Free Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2) by Ayden K Morgen Page B

you tear him down because you don't agree with the way he does things. At the very least, he deserves your respect, because I guarantee you, no one else will ever watch out for you or sacrifice for this family the way he does."
    Rachel stared at her, not saying anything. Lillian met her gaze head-on, refusing to back down. She didn't care what Rachel thought about her, not really, but she'd be damned if she let the brunette tear Tristan down just because she didn't understand him. Lillian had seen the kinds of things he tried to protect his family from. The scar on her leg was testament to how messed up people could be. She hated how he intentionally isolated himself from everyone, but he wasn't a dick for doing it. The least Rachel could do was cut him a little slack and acknowledge that he wasn't being a pain in the ass to be a pain in the ass. He suffered more than they knew, missed them more than they could imagine. But he carried that burden so they didn't have to see what he saw or live with the ghosts he lived with every day.
    Rachel smiled suddenly, her entire face lighting up. "You're in love with him."
    "Told you so," Zoë said.
    "I wanted to make sure," Rachel said with a shrug, settling back in her chair with a smug grin. "Women are always sniffing around him, but he doesn't pay them much attention. When he does, it's well, it's physical. A release. It's nice to see someone finally break through to him. It's been a long time coming. And for what it's worth, I think you're exactly the kind of woman he deserves."
    Lillian didn't know what to say to that, so she said nothing. She didn't want to talk about Tristan with other women. The mere thought made her want to claw someone's eyes out. He was hers, just as much as she was his.
    "I'm sorry, Lillian," Katherine said, shooting a quelling look at Rachel and Zoë, who merely shrugged. "Apparently Tristan isn't the only one with a tendency to go overboard with the protective instincts."
    "It's fine." Lillian wasn't sure if she was angry that Rachel had intentionally riled her up to get a response or if she was relieved that she wasn't going to have to go toe to toe with the pregnant brunette over Tristan. She'd meant what she said. She would fight for him if that's what it took, even if that meant fighting Rachel, who was like family to him, but she didn't want to cause discord between them.
    "I really do like you," Rachel said, an apology flickering in her eyes. "But he's practically my family, you know? I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. I don't want to see him hurt if you can't handle all the bullshit that comes along with him. He deserves someone who can equal him. Someone who can help him get past the guilt. He deserves peace and happiness."
    "I want him to be happy as much as you do," she promised Rachel. "He deserves it more than anyone else I know."
    "We all worry about him," Katherine said.
    Zoë nodded.
    "So do I," Lillian answered. She worried about him more than they could possibly know, especially with the Vetrov family out there, willing to kill to keep their secret.
     

     
    "So, a ballerina, huh?" Jordan waggled his brows, smirking.
    "Jordan, shoot the damn gun," Tristan said, rolling his eyes and tossing the Beretta to him. At twenty-five, Jordan was more child than grown man, always causing some sort of trouble. Tristan didn't fault him for it. He'd never had to live with the shit Jason and Tristan lived with every day. Tristan would have killed to be half as unburdened as Jordan. But that didn't mean he wanted to answer questions about Lillian.
    And he really didn't want to be out here now. They were a good quarter of a mile from the house, in a little clearing used for target practice on the rare occasion when he took a break. It didn't happen often. He'd always kind of figured John and Katherine were safer if he stayed away. That was still true, but maybe the time for change had come. His mother's brother was all he had left