The Greatest Fight of All (The American Soldier Collection 5)

He walked out into the living room.

“Where are we going to look first?” he asked his brothers.

“The dads are pissed. We’ll meet over there at the main house,” Murphy said and they gave Amelia a look.

“I’ll come, too.”

“No, you shower and dress. One of us will come back for you,” Waylon stated then gave her a look. She placed her hands on her hips and was about to give him shit, but instead he turned and walked out with his brothers. He could practically feel her eyes burning him with curses under her breath. Now she would know how she made him feel.

He chuckled as he walked out with his brothers.

“You think she’ll listen?” Ricky asked.

“Hell no,” both Murphy and Waylon said at the same time and they all laughed.

* * * *

Amelia couldn’t believe it. She took a shower, got dressed in a cute sundress, and debated about leaving for the main house or listening to Waylon’s order. That was exactly what it was, too. An order. It was a show of control that she wasn’t biting on or accepting. Yet, what pissed her off entirely more than his nerve was the fact that she stood there waiting for the last thirty minutes coming up with one excuse after the next to wait for him.

She growled as she made fists by her side.

Her cell phone rang and she walked over to answer it.

“Hey, come over to the main house. Velma just got here and my brothers and dads are pissed.”

“Are you sure, Regan? This may be a family thing.”

“Amelia, come here please.”

“I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone, grabbed her purse, and walked out the door, locking it before she left. She couldn’t help but feel guilty for leaving. Apparently Waylon had a way of getting to her mind. The man got under her skin. All four of them did. Well, maybe not Brody. He was so quiet and serious all the time. She wondered why, as she started her car and headed toward the main house. As she pulled up, she saw all the trucks and SUV, plus other vehicles. Today was supposed to be the big family party. Guests would be arriving in two hours.

Amelia parked her car then walked toward the front steps. Regan greeted her and took her hand, leading her toward the family room.

“You look tired,” Amelia told Regan.

“Hungover is more like it. Come on. Something is up and Velma isn’t budging. Wherever she was, she wasn’t alone. If you know what I mean.”

“Oh boy.”

“Exactly.”

As they approached, Amelia could hear their fathers asking Velma to explain where she was and why she didn’t tell anyone. Elise, expressed concern over her well-being and her brothers just stood there with their arms crossed in front of their massive chests. Talk about intimidation? These men were a force field and then some.

“I told you, I was with friends. I drank a little too much and woke up thirty minutes ago. No big deal,” Velma stated.

“It is a big deal. We got your brothers and their friends to search for you. The police were starting to organize a search party,” Tysen stated firmly.

“Please. I wasn’t even gone twenty-four hours. Aren’t there rules?”

“Watch the attitude, Velma,” Murphy stated.

Amelia walked into the room with Regan, and everyone looked at her. They said hello and she responded to their parents and mom, but didn’t look at the brothers. They were too angry right now. She did look at Velma and there was definitely something going on. Perhaps she snuck out with a guy? There were some pretty good-looking cowboys hanging around her last night. But then she noticed the bruise on her arm and a large scratch.

“Okay. I can see we’re getting nowhere with this. Guests are going to be arriving soon. Why don’t you go shower, think things over, then talk to us and explain tonight. That should give you plenty of time to remember,” Elise said then rose from the chair and walked out of the room. She was wearing an apron, and as she passed Amelia, she placed her hand on her arm.

“Can you help me with that stuffed mushroom recipe, honey?”

“Sure thing,” Amelia said. She had completely forgotten about giving Regan’s mom the recipe. Regan’s dads smiled at her as they left the room. Amelia was about to follow Regan and Velma upstairs to Velma’s bedroom when someone wrapped an arm around her waist from behind.