Read Online Dark Destiny (Dark Brothers Book #4) by Bec Botefuhr - Free Book Online Page A

hearing range, I turn to him.
    “Thank you for doing this, Liam.”
    “Anything for the guys, I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through.”
    “I just hope he comes back from it,” I sigh.
    Liam pats my shoulder. “I’m sure it will be fine.”
    “There you are!” Jenny cries, rushing over.
    Liam walks over to the table and places the food down, then joins the guys around the small fire they’ve got going.
    “So,” Jenny says, leaning in close. “Anything?”
    “He reacted, not a lot, but he did react.”
    “That’s a start.”
    “Yeah, now to see if he actually comes downstairs.”
    Jenny points behind  me and I turn to see Jagger and Ace coming down the stairs. I can’t help my heart as it swells. Maybe this was a good idea after all. It was worth trying and it might just pay off. I turn and smile to Jenny, giving her my best hopeful expression. She hugs me quickly, then hands me a beer.
    “Enjoy this will you!”
    “Where’s the kids?”
    She points to the yard where Cody is running around in circles, squealing with a bat in his hands. Leila is in her bouncer near the guys, waggling a fluffy bunny around in her hands.
    “Cody loves it out here.”
    “I knew he would,” I smile.
    When Cody notices Jagger, he drops his bat and charges towards him. When they meet, Jagger lifts him, and for the first time in a while, I see a genuine smile out of my husband. It makes my heart quite literally ache. I’ve missed that smile so much. I watch them, feeling my chest fill with emotion as Jagger says something to Cody and Cody giggles. I turn away, swallowing. God I hope this is the right move. What if he hates me for it? What if it just drives a wedge between us? Shaking my head, I turn back to the Jenny and smile.
    “Drink up!” I say, clinking my beer bottle with hers.
    Two hours and five drinks later, and I’m giggling like a school kid. I’m sitting beside Liam and he’s told me about four jokes that probably wouldn’t be funny if I was sober. The kids are in bed, dinner is done and the guys are all chatting loudly around me. I’ve even heard Jagger say a few things, but mostly he’s just been sitting there, drinking.
    “So, what do you think the rabbit did?” Liam asks.
    “What?” I giggle.
    “The rabbit? Did you hear my joke?” he laughs.
    “I totally…did not.”
    “You’re a bad listener, Willow.”
    I chuckle again. “All right, tell me once more.”
    I notice Jagger watching me from the corner of my eye, but I don’t turn.
    “So, the rabbit goes to the crocodile…”
    “A what?”
    “Crocodile.”
    I snort. “You mean an alligator?”
    Liam rolls his eyes. “Come on, go easy, I visited Australia a lot.”
    “All right, so the rabbit goes to the alligator…”
    “It has to be a crocodile!” Liam laughs loudly.
    “Aw, Liam, come on!”
    I go to stand and get another beer, but my foot tangles in my chair. I stumble and Liam reaches out, grabbing me and pulling me back. Because I am drunk, I stumble right onto his lap. With a giggle, I say, “Liam, I know you like me, but don’t you think this is a little fast.”
    Before he can answer, Jagger is out of his seat, gripping my arm and hurling me out of Liam’s lap.
    “Keep your fuckin’ hands off.”
    Everyone stops talking and turns to look at him. As if it clicks, he lets me go and steps backwards.
    “You fuckin’ bastards planned this, didn’t you?”
    I look up at Jagger, trying to catch something, anything. He drops his beer onto the ground, letting the glass smash, then he turns to me and glares at me.
    “Want to fuck him, wife? Go right ahead.”
    Then he turns and walks off, leaving us all standing, shocked. I turn to Ace when he walks over and rests his hand on my shoulder.
    “That kind of hurt,” I whisper.
    “He only said that because he realized what he’d done. He reacted, Willow. I saw it. He never took his eyes off you. It bothered him.”
    “Obviously not enough,” I say softly.