Page 9 (1/1)

1

Jenna

“What’s his name?” John asks with fire in his voice That tone probably works on other people but nothis little sister, I’ve seen hi in filth and need our help So I know he’s got a soft spot, and besides one of thelected animals, the other one is for me

“John, I’ rush at Honeybee Coffee, the little shop I own in don Los Angeles I bought it with the inheritance I received when our parents passed away I would give it all back to have one more day withbehind the counter, ainst my shoulder as I et the sa every day At first I tried to upsell thes, but they’re not budging So nohen I see the the sidewalk, I start their drink order

“Handled? See, there is so on!” My brother is pretty laid back, except when it comes to me He’s ten years older thanti and has to know everything I’ It’s sort of hard for him since he’s stationed mostly on the East Coast now But when our parents passed a few years ago, he started thinking that he needed to step up as a big brother I don’t want to coh, because quite honestly, I need hi in this world alone Butfrom him

I snort loudly into the phone and then start to openly laugh

“What’s so funny?” he asks

“You You’re funny! You’re getting all bent out of shape because you don’t know so I swear it must really bother you to know that you have intel on top secret missions for the country but you don’t knoho your sister is dating” I pause and then cringe when I think about ”

“Was!” he screa on What did the asswipe do? If he hurt you just a name, Jenna That’s all I need is a name”

I signal over to Madison, er of the shop, and point to the office door She gives me a thumbs-up, and I leave her and the other two eo deal with my brother in the back

As soon as I shut the door, I start “John, listen, it’s fine We went out on a few dates He was too controlling, I broke it off, and he didn’t like that at all It’s fine I’ it”

It’s like I can hear his jaw tighten and his teeth grit through the phone “What do you ? What did he do?”

I know he’s thinking all kinds of things I’m sure in his line of work, he’s seen the evils of the world and probably is thinking the worst “It’s not what you’re thinking, bub”

His voice gets even grittier “Tell ”

Darn I’h it’s eet out, it’s nowhere near as bad as he thinks it is, I’ a little psychotic, but if I don’t cal what he’ll do

“Fine, listen, I swear you go from sweet brother to alpha military protector in an instant these days Is all that ink froh at my own joke I haven’t seen John in a feeeks, but I’m sure he’s already added more tattoos to his almost completely covered torso and arms

John doesn’t laugh or find ht soon”

“Oh no I know you can’t tell , but I worry about you, John Are you okay?”

Finally, he starts to soften “I’m fine, sis I have a whole crew at eles I wish you’d come here You would love it here”

Here we go again He feels guilty for not being here when our parents were in the car accident and for leavingto Tennessee plenty of tione onthere to be alone At least here, I have the coffee shop and Madison And don’t say you could quit You can’t quit I knohat your work means to you”