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

surprised as she’d been to find out about the boxes that appear to Reed and the intricate security design behind the thumb drive.
    A moment of hurt crossed Landon’s eyes as Reed discussed his ability and the stuff he’d been picking up on everyone along the way, but to his credit, he remained silent until they were finished, never letting on what she could so easily read in his eyes.
    “I should have come home more.” Landon ruffled his brother’s hair. “You could have told me what was going on with you.”
    “You should have come home anyway,” Reed said as a response and turned in his seat to meet his brother’s eyes. “We all worry about you.”
    Landon sat back in his seat. “As you can see, I’m fine.”
    “Far from it,” Reed mumbled and turned back around. Landon remained quiet the rest of the trip back to the house as Reed and she tried to figure out where the sleeve might be. They had both been so sure it would be in that house. Stress built in her shoulders as they pulled up to the safe house. Light illuminated the shadows in the living room. Emily was seated in the rocking chair on the porch, sipping from a mug.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 10

     
    Landon found Reed sitting on the dock. Reed had given them space and time to go over everything that had happened to Landon while he’d been on the mission and since.
    “Avery tells me that you think one of the numbers on the file matches the ledger.”
    “Yep.” Reed tossed a rock and watched the ripple on the water. Each ring extended farther when he switched the angle, kind of like finding Alice. With each step they took, they chipped away, looking for clues, making their presence felt a little further each time.
    Landon slid down to sit next to him. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this. If I’d known you would have followed her, I never would have sent you the thumb drive.”
    “I’m not sorry.” Reed tossed another rock and it sank beneath the surface of the water. “I’m a selfish bastard, just like you.” Reed lay back on the dock and rested on his good hand.
    “Selfish?” Landon asked. “Is that what you call someone trying to save a life?”
    Reed finally looked at his brother. He was a trained killer and worked for a company that none of the family knew about, doing God knows what. Oh, that was right. He wouldn’t know what the hell his brother was into. Landon never bothered to check in with him. Anger skirted his spine as Reed rose from his spot to stand over his brother.
    “Did you ever for a minute think about what your absence is doing to our family? You weren’t there when our sister walked down the aisle in our mother’s dress, or when Olivia and Declan found out they were having a baby. You missed Flynn finally meeting his match, and what about Mom on her birthday? You didn’t see the hurt in her eyes that you didn’t even bother to fucking call. You can’t ever get those things back. Those things make you selfish.”
    “What, because I have a life?” Landon jumped up from his spot. “I’m the job, Reed. That’s who I am. And calling me selfish is like calling the kettle black, big brother.”
    Reed shook his head and had turned to stomp back up to the house when Landon grabbed his arm. “What are you doing with Avery? Hmm?”
    Reed yanked his arm free. “That’s none of your damn business.”
    “You’re putting her and yourself in danger just by being here. Her head isn’t in the game. That was obvious when I snuck up on her at the house. You’re going to get her killed, and why? Because you want to sleep with her? Are you hoping that one night in bed with you will convince her to settle for a life on the island? That you’ll be able to give her a happily ever after?” Landon shook his head. “Take a good look in the mirror, Reed. You’ll never give her what she needs.”
    The anger riding up Reed’s spine turned to full outrage. He balled his hand into a fist and swung, knocking Landon right in the