Free Reed (The Love Family Series Book 4) by Kate Allenton

and his eyes slid open. He blinked several times and reached for his head. His eyes trained on Avery. “What did you do to me?”
    “It wasn’t me, slugger.” Avery rose and held out her hand to pull Landon up. “You can thank your brother for that nap.”
    Landon’s eyes widened as he stood. A pin drop could be heard in the room while the staring match commenced. “Avery?”
    Avery knew that tone, the one that implied he was trying not to lose his cool.
    “What is Reed doing here?”
    “What do you think I’m doing here?” Reed's voice rose with each syllable. “Did you expect me to stay on the Island knowing you were in trouble?”
    Landon ignored his comment and turned to Avery. “You brought Reed into danger? What were you thinking?”
    Avery held up her hands and stepped back. “I left him behind. I can’t help that he followed me.”
    Landon released a pent-up sigh and rubbed the spot on his head. “We don’t have time for this. Reed, you need to go home and let us take care of this.”
    “Right, because you’re doing such a bang-up job.” Reed stomped to the curtain and pulled it back. The sun was still below the horizon, but by the time they finished arguing, it would be daylight.
    “You two can stay here and argue. I’m going to search the barn.” Avery moved to the door and swung it open.
    “No need. I’ve already searched the barn and the cellar.” Landon’s brows dipped. “That’s where I was when you pulled in.” He lifted a brow at Avery. “You should check the entire house before you assume it’s clear. There’s no sign of who took Alice.”
    “Maybe not, but that’s not what we’re looking for.” Reed made to cross his arms over his chest and cringed at the pull on his stitches.
    “You’re hurt?” Landon’s tone changed from annoyance to concern. “What happened?”
    “He was shot,” Avery answered.
    “What the hell, Avery?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Reed reassured him. “In your search, did you find anything that was shaped in a letter L that could be used as a sleeve for the thumb drive you sent me?”
    “Not that I remember.” Landon shook his head. “Who shot you?”
    When an answer didn’t come, Landon turned his gaze to Avery. “Who shot Reed?”
    “Come on, we’ll explain everything on the way back to the safe house.”
    Reed rested his hand on Avery’s back and walked her to the car. He could feel Landon’s eyes on his back where he was touching Avery. Still, Reed didn’t care.
    Avery slipped behind the wheel, and Landon met him on the passenger side. Neither one of them made a move to get in the car, but she knew they were discussing her. Landon was probably trying to warn Reed, and if she knew Reed, he wasn’t backing down. True Love boys down to their core. 
    She lowered the window in time to hear Landon tell Reed that whatever was going on was a bad idea. As if she didn’t know already. There was no room for Reed in her working life, and that was all she had. Work, with the occasional trip home. 
    “Quit wasting time and get in the car,” she hollered to both of them and waited until they were both in to roll the window back up. “For the sake of saving time, I’ve already warned Reed that I don’t do relationships.” She held Landon’s gaze in the rearview mirror and could feel the worry from that single look.
    Reed turned in the seat. “And I’ve already told her that I hear her loud and clear, but that I won’t be derailed.”
    The mood in the car was thick with tension between the brothers. Landon, her best friend, and Reed, the man who’d been sleeping in her bed. There was nothing she could say to ease either of their minds. Inevitably, Reed wasn’t going to be a part of her life, and so was the fact that Landon would never forgive her for crossing that line.
    Landon leaned forward and rested his arms on the back of the seat as they informed him of everything that happened and what the thumb drive held. He was as