Claiming the Enemy: Dustin (Porter Brothers Trilogy 3)

“It’s a good thing I’m not going to get married again, then,” she joked.

The laughter drained out of his face. “I don’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life.”

“I was joking, Dustin. But truthfully, I don’t see myself with anyone but you. I never could.”

“I don’t want you to miss out on having children. And I don’t want you to rush out and find someone. Those marriages never last,” he advised.

“How long do you think I should wait?”

“At least twenty to twenty-five years. A woman had a baby in her fifties last month.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. She was famous. I must have read it online.”

“I don’t want to have a baby in my fifties.”

“If you really feel that way, I don’t want to press you.”

“Thank you for being so considerate.”

Dustin arched a brow. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Why are you acting so jealous? You’re the one who didn’t want me left alone.”

“I’m reconsidering it.”

Jessie reached out to pull Logan closer. “Your father is being a silly man.”

Dustin watched as Jessie tried to draw Logan into teasing.

He looked so handsome. Tate had taken him to the department store this morning to get a new suit.

Logan hadn’t taken any cake from Holly, remaining by the side of the bed as he listened to him and Jessie talk.

Suddenly, Logan’s face crumpled and he began to cry. “I don’t want Dad to die.”

Jessie handed Tate the plate they had been eating off. Then, expecting her to pull Logan into her arms, Jessie instead picked Logan up and sat him on the bed next to him.

As Logan cried onto his chest, Dustin wanted to hold his son, but his useless arms wouldn’t cooperate.

When he had been in the dark void, he hadn’t been able to move either. Concentrating, he remembered the effort he had put into breaking out of the void. Unable to bear his son crying put him into a mindset to move his arms.

Slowly and shakily, he was able to make them move. He wasn’t able to grasp Logan, but the movement had him stop his tears.

“Dustin, you moved your arms.”

At Jessie’s startled cry, everyone stopped talking to watch.

“Should we tell the nurse to call Dr. Price?” Tate asked.

“I’ll go talk to his nurse.” Sutton rose from her chair, going to the nurse’s station.

“Try to move them again, Dad.” Logan used his suit sleeve to wipe his eyes.

Dustin looked down at Ema still sleeping by his side, making sure to lift that arm carefully so he wouldn’t accidently hit her.

“Here, I’ll take her.” Rachel bent down to lift Ema into her arms.

At Rachel’s touch, Ema shrugged away, but Rachel persisted, lifting her.

“Dusty … I want my Dusty.” Ema started fighting her mother, trying to throw herself out of her arms.

“Ema, stop.”

“I want Dusty ….” Ema held out her arms, clenching and unclenching her hands as she reached for him.

“It’s okay, Rachel. Lay her back down.” Dustin tried to calm the temper tantrum.

“Here, let me have her.” Cash took his daughter into his arms; however, the little girl was fighting so hard that Cash almost dropped her. “What’s going on with her?”

“I don’t know. We should take her home—”

“Put her back down!” Greer yelled.

Dustin had been so distracted by Ema that he hadn’t noticed Greer had gotten to his feet and was trying to shake Shade and Knox off him.

Cash looked at Greer and the way his daughter was trying frantically trying to get out of his arms.

Greer stopped struggling. “Please lay her back down.”

The hair on Dustin’s arms lifted at the tone in Greer’s voice.

“Cash, I’m begging you. Lay her back down.”

Dustin saw the torn expression on Cash’s face. Greer did, too.

“Don’t ….” Slowly, it began to dawn on him what was happening.

“Shut up, Dustin. Everybody move away from the bed.” Greer turned and looked at Shade and Knox. “Let me go. I know how to fix Dustin if you’d let me go.”

The two frowned, looking at Dustin.

“Don’t do it … Tate, get them out of here.” Dustin tried to reach the call button, but Tate’s hand on his wrist stopped him.

“Tate … Greer will die.”

“You’re asking me to choose between two brothers. I can’t do that, Dustin.”

“Listen to me, Dustin,” Greer pleaded.

Dustin cut his eyes around the room, seeing the ones inside were only family, Shade, Knox, Willa, and Lucky. The others who had watched the ceremony had been ushered out into the hallway and into the waiting room after they had gotten their cake.

“Lucky, shut the door and close the window. I’d kick you and Willa out, but we’re going to need the good Lord’s help.”

“Don’t ….” Dustin tried to tear his hand out of Tate’s hold.

“Do it!” Greer snarled at Lucky. “Let go.”

Dustin started crying when he saw Shade and Knox release Greer as Lucky shut the door and closed the curtains.