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Not that I was complaining because Reese was always more than willing to take care of that problem.

We were starting to learn exactly how to make each other completely insane.

I’d always known how hot the chemistry was between the two of us, but with Reese, it was sex on a whole new level for me.

I always wanted to claim her body in a way that was probably a little twisted, but I didn’t give a shit.

She was mine now, and there wasn’t a damn thing in this world that was going to tear her away from me.

Except…maybe this trip to Billings.

Given the situation, it twisted my guts up to know that she was more exposed than she’d ever been since the shooting.

“They’ll be fine, Devon,” Tanner said gruffly. “If I thought they were in danger in any way, I would have insisted that Hannah stayed behind. There’s no way anyone is going to recognize Reese as the same woman who had her photo in news articles.

“She needs to get out more for her mental health,” Kaleb added. “This is a stressful situation that’s gone on for too damn long. It’s not healthy for her to feel this confined to a small town.”

“Rationally, I know that,” I said irritably. “I want Reese to have a little freedom to move, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it.”

“We’re always irrational when it comes to the safety of our women,” Kaleb grumbled. “I worry about Anna constantly when I’m not able to travel with her. She’s too vulnerable.”

“And Hannah is pregnant, so I’m doubly protective,” Tanner commented.

“I’m sorry for every time I gave you both a hard time about being overprotective,” I said in a disgruntled voice.

Tanner grinned. “Now you know what it feels like to worry about someone who holds your happiness in their hands.”

“It’s pure hell,” I admitted. “I don’t know how you two have lived with it for longer than I have.”

Tanner shrugged. “You learn to deal with it because any other choice is unthinkable. I’d rather worry than to not have Hannah in my life. I’ve been there, and I was a miserable asshole.”

“I wish this whole thing was over. I wish they’d just apprehend the bastard,” I told my brothers.

“It will get a little bit better if they do,” Kaleb mused. “But those protective instincts are never going to go away completely. I think you’re fucked, little brother. You better learn how to deal with it now.”

I shot him an annoyed look. “Please don’t tell me that I’m always going to feel this fucking crazy.”

“Pretty much,” Kaleb replied nonchalantly. “The protectiveness is part of who we are when we find a woman we can’t and won’t live without. You’ve obviously already made that choice regardless of your no commitment policy. You’re committed to Reese.”

“She’s mine,” I said testily. “Go ahead and say it. Everything is different now that I’ve found Reese. I know you’re dying to make me eat my words.”

I’d told them both that it was never going to happen to me because I’d never get into a relationship with any woman.

“We’re not going to say that we told you so,” Tanner assured me. “I think Kaleb and I both wanted you to find a woman who could stand up to your bullshit and knock you on your ass. But only because we wanted you to be happy. Neither one of us ever bought the crap that you were alone because you wanted to be. You just couldn’t trust a female for some reason. Do you want to share that reason with us now?”

“Not really,” I answered. “But I will.”

Kaleb and Tanner looked surprised that I was finally willing to share something I’d been quiet about for years.

I’d hidden the truth from my brothers long enough, and after telling Reese about what had happened, it didn’t seem that difficult to share it with my brothers.

I went through the whole story again with my two siblings.

“Fucking hell!” Kaleb cursed. “Why didn’t you tell us? You could have died, Devon.”

“I didn’t die,” I said, pointing out that obvious fact. “Both of you had your shit together back then. You were already in New York and busting your asses to be successful. I felt like an idiot, like the failure little brother who couldn’t get things right. I looked up to both of you. I didn’t really want to admit that I’d fallen for some ridiculous bullshit while you two were responsible adults trying to start a company for all of us.”

“You were young,” Tanner argued. “You weren’t even quite out of college yet, and you were never a failure. You graduated with high honors for fuck’s sake. We were proud of you. You’re allowed a few dumb mistakes, Devon. Kaleb and I have made plenty of them. We would have been pissed as hell because of what happened, but you should have called us when you were injured. I get not wanting to call our parents because they would have flipped out, but we would have been there for you.”