God, I miss him so much.
"Hey, Kat."
Dammit, Brianna. Leave me alone. I plaster on a fake smile and rise to talk to her.
"You've lost weight."
"Been taking care of my brother. Hospital food leaves much to be desired."
"Hmm." A shadow crosses through her features. "At least you're not up to your old antics anymore."
"Some things are more important than my personal life," I reply innocently.
That gets the response I want. Unable to provoke Captain Mathis, I know I haven't lost my touch by the flare of red that goes up Brianna's pretty face.
"We missed you at the hospital," I add, digging in deeper.
"It wasn't my place to be there," she snaps. "I'm sorry what happened to your brothers, but -"
"You came here," I point out. "You've always preferred the easy road, I guess."
"This coming from a trust fund baby who spends every night at the club and has done nothing with her life!"
"Wait a minute." I pretend to consider. "Weren't you sleeping with both my brothers when you agreed to marry Petr?"
"Ohhhhkay, ladies." It's Riley. He's looking between us. "Let's just step away and cool off." He plants a large hand on each of our shoulders and pushes us away from one another, moving his muscular frame between us. "Hey, Iceman, come get your partner before she tears mine apart."
At least he knows who'd win. I take some satisfaction out of the acknowledgment and whirl.
Captain Mathis is across the room, hands on hips, watching. Impossible to read as usual, though one eyebrow is up in either accusation or inquisition. He nods his head to the side in a silent command for me to join him.
I have no idea where this guy gets off thinking he can boss me around. It might work with his men, but not with me.
I go outside instead, feeling claustrophobic.
Maybe being here is a mistake. I want to think it's for Petr and Mikael - and it is - but there's another reason I feel compelled to stay. I think there's a piece of me that needs this, too, though I'm not sure why, when this is totally not my scene.
Tossing my head back, I gaze at the late afternoon sky, so blue and beautiful. The forest calms me, and I shake out my shoulders.
"Is there anyone here you don't have a problem with?" Captain Mathis asks from behind me.
"We'll find out, won't we?"
He's quiet. I have a feeling he's not entirely certain what to say in response.
After a minute, he circles and stops in front of me, reaching for my belt. Not expecting the sudden proximity, I freeze where I'd normally move or push him out of my space. He smells lightly of coconuts once more, and I find myself staring at the width of his chest and the shapely arms and shoulders. His brown eyes are the shade of dark chocolate, his skin rendered golden by the sun and his hair kept in a neat high-and-tight. His heated strength is different than that of my brother's.