Just One Kiss (The Town of Pearl 8)

“I know that.”

“I don’t think you do,” Salvatore chimed in, standing right next to Lucifer. Both men looked down upon her, and she did feel intimidated, worried about strange men finding her in the woods and trying something. They were right. She wouldn’t be able to defend herself against even a man at average size. She was petite, untrained in any type of self-defense as she was pampered most of her life until she left for college.

“I know about bad men. Men that would think nothing of hurting a woman,” she whispered.

“I think Salvatore’s right, and you don’t know,” Lucifer said as he pushed off the wall and stood back.

She straightened out her shoulders, pulled the backpack in front of her, and reached into the front compartment to get her key.

“I know all too well about the violence, the capabilities of bad men. I’ll take extra precautions. Thank you for walking me home.”

She unlocked the door, saw their curious expressions, and she slowly closed it. Leaning back against the door, a mix of emotions filled her once again.

Could they possibly care or be attracted to her, or were they just following the rules like Shay was?

She turned and looked out the small window, the darkness illuminated by the light of the moon, and she saw both men and the dog heading down the hill toward the road. That’s when she saw the headlights and the large pickup truck. They had all followed her home. Gabriele and Maxwell in the truck on the road. Did they really care? Could they be trusted? Or were they just as dangerous as those mysterious hikers looking for trouble, and possibly ready to pounce on an unsuspecting female just trying to survive?

Chapter 6

Maxwell sat at the large kitchen table. It was made of solid oak wood, handcrafted by their grandfather, and an heirloom of the family. They could seat fifteen people at the damn thing, but never did anymore. Since their parents died, and they took over the house, expanding it, making it fit four large men who never entertained, it remained a vacant monstrosity in the kitchen. A reminder of better days, good times, shared memories as children growing up in their loving home. They all grew up together loving God and their country. Their parents and grandparents instilled good morals and values in them, wanting to make their sons more than just exceptional citizens of society. They wanted the Walters name to be a proud, strong one. Walterses were tough, no matter what.

“Coffee, Maxwell?” Gabriele asked as he prepared to pour himself a cup. Maxwell nodded his head and then ran the palm of his hand along the tabletop.

“I love this table. Lots of good times at it over the years,” he said.

“You’re not kidding. I miss those days. I don’t think we ever once had company over to fill it,” Lucifer added.

As his brothers gathered their cups of coffee, he thought about the trials and tribulations as they each transitioned into adulthood. Joining the military was something they all felt a calling to do. They each served their country then got out when the time was right. Well, at least he, Lucifer, and Gabriele did. Salvatore was dealing with his own survivor’s guilt after half his troops were wiped out in one strategic terrorist attack. That situation made him stay on and do another tour once he was healed from the minor injuries he sustained. Salvatore and four other survivors went on to do some seriously dangerous secret missions, which eventually led to his forced retirement and coming home. Sometimes Maxwell thought

that Salvatore wanted to die out there and give the ultimate sacrifice just as his good buddies had.

He took a deep breath and released it. They all had their issues, their dark nights of bad memories from their stints in the war, and of course the one night a couple of years ago with Salvatore and Lindsey.

He looked at Salvatore as he pet Brutas’s head. His brother had been lost, and they were slowly bringing him back. Brutas helped and working and living these normal lives seemed to help him heal day after day, but his reaction to Lucia couldn’t be ignored. Salvatore liked her, too.

“So, after last night, and hearing about those hikers, worrying about Lucia, I’ve made my decision. I want to talk with Wyatt, and I want to request guardianship of her. I want all of us to,” Lucifer told them.

“She’s a beautiful woman. It’s obvious that we’re all attracted to her. Knowing she walks alone day or night doesn’t sit right with me. Makes me have this instant protectiveness over her, and she isn’t even my woman,” Gabriele admitted.

“Yet,” Lucifer added.

“I think before we can all go to Wyatt and ask to be appointed her guardians, we should take some more time to get to know her. Gabriele and I just met her last night. She seemed intimidated by us,” Maxwell told them.

“Look at how petite she is,” Gabriele said and then smirked as he ran his thumb along the rim of his coffee mug.

“She’s real sweet. Has a hell of a body on her for such a petite thing,” Gabriele added.

“Salvatore? Your thoughts?” Maxwell questioned his brother.

Salvatore leaned back, that cold, dark expression of his enhanced by dark circles under his eyes. He must have had a bad night, yet they didn’t hear him. Concern filled his gut.

“I’m not going to be part of this. I can’t,” he said.

“Why the hell not?” Lucifer pushed.

“Because, I’ll only hurt her.”

“Bullshit, you’ll hurt her. She’s not Lindsey, and you’re not the same man you were a couple of years ago when you first returned,” Gabriele told him.