah, I think I like you. Which is gonna suck if I have to break you if you hurt my sister.”
“Just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
“Something you’ll learn. I love my sister more than anything else. More than River. More than Phoenix. More than my own life. I will fight and die for her. That girl’s had enough heartache and I’ll make damn sure she never feels it again. If you can survive her Killer Frost freeze-out then you’ll understand where I’m coming from. And if after that you learn what she’s been through, if you think what I’m saying is a threat and for the promise it is, then you aren’t very smart.”
There it was. He knew his sister.
“She tried the freeze-out,” I told him. “Landed a few good hits when she was throwing her barbs. Had me so fucking pissed I walked out. Sat in my truck and caught on to her play, walked back into her house. She was surprised I came back and told me everyone leaves. She learned fast how I am and I suspect you will, too, I’m not gonna be one more person in the long line of people who she’s successfully pushed away. And she straight out told me she does that, too. So the threat isn’t necessary.”
“She told you that?”
“She’s told me a variety of things I won’t be sharing with you. When I told you I knew Shiloh wasn’t easy, what I meant was, I know she’s shit scared and I’m doing everything I can to move us forward in the least painful way possible. To clear something up, I’m not stupid. I know I haven’t seen the last of Killer Frost. I’m just not gonna play her game. We’re playing mine and doing it with the finish line in sight.”
“And her nightmares?”
“I’m not breaking the trust I’m building and I hope you can appreciate why that is and leave it there.”
“Fuck,” Echo grunted and shook his head. “She got up in my shit last night before the takedown. When I asked her about you, thought she was gonna punch me or alternately shoot me. I should know better than to pick a fight with her when she’s armed. Though FYI, she’s got a mean right hook.”
I doubted Echo asked about me. He likely gave her shit which led to her returning the favor.
“You gave her shit before she had to kick in a door?”
Fuck no. Hell to the no. Shiloh didn’t need that shit when she needed her head straight.
Echo gave me a placating hand gesture that did not do a single thing to calm my anger.
“She’d been dodging me. It was the first chance I got to