The Fall (ATCOM Book 2) (7 page)

Authors: Jennifer Lowery

Tags: #Novella, #Romance, #military

BOOK: The Fall (ATCOM Book 2)

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Silence stole the air from the room. They both knew
she’d just broken off whatever they’d had. As much as it pained her. Her heart
felt like it was being torn out of her chest.

“I’ll pack my things and be out in the morning,”
Brendan said, putting distance between them.

She wanted to tell him how sorry she was that they
hadn’t worked out. How she couldn’t get involved with a man that cared more
about his thrill-seeking adventures than his family. But no words came.
Instead, she slipped out of his arms, said goodnight and went to her room,
knowing she’d really said goodbye.

Chapter Ten

Brendan packed his things, a heaviness in his chest
he couldn’t place. Hell, he knew what it was, he just didn’t want to face it.
Something had happened in the few short days he’d known Mia. It made him want
things he’d sworn he never would. Not only had he fallen for the pretty
schoolteacher, he liked her son. The kid had potential. With the right guidance
he could make something of his future.

And he was the right guidance? Him? The one who ran
in the opposite direction at the mention of a family and settling down. That
life wasn’t for him. He couldn’t give up the things he loved. And a woman like
Mia deserved someone who would be home every night and not worry her like her
ex had. He couldn’t ask her to accept his lifestyle. Even if the extreme sports
he sought out suddenly didn’t hold that much appeal when it meant losing Mia.

Could they find common ground? Was he ready to slow
down? Settle down. Expecting the usual restless energy to zing through him, he
zipped his pack closed. Only, it didn’t come. The urge to jump off a cliff or
climb Everest wasn’t there.

What the hell had happened to him?

Grabbing his pack, he exited the room, stopping
short when he saw Jason waiting for him by the door, running clothes on. When
the kid saw his bag and regular clothes he frowned. “What’s going on?”

“Time for me to go. Your mom’s problem has been
taken care of.”

Hurt flashed in the kids eyes. “You’re leaving?”

Feeling like a bastard, Brendan nodded.

“But I thought you and my mom had something. Now
you’re running out on her?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Do you love her?”

Caught off guard by the question, he clenched his
jaw. How to answer that? His insides were twisted up like downed wire; he
couldn’t get Mia out of his head. If he were completely honest he’d admit he
didn’t want to leave. Ever. And that the thought of coming home to Mia after a
mission instead of burying himself in some stranger sounded better than
anything had in a long time. His sister and Noah were making it work. Why
couldn’t he? Attie had told him someday he would meet the right woman and
everything would change in a heartbeat. He’d laughed it off, saying not him.

“Look, kid, I gotta go. Take care of your mom.”

He didn’t expect the right hook that caught him on
the cheek.

“You bastard,” Jason railed. “You’re a coward, just
like my dad. You both take, take, take but when it comes to taking
responsibility you run away.”

Stunned, Brendan touched his sore cheek. He wasn’t
Ray. He’d been good to this kid. Taught him his workout routine, gave him
something to focus on besides trouble. Hell, he’d been a better father than his
actual father.

The thought brought him up short. He stared at the
kid with the wounded eyes and saw himself at that age. And he’d had Uncle Jed
to help him through the tough times. Suddenly everything fell into place. He
loved this kid. Wanted to be a father figure to him. Put him on the right path
of life like Uncle Jed had done for him.

“I love her,” he said in shock. He met Jason’s
equally stunned gaze. “I love your mom.”

Jason stepped closer, eyes narrowed. “Did you hear
what you just said?”

He nodded, dazed. “I want to be your father.”

Jason clapped him on the shoulder. “You did it,
dude. You admitted you love my mom. And I’d be okay with you teaching me more
workouts.”

Knowing that was the kid’s way of saying he
approved, Brendan could only nod.

A sound near the doorway made them both turn to
look. Mia stood there, a befuddled look on her face. Her hair fell over her
shoulders in sexy waves, tousled from sleep, her pajamas hugging her curves and
making him want to tear them off her. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight in
his life.

“I’ll let you two talk,” Jason said, bouncing out
of the room.

Brendan set his bag down. “How much of that did you
hear?”

“All of it.”

Damn.

“Did you mean it?”

He met her gaze. “Yes.”

She took slow steps toward him. “I don’t know if I
can go through another thrill-seeking marriage.”

“I can’t give up my hobbies, but I can promise to
scale them back to where you’re comfortable.”

Her eyes lit up. “And your job?”

“Nothing I can do there, but I’ll do everything in
my power to make it home to you.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

She had reached him and now stood in front of him.
It was all he could do not to kiss her.

“I think I can live with that.”

“Can you live with a rustic log cabin in the
mountains of Montana?”

A smile spread across her lips and he fell.

“I think I can.”

Unable to stand it any longer, he wrapped his arms
around her and claimed her lips in a kiss that made all of his promises a deal.
She kissed him back with fervor, her hands everywhere. God, he couldn’t wait to
spend a lifetime with this woman.

The front door slammed, tearing them apart. Ray
stormed in, eyes locked on him, face red. He charged. Brendan pushed Mia out of
the way and met Ray’s attack with an uppercut to the jaw that sent Ray
sprawling.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Ray raged. “You
stole everything from me.”

Only he wasn’t talking to Brendan. He aimed the
darts at Mia, who stood wide-eyed behind the sofa.

“You got everything you deserved, Ray. That money
was mine. You had no right to take it.”

“You bitch—”

“Don’t you call her that.” Jason ran at Ray, fist
pulled back. Brendan didn’t stop him. This was something the kid needed to do.

Ray ducked Jason’s blow, shoving him away. “You
dare turn on me, son? I’m your father.”

“You may be my sperm donor, but you’re not my dad.
You never will be.”

Seeing the shift in Ray’s demeanor, Brendan moved
between them just as Ray struck out at his son. Mia cried out when the blow
landed on Brendan’s ribs. He spun Ray into a chokehold and said to Mia, “Call
the cops.”

Ray wasn’t done. He fought, but Brendan didn’t let
go. To his son, Ray shouted, “You’re siding with
her
? Did she tell you
that she was the one who turned me in ten years ago? That she’s the reason I
went to prison? Is that the kind of mother you’re going to side with?”

Seeing the hurt in Jason’s eyes, Brendan dragged
Ray out of the house and forced him to the ground. He kept a foot on the back
of his neck so he wouldn’t move.

The cops showed up minutes later, handcuffed Ray
and took him away. When they were out of sight he went back inside to find Mia
crying and Jason looking ready to join her.

“It’s true,” she told her son. “I turned your
father in when I found out he and some of his friends were responsible for the
break-ins I’d seen on T.V. He almost killed a man and that’s what pushed me
over the edge. I couldn’t let him get away with his evil deeds. I’m sorry. I
had to do it.”

Brendan waited for Jason’s response to the final
truth.

When the kid’s shoulders slumped and he said, “I
get it, Mom,” Brendan knew all had been forgiven and Mia’s biggest fear had
just been alleviated.

Now, and only now, could they be a family.

The End

Author’s Note:
The
Fall
is the second book in my ATCOM series.
The Maze
was the first
and featured Brendan’s sister, Attie and navy SEAL, Noah. I hope you enjoy
their stories as much as I enjoyed writing them! Look for Book #3 coming in the
near future.

Meet Jennifer:

NY Times & USA
Today bestselling author, Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the
back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything
but a writer. Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her
sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of
ice tea at their side.

Today, Jennifer is
living that dream and she couldn’t be happier to share her passion with her
readers. She loves everything there is about romance. Her stories feature alpha
heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines. She believes
that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to
that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her
characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to
look deep within themselves to discover love.

Jennifer lives in
Michigan with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys
reading and spending time with her family.

Connect
with Jennifer:

Read more about her books
on her website:
http://jenniferloweryauthor.com/

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Other
Books by Jennifer Lowery:

SEAL Team Alpha Series:

A SEAL’s Song

A SEAL for Christmas

A SEAL’s Duty