“Are you all right?” Jory Dean instantly filled the screen. “The safe house blew up and Malloy wouldn’t tell me anything. He enjoys being a dick.”
“Can’t blame him. We never tell him anything,” Denver said slowly. “I’m fine. I blew it up, we ran, and we’re safe right here. Stay where you are, keep your brothers there, and I’ll call if I need help.”
Jory snarled. “Don’t brush me off. You’re out there alone, and that doesn’t work for me.”
“I’m not alone—”
“Yes, you are. Whether we’re brothers or not, we’re family. We never leave one of us alone. Never alone.” Jory’s gray eyes turned stormy.
Denver blinked. Had he just hurt Jory’s feelings? The guy was a bulldog and deadly soldier—one of the deadliest alive. His training had started at birth. Who knew he was so sensitive? “I’m sorry if I was curt,” Denver said hoarsely.
Jory rolled his eyes. “Don’t be a jackass.” He paused. “I, ah, I have the results of our genetic testing.”
Denver stilled. His breath caught. “What does it say?”
Jory glanced down. “I haven’t opened it yet. Thought we should do it together.”
Denver swallowed. “This is as close as we’re going to be for a while. Open it.”
Jory nodded and the sound of an envelope being ripped open came across the line. He glanced down to read, his eyes starting to darken.
Denver caught his expression. “We’re not brothers.” A fist dropped into his gut. Until that second he hadn’t realized how much he wanted that genetic link.
Jory looked up, his eyebrows down. “I don’t give a fuck what a test says. We’re family. At least one of your brothers is a half brother to my one of my brothers—”
“Jesus.” Denver snorted. “Okay. We’re family. Stop with the confusing brother talk.” His chest ached, and he fought the urge to rub it. The Scotch bottle beckoned him again, and he gripped the table to keep from reaching for it. Man, he’d wanted to be Jory’s brother, too. “It’s okay, Jory.”
“Promise we’re family,” Jory said, looking much younger all of a sudden. Like a wild wolf who’d been cornered and was trying to decide whether to nudge forward or attack with teeth bared.
Denver blinked as he let go of the dream of a genetic link with another person. He was fine making his own family in life, so why not give Jory the words? Jory was a good guy, and Denver liked him. “We’re family.” Yeah. It was true.
Jory cleared his throat, looking congenial again. “Okay. Enough with the mush. Did your truck survive the explosion?”
Denver’s jaw tightened.
“Ah, sorry man. That sucks.” Jory leaned to the side. “I’ll have my guy bring you a car tomorrow. What do you want?”
Denver leaned back. “Business is that good?” The Dean boys owned several businesses throughout the country that provided military-like services in the private sector.
“Yep. It’s great. You should come on board after this case is over,” Jory said.
Denver ignored the Scotch that was so damn near his hand. “I’ll keep it in mind. Have your guy bring something fast and good in the snow, and I promise I’ll pay you back.”
“No worries. Call in when you get to the next safe house.” Jory sobered. “Family means everything. You guys know that, right?”
Denver let the words ring true. “Yeah. It’s all we know.”
Jory grinned. “How is Noni?”
“Night, Jory.” Denver clicked off, a genuine chuckle rising up. The first part of his life had been shitty and then he’d found Ryker and Heath. Life had gotten shittier, then they’d escaped, and life had gotten a whole lot better. Now he had an entire family in Montana also.
Man, he hoped he lived through his next two missions.
Then there was Noni.
As if on cue, she moved into the room, her dark eyes grumpy and her hair all over. She slid his laptop onto the table. “The thing keeps beeping.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned and stumbled sleepily out of the kitchen.
Denver watched her the whole time, not sure what to say. His body sprang to full life, and his cock perked right up. Oh, he wanted to be back in bed with her.
