Free Deadly Hunt (Deadly #1) by K.L. Humphreys

a utility mud room.” The guys are writing this all down. This is why I love my family; they are and always have been there whenever I needed them.
     
    I think back to the very first day I met the boys.
    I was so nervous. Lydia told me not to be, that they would like me, that from now on we’re all going to be a family. “Sophia, I promise, they will love you, you’re their little sister now.”
    I hear the door open and I hear a boys’ voice “Mommy where are you? Daddy says you have a surprise for us.” I quickly dart behind Lydia; I’m holding onto her pant legs.
    “In here Luke.” I can hear them as they enter the kitchen; I’m behind Lydia’s leg. I’m so scared. If they don’t like me, Lydia and Steven could send me back to my Mama.
    “What’s the surprise mom?” That is a different voice. I quickly take a peak; there are two boys, they look older than me, one has black hair, the other has red and has freckles on his face.
    I hear a squeaking noise and see one of the boys coming towards me. I see Steven come into the room and is walking towards me and Lydia, he makes it there before the little boy. I run behind Steven and hold on to him. He bends down and scoops me up, he holds me against him as he walks toward the table. He sits down and puts me on his lap.
    “Sophia, these are your new brothers, this is Luke.” He points to the red head. “And this is Scott.” He says pointing to the one with black hair, the one that was coming towards me.
    “Hi, I always wanted a sister, I’m adopted too, my mom died when I was little, do you want to play with us?” Scott says with a smile.
    “Yep, me too, we are all adopted, you can play with me too.” I smile at them.
    “Hi, I never had any brothers before.” They look to each other and smile.
    “Well you do now, we’re your older brothers so that means we look after you. We will protect you.” Luke says with a big smile.
     
    I’m pulled back from the memory by Luke calling my name, “Sorry, what?” He looks at me.
    “You okay? You seemed in another world just then.” I smile at him to show him I’m okay.
    “Yeah I’m fine, was just remembering the day I met you and Scott is all.” He smiles and walks up to me and hugs me.
    “Family Soph, that’s what we have been from that day.” He looks sad, I squeeze him.
    “What’s wrong Luke?” He has this deep furrow between his brows.
    “I told you that day that we would look after you and protect you, but we failed.”
    I shake my head, “What? How? You haven’t failed.”
    He shakes his head. “I did Soph, when you were taken when you were in Afghanistan, they told us you were MIA and presumed dead. I believed them Soph, I thought you were gone, but to find out you were kept in that hell hole for 3 weeks, being tortured, I failed in protecting you.”
    I hug him again, his body bucking as he tries to gasp in a deep breath, it’s Luke’s way of not crying. I don’t mention it, I ignore it.
    “You didn’t fail me. When I signed up, I knew what I was signing up for. I knew I could be killed. I knew that. You haven’t and will never fail me. I love you Luke. You, dad and Scott, kept me sane while I was gone. You saved me, not failed me.” I kiss his cheek and walk off. He won’t believe me, and I can’t talk about that part of my life.
    I walk out to the car and drive off. I need a drink. To think my family thought I was dead, what they went through, it hurts me. I text the girls.
     
    Group Chat :
    Me: Drinks tonight?
    Maddie: Yeah sure.
    Winter: Fuck yeah I need to get laid
    Me: When don’t you?
    Winter: Jealous?
    Me: Bitch, Please, there’s nothing to be jealous of.
    Maddie: Burn. LOL
    Winter: Whatevs, you girls are jealous, jealous that my coochie gets more action than the two of you put together. Oh and Soph, we will be talking about your date.
    Me: Fuck that. Your coochie has more rides than a train leaving grand central station.
    Maddie: OMG I can’t breathe...
    Winter: