Turn On A Dime - Blane's Turn (The Kathleen Turner Series)
Page 25
When the sky began to lighten, Blane climbed out of bed. Kat was dead asleep and didn’t even move from where he left her. Blane took a shower, pulling his jeans on before starting a pot of coffee. After pouring himself a cup, he wandered over to her couch. A stack of books and magazines sat on the floor and curiosity got the better of him. He inspected the books. She liked legal thrillers, by the looks of it, with a couple of romances thrown in. The magazines were all various food and recipe ones, and Blane wondered if Kathleen could cook, not that he particularly cared.
As he thumbed through the stack, a manila envelope fell from between two magazines. It was thick and Blane unthinkingly opened it. A stack of cash fell into his hand.
Surprise immobilized him for a moment, then he counted it. Twenty thousand dollars. Why would Kathleen have that much money? And why would she be hiding it in her apartment?
Frowning as he thought, Blane put the money back in the envelope. He turned it over in his hand and saw writing on one side.
Buy some decent shoes.
It wasn’t the words that made Blane freeze, his breath catching slightly. It was the handwriting. He knew that writing, knew it very well.
It was Kade’s.
Eleven Years Ago
Kade stared out of his window, knowing it was time and yet, not wanting to face it. It seemed like a lifetime ago, the day he’d first come here. He’d been so sure back then that his stay would be temporary at best. And it nearly had been, if not for Blane’s persistence.
Blane had turned Kade around, given him a shot at a normal life. They’d never spoken about that night so long ago, the night things had changed between them. Blane had seen Kade at his most vulnerable, when he weakest, and hadn’t pushed him away in disgust. Blane had really meant it when he said he loved him and that he’d take care of him.
Kade felt no regret over the men he’d killed that night. He’d kept his brother safe and he’d do it again without a second thought. Blane was everything to him.
But now he was leaving, and he might not make it back.
Blane finished packing, not that there was much to take. As a SEAL, his deployment would be for six months at a time before he’d be back.
Hauling his duffel downstairs, he met Mona on her way from the kitchen. Tears sparkled in her eyes immediately when she saw him, but she blinked them back and smiled.
“Gerard should be here in a few minutes,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind my not going with you to the airport. I just can’t—” She broke off.
“It’s okay,” Blane said, reaching to give her a hug. “I understand.”
Mona gripped him tightly before letting go. She nodded, her smile thin lipped now and tears on her lashes.
“You be careful,” she managed to say. “We love you, you know.”
“I will,” Blane replied. “And I love you, too.” He brushed a kiss to her forehead. “Where’s Kade?” he asked.
Mona dabbed at her eyes. “I don’t think he wants to come down,” she said. “You know how he idolizes you. He’s having a harder time dealing with this than even Gerard and me.”
Blane glanced up the stairs with a sigh. “I’d better go up,” he said.
A few moments later, he was knocking on Kade’s door.
“Yeah,” Kade called out.
Blane opened the door. Kade was standing at the window, looking outside.
“You’re not gonna give your big brother a goodbye kiss?” Blane joked, but Kade didn’t smile.
Blane sighed and sank down onto the bed. He glanced around. Kade kept the room spotless. The only area that looked like it was even used was the desk which held his computer and other electronics, some of which Blane didn’t even know what they did or were for. But Kade did. He’d taken to computers like a duck to water, which probably shouldn’t have been surprising since he’d tested two levels above his grade. He’d graduate high school a couple of months after he turned seventeen.
“Tell me why you’re doing this again?” Kade asked.
“You know why. We’ve had this conversation before,” Blane answered. “It’s just something I feel I need to do, to give something back.”
“So risking your life for a country of fools who don’t appreciate it, that’s how you want to ‘give back?’”
Blane knew Kade well enough to know what this was really about, not that either of them would say. It had taken Kade months before he’d slept without nightmares after the run-in with Willie all those years ago. He’d wake up screaming, calling for Blane in his sleep. Blane had taken to just sticking Kade in bed with him for a while. He’d seemed to sleep better when he did that.
They’d never spoken about it, but maybe that had been a mistake.
“I know I may get hurt,” Blane said quietly. “I may die. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”
“Then why?” Kade cried. “Why would you do this to me?”
Blane stood, frowning as he walked over to Kade. “I’m not doing this to you,” he said. “I’m doing this for you. I want you to know there’s more to life than just living for yourself. And some things are worth dying for.”
“I’d die for you,” Kade said baldly.
Blane’s smile was a little sad. “I’d rather you didn’t. You’ve paid your dues to life.”
Kade looked away, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He blinked rapidly a few times and cleared his throat.
“Well, you know I’m going to drive the Jag while you’re gone,” he said flippantly.
“The hell you will!” Blane retorted in mock anger. “You even touch it, I’m gonna know.”
Kade snorted. “Bullshit. And don’t think I don’t know how to get into the liquor cabinet either. I’m going to throw so many wild fucking parties, you’ll be on a plane back here before dust even coats your sunglasses.”
Blane chuckled. “Just try not to get arrested or break too many hearts, okay?”
“I’m too good to get arrested, but I can’t make any promises on the second one,” Kade said with a shit-eating grin. “I’m pretty hot, you know.”
This time Blane laughed outright. “And modest, I see,” he teased.
Kade shrugged.
It got quiet then. It was time and both of them knew it.
Blane reached out first, because he knew Kade wouldn’t, and wrapped him in a bear hug. Tears threatened, but he held them back. He had to be strong for Kade.
Displays of affection weren’t Kade’s thing, and he still didn’t like to be touched when he wasn’t expecting it, but his grip was tight on Blane.
Finally, they parted.
“You coming with us to the airport?” Blane asked. “Gerard is taking me.”
Kade shook his head, not quite meeting Blane’s eyes as he said, “Nah. Got homework to do.”
Sure he did. School had always been child’s play for Kade and it was rare when he had to finish his homework at home. But Blane let it slide.
“Okay.”
“I’ll, uh, I’ll write you,” Kade said, which surprised Blane.
“I’d like that,” he said.
Kade glanced up at him, though by now they were nearing the same height. His eyes were startlingly blue behind the fringe of jet black lashes.
“You know, right?” Kade said. “I mean, you know.” His ears reddened and he looked away again. “You know I love you, right.”
Blane’s throat closed and he couldn’t speak. He could count on one hand the number of times Kade had said that particular phrase to him.
“So, you know, don’t get shot, or anything,” Kade continued. “Or I’ll be really fucking pissed.”
“You got it,” Blane managed, grabbing him for another hug. “I love you, too, brother.”
He left while they both were still coherent and in control. Another few moments and he’d have broken down and cried like a little girl to be leaving his brother behind.
Mona met him downstairs, took one look at his face, and took his ha
nd in hers.
“We’ll take good care of him,” she said.
“I know,” Blane replied. “I’ll be back. I promise.” Grabbing his duffel, he headed out the door to the waiting car.
Kade watched from the upstairs window as Blane put his stuff in the trunk. Before he got in, he looked up and saw Kade. He raised a hand in farewell before disappearing inside the car.
Mona suddenly appeared at Kade’s side. He’d shot up in the past couple of years and now was taller than she. Kade glanced down at her. She was crying, her gaze glued on the car retreating down the drive.
Kade wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she rested her head against him. His eyes were dry now. Blane had given him so much, now it was Kade’s turn to give back. It was his turn to be strong, for Mona and Gerard, who loved Blane and would worry. His turn to lie awake nights, wondering where his brother was, and if he was safe. And when Blane returned, Kade would be here waiting for him.
They had each other, and that would never change.
Read the entire Kathleen Turner Series!
No Turning Back
Turn to Me
Turning Point
Out of Turn
Point of No Return (coming in 2014)
Find Extras and Outtakes on Tiffany’s website – http://www.Tiffany-Snow.com!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tiffany Snow has been reading romance novels since she was too young to read romance novels. After fifteen years working in the Information Technology field, she now holds her dream job of writing full time.
Tiffany makes her home in the Midwest with her husband and two daughters. She can be reached at tiffany@tiffanyasnow.com. Visit her at her website, www.Tiffany-Snow.com, to keep up with the latest in The Kathleen Turner Series.
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR