Love a Woman Right (The American Soldier Collection 17)

Laverty ran his hand along his jaw, his expression tense and filled with anger. Evan placed his hands on his hips and exhaled.

“My God, what they went through. That poor little boy had to hear that and see…Jesus,” Evan stated and then shook his head.

“No wonder he looks at us with fear and keeps his mom close. He’s afraid we would do the same thing to her. To hurt her, to—”

“I know, Laverty, it’s a lot to digest. I thought of all the things you are right now and I feel compelled to protect her and keep her and Kenny right by our sides, where we can show them love and keep them safe. Me of all people who have closed off my heart and don’t want a damn thing but to be free of the nightmares I have. None of that matters. None of it but being with Lois and caring for her and caring for Kenny,” Ghost told them.

“I feel the same way. I want that, too. Did she say she wants us, Ghost?” Evan asked.

“She said she needs slow. That she is attracted to all of us, but her greatest fear is the intimacy and letting down her guard. She wants to put Kenny first and make sure that he’s okay with this, and not scared of us.”

“Then we need to ensure they get to know us and we spend some alone time with them together and separately,” Ford said.

“That’s going to be hard to do when the feelings, the desires we have, are so damn strong,” Laverty added and they all mumbled in agreement.

“How is she now? Did you call over there?” Evan asked.

“No. I wanted to talk to you guys and explain what went down and how we have to be sure about this. I won’t allow her to get hurt again,” Ghost stated.

Evan chuckled. “This, coming from the guy who didn’t want to show any interest in Lois or admit to feeling attracted to her? I think you were a little late to get on board with the rest of us when we knew from the start that we wanted her. Hell, I told Ford we would be her guardians,” Evan said and they chuckled.

“She confided in me because of the connection we share and because of her attraction to all of us. She needs slow, and it’s going to be hard, especially once you start kissing her and feeling that sexy little body pressed up against yours,” Ghost said to them.

“She’s so petite, too, and shy about her body,” Laverty added.

“Makes you want to protect her always and just hold her constantly,” Evan added.

“We need to make a plan of action. We need to spend time with her and Kenny,” Ford suggested.

“I think we should see if they want to go sit by the fire, go to the farm one day, maybe the swimming hole this weekend?” Laverty stated.

“Sounds like a plan. Just remember, the first time you see her, try not to think about what she went through and make her feel bad. She feels broken, damaged from it and like she isn’t whole or good enough,” Ford said.

“That’s crazy. She was a victim and she’s a survivor. She shouldn’t feel at fault,” Evan said to him.

“I, for one, am glad Valentina killed the fucker, or I’d hunt him down myself,” Ford said. They mumbled in agreement.

“We need to watch how forceful we are, especially around Kenny. He already watches us like hawks,” Laverty said.

“We’ll take care of them and show them they can trust us and that we’ll never hurt them. Lois is going to be our woman. Agreed?” Evan asked.

“Agreed,” they all said and Ghost finished off his beer and walked over toward the garbage. He looked out the window and to the little cottage a short distance from their home. He wished he could see Lois right now and hold her again. There was nothing more healing and powerful than the feel of that woman in his arms. Nothing.

Chapter 6

“I think we need to track down Valentina Willow and her sister. Maybe Lois Willow knows more about these drugs and money the chatter is all about,” Detective Danny Stacklin said as he looked over the papers. He was sitting in the main investigation room with the walls covered with leads that led to various criminals. This case he and the team had been working on for the better part of a year was coming together nicely. There were still some loose ends before they could start making the arrests and setting up raids.

“It’s a long shot, Danny. Lois Willow, her kid, and the sister were victims in that case. They could have died if it weren’t for Valentina’s police experience,” Detecti

ve Corbotta stated. The others began to add their comments, too.

“She was separated from him for more than a year and then he shows up and attacks her like that. It doesn’t make sense,” Investigator Yorkin added.

“We still have those photos of a woman going into the club Cornero owns that same night. It could have been her,” the Investigator added.

“You think what our snitches say is true and that Cornero and her hooked up? Then that would explain why Caden went to see her and attacked her. He was jealous and pissed off,” Detective Stacklin stated.

“Could be, or she was caught up in the middle of this shit and we’re back to square one and the idea that Caden and Don never got to deliver the guns and drugs and they’re still hidden somewhere only they know,” Detective Corbotta said.