Page 39 of Retribution
The sun is still rising when Heather stirs, we all agreed not to wake her because she needs her rest.
Her eyes pop open, she looks around, and jumps to her feet, instantly panicking.
“Where is he?” she asks, looking around, her eyes wide.
“Baby, calm down. He’s still tied to the tree.”
“Carter!” she screams at me.
“Tesoro. He went to get you coffee.”
“Oh.” She visibly relaxes.
“I had a terrible nightmare and I thought-”
Shaking her head, she blows out a breath.
“Never mind.”
I pull her into my arms as Knox comes over and rubs circles on her back.
The nightmares have seemingly gotten better, but she still has them from time to time. We don’t know if it’s about Noah or Jedediah because she won’t talk about it. Although, she does write in her journal, so at least she’s getting it out in some way.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
She spots Carter walking across the field with a tray of coffees in one hand and food in the other.
Her smile for him is ear-to-ear, as his is for her. Once he’s close enough, he hands her a cup of coffee first.
“My hero.”
My brother beams like he just won the fucking Olympics. But that’s just the effect this woman has on all of us. Giving her things she’s never had has become our obsession. Even if it’s something as insignificant as a cup of coffee.
I can hardly wait to see her reaction when we put a massive diamond on her finger. The three of us have discussed it, but we need to find out how she’d react first. One thing is certain.
She’s ours. Permanently.
Carter hands Knox and I our coffee before giving each of us a bagel with eggs and bacon. Heather scrunches up her nose at the eggs, and Carter flashes her a glare.
“You will eat it. You need the protein.”
“Carter.”
“Little Heathen. There isn’t much around here. I did the best I could. I’ve aged twenty years worrying about you. Please eat. For me.”
She takes a bite, and after she swallows, stares at him, her eyes filled with emotion.
“Anything for you.”
Carter glances over at the tree with an arched brow.
“Shit. Is he dead?”
I take a bite of my food and swallow before answering my brother.
“No. He wakes every once in a while to groan about the pain.”
Once Heather finishes eating, she grabs the barbecue lighter along with the torch and walks over to him. Carter and Knox compiled the list of supplies she wanted. It was a long list but what she wants she will always get.
