Free A Heart's War (The Broken Men Chronicles Book 5) by Carey Decevito Page A

on.”
    “I think it’s fantastic!” Mom clapped her hands together as she approached to give me a hug.  “I should have known when I saw her bringing you soup the other day.”
    “You should have seen them this afternoon.”  Paxton’s grin only widened.  “She’s not just your client, and I think you’re underplaying how you feel about her.”
    “Pax.” Allie turned a warning gaze onto her husband.
    “Leave the man alone, you two.” I couldn’t recall the last time my father had taken my side.  I guess times have changed. “He’s a grown man, he can make his own mind up about women.  God only knows he’s been around enough of them to know what he wants.”
    Okay, so maybe they hadn’t changed that much, because there it was; the disapproving jab that was covered by sarcasm.  He hadn’t lost his touch, only finessed it.  The man covered it up enough to know that only I would sense the sting, but one look toward Paxton told me that he’d caught on to our father’s antics.
    “No different than how I was back then, Dad,” he said.
    “Yeah, but-”
    “Dad,” he warned.
    “Let’s just drop it, all right?” I approached my sister-in-law.  “Now, how’s my beautiful princess?”  I took the baby from her arms and cradled her in mine.  “You’re just as beautiful as your mama, you know that?”  I nuzzled the fine hair that met her hairline and inhaled the baby powder scent. She was so tiny, so innocent.
    The minuscule body I held in my arms made it hard to believe that those I had fought against had once been as innocent as she was.  My mood darkened with the sheer memory of what I’d witnessed in my time away.  Kids being used as weapons.  Tiny soldiers that ended lives, including their own, for a cause they were told to believe in, but didn’t truly understand.
    I hadn’t noticed Abigail’s squirming or the plaintive sounds she emitted until Paxton’s hand squeezed my arm.  “You okay, bro?”
    Feeling the shakes coming on, my vision fading in its periphery, I nodded.  “Here, take her.”  I handed him his daughter.  “I need some air.”
    Looking over at my mother whose gaze was filled with concern, then my father who was studying me, I avoided Alissa’s gaze and rushed out the back door, ignoring my family’s pleas that I stay and talk.

Chapter 17
    My appetite had left, the urge to run had hit, and loneliness had set in.  I wondered how long it would be before someone came out to find me by the man-made pond.  The view of the setting sun fading behind the treeline of the woods that backed my brother’s property helped me center myself and regain some semblance of control over my thoughts.
    Leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, I sensed Paxton’s presence.  Without turning, a humorless laugh escaped me.  “Seems like yesterday you and me were fighting over Suzie Quincy.”
    “You should see her now.” Paxton dropped to the bench beside me, leaning back.
    I peered at him from the corner of my eye.  “Still hot?”
    “Not.” I chuckled at the face he made.  Silence stemmed between us, only interrupted by the sounds of nature.  “What happened back there?”
    I let out a loud breath and felt myself deflate.  Bowing my head, I shook it from side to side.  “Old memories.”
    “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
    “It’s not that easy, P.”
    He pointed out the obvious.  “You kind of freaked everyone out back there.  I think we… No, I deserve to know what’s going on with you, T.  One minute you’re holding Abbie like she’s precious cargo, and the next, the look on your face-”
    My temper flared.  “What?”
    “If looks couldn’t kill, your grip on her surely would have done it eventually.”
    “What are you saying?  You don’t want me around your kids?  I can’t say that I blame you.”
    Paxton cut me off.  “That’s not what I’m saying at all and you know it!  Stop jumping down my throat. I’m not Dad.