Free Perfectly Broken by Maegan Abel Page B

coffee.
    As we talked, I found myself laughing more and more. His shy attempts at flirting were precious and I realized I'd never spent any significant time with a guy people would consider a "nice guy" . Normally, I found the guys who were only after one thing, which was fine because it's what I was after , too . But , there was something about Jordan that seemed to be drawing me in like a magnetic pull.
    When it was time to leave, Jordan insisted on paying the bill. He walked me to the cab line of the casino a few doors down and kissed me chastely on the cheek, wishing me a good night before closing the door.

"Shit." I'm moving. Someone is rolling me over. "The bullet is lodged. Here , use this." There is more pressure, causing me to let out a cry and I cough again, choking. I can't breathe.

    CHAPTER SIX
    Family

    ZANE

    "Uncle Teesh," Conner yelled as he ran straight through the front door when I unlocked it. I laughed and nearly tripped over his backpack where he dropped it, hearing Tish's chuckle when Conner dove straight onto him.
    "C! I didn't know you were coming!" Tish scooped Conner up and tossed him in the air, making him squeal loudly before setting him on his feet. "You look older. Did you get older without telling me?"
    "No," Conner laughed through the word . I grabbed his backpack, adding it to the load of groceries I'd picked up after we went to the movies this afternoon. "I'm still four." He held up the appropriate fingers to Tish as I headed down the hall to the kitchen, tossing his backpack onto his toddler bed in the corner of my room on the way.
    "Is Lizzie falling into her old games again?" Kas asked as she glanced down the hall from where she was cooking dinner. I shrugged, working on putting the groceries away.
    "I'm not sure. She just said she had to work, but when I got there she had his stuff packed up for the weekend," I answered and leaned against the island as I heard Conner squealing again, no doubt being tickled. I smiled automatically at the sound.
    "You're an amazing dad, Zane. Has anyone told you that recently?" Kas nudged me with her elbow and I wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
    "Thanks," I said in response. If anyone knew the struggle it had been for me, it was Tish and I knew he had told Kas about everything I'd been through.
    Finding out Conner wasn't mine just before his second birthday had left a huge scar that I still felt , even now. Adam was a deadbeat, he always had been. He called occasionally and tried to stir shit up with me, claiming he was going to have me taken off Conner's birth certificate and dissolve the custody arrangement I had written up with Lizzie. Luckily, he never followed through. I'm not sure what I'd do if he ever did. "That little boy is my life."
    "As he should be," Kas said , pulling a pan of enchiladas from the oven. She stirred the rice in the pot as she called out toward the living room , "Dinner's almost ready! Any little boys in the house need to wash their hands and get to the table, pronto!"  
      I immediately heard Tish rushing Conner to the bathroom to wash his hands. I pulled the plates out and started dipping up a small piece for Conner, tossing it into the freezer to cool it off while I made him a cup of milk.
    "I win!" Conner laughed as he almost fell on the tile floor while trying to pull his chair out and get into it before Tish. Tish held Conner's chair in with one hand while he pretended to try to pull out his own. Conner growled and smacked at Tish's hand.
    "Hey. No hitting," I reminded him sternly.
    "Tish , stop. Jeez, which one of you is the child?" Kas scolded with a laugh . Tish released Conner's chair, coming over and wrapping his arms around Kas' waist.
    "Are you calling me a child?" He bit her ear.
    I groaned at their display . Reaching into the freezer to pull out Conner's plate, I took it and his cup to the table before going to make my own.
    "Not in front of Conner , you two." I shoved Tish aside as I made my food, grabbing a