Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

Jessie watched as the nurse left. Then she stared in trepidation at Greer’s reaction. It was hitting him hard that Dr. Price was making sure Greer and Rachel wouldn’t be getting near enough to Dustin to jeopardize their own health.

Greer strode to the door. “Make them move, Knox. I’m going in, and I’m not going to let you stop me.”

“I can’t, Greer. I would if I could.”

“Since when in the fuck have you ever done what you’re supposed to do? This isn’t going to be the first time my brother’s life is on the line.”

“No, I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t tell me that sorry shit!” Greer tried to barge at him, fighting to reach the door handle.

“Greer, I’ll Taser your ass and handcuff you to one of the chairs.” Knox shoved him away from the deputies, but Greer wouldn’t stop reaching for the doorknob.

“Greer, stop!” Holly cried out.

That didn’t stop him. Greer was becoming frantic, trying to fight off the deputies and Knox. It became even more chaotic when Tate started trying to peel the deputies off them. Knox let the deputies deal with Tate, who was going as crazy as Greer. Rachel tried to help Tate, but Cash stopped her.

Jessie could only watch in dismay as the Porters fought to get Greer through that door.

“Let me through that door, Knox!” Greer bellowed in despair.

Knox was indomitable in comparison to Greer. His size and expression showed that Greer wasn’t going to get past him.

When the same thought must have occurred to Greer, he started pounding on Knox’s chest.

Jessie started crying harder at Dustin’s brother’s grief.

Knox reached out, surrounding Greer with his arms. At first, Jessie thought Knox was trying to squeeze the air out of him to make him go unconscious, but when Greer kept struggling, she realized that Knox was hugging him, and that Knox was talking to him.

Jessie took a step closer so she could hear what Knox was telling him.

“I can’t let you in there, brother. The doctor said you’d die. Brother, I can’t let you sacrifice yourself for Dustin. Brother, be cool.”

Jessie watched Greer’s shoulders start to shake, registering that he was crying. She looked up and saw tears coming out of the burly sheriff’s eyes.

Jessie walked closer, putting her hand on Greer’s back. She tried to find the words that Dustin would tell them if he could. Dustin wasn’t a man who could express his feelings easily, but she knew he loved his family above all else. That was why he didn’t tell her that he was dying. He wasn’t going to take the chance that she would let it slip out or talk him into telling them. Dustin was determined to protect them to his dying breath.

With that thought, she knew what she had to tell them.

“Greer, Dustin doesn’t want you doing this. He isn’t doing this to hurt you or Rachel.” Jessie was relieved to see that Sutton was finally able to get Tate to stop fighting and everyone was listening to her. All the love she felt for Dustin poured out of her.

“He’s doing it to protect you. He doesn’t want to live if it will cost your and Rachel’s happiness.”

Jessie had always known she had loved Dustin. Every word she spoke bared the depths of that love with them, knowing they felt the same love for their brother.

“I grew up with you all until our fathers turned us against each other. Tate, you’ve always been the one to fight off anyone who would hurt your family. Greer, you did the same fighting off for anyone who came close to hurt anyone you cared about. Rachel, you were right there with your brothers, making your place beside them.

“Your family was always different. I realized that from an early age. The way you treated each other, the way you’re always there for each other, the way you love each other. Even as much as you love Cash, Sutton, and Holly. We’ll never achieve the depths of love you share for each other, because it was engrained in you.

“Your gifts, as special as they are, aren’t your true gifts. The way you feel about each other is. Don’t get me wrong; we know we’re loved because the Porters don’t give a part of their heart away lightly. They make you pay dues by suckering you into loving the rest of the family.

“Dustin’s been fighting this tumor since this summer, yet he didn’t tell any of you because he was determined to protect each of you. I don’t know another man who could face death without telling a single person. He kept the secret from all of you and me. He wasn’t going to let you lose another child, Rachel, to save him. And Greer ….”

Jessie blinked back her tears, determined to make them understand how much he loved them and was willing to sacrifice for them. “Greer … Dustin’s always looked up to you. I still remember him swaggering after you to catch the school bus. From a small boy, he’s watched your healing ability and the cost you have to physically pay for it … He’s only following your example by doing what both you and Tate taught him. It’s the same lesson that he’s passed down to Logan, and all of you are going to pass down to yours.