Simple. Burn him and set his ashes loose on the wind.
Except I needed to complete my healing. I dared not face my brother while weakened, in pain. How long before I’d be strong enough to confront him? A week? More? Dragons obviously healed fast, as I’d spent a night in the ICU, then two days in the hospital before the doctor signed me out. Two more days should see my healing nearly complete.
And Carter?
He knew where I lived. I felt sure of it. If he attacked the house, Avery could certainly fight him off. Declan was no mere five-year-old kid. He couldn’t fly, but he could flame. His dragon hide would also protect him from almost anything. Against the three of us, Carter stood no chance.
“What are you thinking about?”
Avery sat on the coffee table and took my hands. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just thinking about Carter. If he came through that door right now.”
“He’s your brother,” Avery said slowly. “Is he a dragon?”
“I don’t know,” I replied honestly. “When I promised I’d kill him, he backed off. If he’s a dragon, he may not know it.”
Avery kissed my knuckles. “If he came through that door, he’ll be drifting on the wind before he can shift.”
***
Carter didn’t bust through the door.
I healed faster than a normal human. Within days of leaving the hospital, I regained all my strength and set the pain killers aside. Avery returned to work, and Declan returned to his schooling. Max slept, and the cats wrangled with one another.
Life went on.
Until I clicked Carter’s number on my cell phone.
“Sis,” he said cheerfully by way of greeting. “I hoped you’d call.”
“Are you still looking to talk to me?” I asked, my voice neutral.
“Hell, yeah. We can work this out, I promise.”
“By shooting me?”
I heard the hesitation in his voice. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d do it face to face. You think I was the one who shot you?”
“Damn right I do.”
“I don’t work that way, Jacy,” he snapped. “I’d look you straight in the eyes before I shot you.”
“So that wasn’t you in the truck with the rifle?”
“No, it sure as shit wasn’t.”
“I don’t believe you. You want to work this out, bro?”
“I do.”
“Then meet me the night after next. Midnight. At the junction of the state highway and County Road Five. You know where that is?”
“I’ll find it.”
“Good. I hope you’re ready to die.”
Chapter Twenty
