Ryker (Hope City #6) - Kris Michaels Page 0,78

for him, but he is my father. I will always try to be the man he raised me to be. Except in this situation, he is dead wrong, and we've all talked. We're successful. If Father wants to cut ties, we'll all be okay. We hope it won't come to that, but he's hurt all of us by driving a wedge between us. It's time to heal. If he can't be a part of that, it's his own fault.”

“Call the rest of the boys then. I'd like you to meet our family.” Ryker put his arm around Brie.

“Perfect.” Xander smiled as Killian removed his phone from his pocket. He nodded to the sling. “I thought you were supposed to be out of that by now.”

Brie tipped back her head and laughed. “Oh, boy! Xander, why don't we go into the backyard and grab a beer?”

Xander offered her his arm. “Why do I get the feeling there is a story there?”

Ryker watched them walk into the backyard arm-in-arm. “They're on their way.” Killian pocketed his phone. “Elias doesn't have much time away from the hospital, but he wanted to be here to congratulate you. Dimitri, Xander, and I can stay for the duration, but we've all agreed if it becomes uncomfortable for you, we'll leave. We don't want to disrupt your life.”

Ryker nodded toward the backyard. “That family is like the family we could have been. They are the salt of the earth and are way too deep in each other's business.” He turned at the sound of car doors closing. His brothers strode up the walk. They'd changed so much yet remained the same.

Elias was in the lead. Dimitri’s smile lit up the street and he bounded forward. The hug wasn't as hard as he was suspecting, which was a godsend. He didn't want to face Doctor Phillips anytime soon. “I missed you, Ry.”

He hugged his brother back. “I missed you, too.”

Elias hugged him gently after Dimitri moved away. His youngest brother backed away and looked down at his scrubs. “Not really in party attire. I've got to head back. Another resident is covering for me. Killian and Xander will take Dimitri home, but I wanted to come and say congratulations.”

“Would you like to meet Brie?” Ryker motioned toward the back yard.

“I really can't today. But next time I get a break, maybe we could do dinner or something?” Elias cautiously offered the suggestion as if Ryker would bat it away like a foul-smelling fish.

Ryker smiled. “We'd like that.”

“Yeah?” Elias' smile rivaled Dimitri’s.

“Definitely. You name the date, and dinner is on me.”

“Thank God. Medical residents do not make a lot of money.” Elias gave him another hug. “See you soon.” He turned and jogged back to the car they drove up in.

Ryker motioned to his two brothers. “Time to meet the rest of the family.”

Brie sat in one of the Adirondack chairs under the weave of fairy lights that her mother loved so much. The day had been long but perfect. Ryker and his brothers had learned to relax around each other as the day wore on. The laughter from the picnic tables where the men gathered brought a smile to her face.

“Goodness, Brie, you didn't find one fantastic man, you found four!” Tara sat down on the lawn with her glass of wine.

“Five. He has four brothers. The youngest is a medical resident and couldn't get away.”

“A doctor?” Bekki claimed an empty chair. “Yummy. So, the Terrell brothers are smart and good looking.”

“Not Terrell, their last name is Ganas. They're half-brothers.”

Bekki choked and wine tipped from her glass as she coughed. Brie leaned and whapped her sister on the back. Erin McBride grabbed Brie's arm and stopped her. “You're going to kill her before she catches her breath.”

Bekki nodded, still coughing but holding her hand up to stop Brie from pounding her on the back again.

“What's going on?” Caitlyn McBride dropped into another chair.

“Brie is trying to kill Bekki,” Erin explained. “Where are the rest of the chicks?”

“Oh. Brie, stop trying to kill Bekki." Caitlyn waved at the house. "Kallie and Amber are keeping the moms and kids occupied in the kitchen while they visit with Kimberly. She's nice and digs the moms. Hey, do you know if any of Ryker's brothers are married?”

“I don't think so. Why? Which one are you targeting?” Brie spoke as she watched Bekki wipe her eyes.

“All of them.” Caitlyn and Erin said at the same time. She pointed across the lawn. “Is that