Read Online The Officer's Promise (Brothers in Blue Book 1) by K. Langston - Free Book Online Page A

up on his lap and walk me through every play. Give me player stats. Sometimes I didn’t understand what he was talking about, but I didn’t care. It was our special time together. Something we shared, just the two of us, and I looked forward to our time together every week. Eventually, I got too big to sit in his lap.” She laughed, the memory bringing a smile back to her beautiful face. “So instead, I would curl up next to him while his arm would keep me close. It was my favorite place in the world when I was a little girl.”
    “He was a great man,” I said. “So was your mom. I used to love her chocolate chip cookies.”
    “No one could make chocolate chip cookies like my mom,” she mused proudly.
    “True,” I agreed, “but don’t tell my mom I said that.”
    That brought another soft smile to her face, but it faded just as quickly as it passed her lips. “I often think about how different my life would have been had they not…”
    She trailed off, her words becoming lodged in her throat.
    “I know it’s hard, MaryAnn. I hate that I wasn’t able to be there for you. It’s something I will always regret.”
    She looked up at me with a sad smile. “I wish you would have been there too but it’s neither of our faults. You were always with me in my heart. Most of the time, when I did get sad while thinking about them, I would think about you and our time together. It always gave me comfort.”
    I pressed my lips to her red cheek as one lone tear fell.
    “Have you been to the memorial?” I asked, finding her eyes once more.
    Biting her lip, she shook her head. “There were times I wanted to, but I was too afraid. I’m not sure my fragile heart can take it.”
    I nodded in understanding. Brushing the hair from her forehead, I pressed a kiss there. “Sometimes, facing what we fear the most is the only way we can find peace.”
    It took every bit of restraint not to kiss her right then and there, but instead, I simply held her close until she fell asleep in my arms. Then I carried her to my bed, crawling in next to her.
    There were plenty of times over the last couple of weeks, last night especially, when I’d come close to throwing that restraint out the fucking window. But I didn’t want to push too fast too soon, because once I crossed that line, there would be no holding back. It wouldn’t be long before I was unable to resist that unrelenting urge to claim her once more, I just prayed like hell she was ready when it happened.

B linking, I licked my lips and rolled over. The early morning sun peeked through the curtains of Ryker’s room and I smiled, my foggy mind trying to recapture the feelings from last night, being wrapped in his arms, so safe and warm. Rolling over, I found his side of the bed empty, sans one fat, fluffy cat.
    “Good morning, sweet kitty. Where’s your daddy, hmm?”
    The smell of bacon wafted through the air, and I knew my answer. I gave Bernard a few obligatory strokes before I pushed up from the bed and grabbed my crutches, making my way into the bathroom.
    Looking in the mirror, I smiled. Each day, it became easier and easier to face my fears. The scars of my past still haunted me. I had a feeling they always would, but I wasn’t afraid of them. I wasn’t ashamed anymore. My scars told a story.
    My story.
    And the best part about my story is that I’m the one who gets to write the ending.
    Me.
    The thought gave me a sense of empowerment I’d never felt before. A sense of freedom that came from letting go. It would be easy to hate Trent for what he’d done to me or hate my grandmother for keeping Ryker and Reese from me, but I refused to let either of them have even one ounce of bitterness. They weren’t going to get one more second of my life. I wanted to be happy. I wanted to be free from the burden of hate. It was too much of a load to bear.
    Smiling, I gathered my messy hair and pulled it into a bun, making a note to talk to Reese about helping me dye it back