Page 84 of Lethal Threat

“Guess she’s about to meet the rest of our crazy clan.”

It’s total chaos in the gigantic farm kitchen. Three of my brothers are elbow deep in some kind of cooking activity. Larson is wrangling kids. My mother is giving out orders so well, she could rival any drill sergeant. “Carter, check the bread, now!”

Suddenly, the giant open floor plan kitchen and dining area falls weirdly quiet. I clear my throat. “Hey everyone.”

A slender elbow bumps my arm. “Introduce your friend,” says my sister-in-law, Summer, as she passes by.

Sierra’s eyes go wide when I do a Vanna White toward her. “Everyone, that is Sierra.”

She blushes furiously as she glares at me from across the kitchen. Summer, Carter’s wife, shoves a cup of hot cider in her hands. “Welcome to the wild, wild West.”

“I see that. Can I help do anything?”

He winks. “Just keep my brother there happy and you’ll be doing us all a favor.”

She twists her mouth. “Uh, yeah. About that. I’m not sure anyone can do that.”

Mom sweeps by. “Hello, Sierra, welcome back. Wanna jump in?”

She tosses me one more glare, as if she’s happy to be doing anything but standing with me. “Gladly.”

Mom waves toward the sideboard where all the Sunday dinnerware is stored. “I could use some help to get the table set.”

“I’m your woman. Just tell me what to do.”

Two seconds later, I’m left standing alone in the middle of traffic. Everyone went back to what they were doing.

Sunday dinners were always a production, but with the explosion in family that’s been added in the last couple of years, it’s now a full on event. Backing up, I move out of the way.

Liam motions for me to join him on the periphery. “What’s up, man? You look like you’re constipated.”

I grumble, “Hardly.”

He chuckles. “Pretty woman got your panties in a knot?”

Crossing my arms, I cut him a side glance. “I’m going to sic your wife on you.”

Knowing he’s going down a path with no good outcome, he switches the subject. “How’s the new job?”

“Just getting ramped up. First training exercise is coming up. The team seems to have a solid background, so I think it’s going to be good.”

“That’s good. I know how hard it can be to reintegrate.”

I shrug.

His voice drops low. “So, what’s her story? Mom said she’s an old friend.”

“Mom’s wrong.”

He wraps a thick arm around my shoulder. “Come with me.”

We step into the hallway, away from the hustle of the kitchen. He turns toward the study. The noise subsides as we enter the room with bookcases packed to the gills.

Liam moves to the cabinet on the far wall. Opens the barely noticeable door. When he returns, he’s got rum in his hand—the little stash my father keeps for cold winter nights. He dumps a serving in my cider. “That shouldhelp.”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”