Page 3 of Sworn to Defend
“Two weeks? Did you just say two weeks?” Hannah sputtered. Her heart rate started to pick up as she made her way to the parking garage.
“After Scott proposed, our parents were discussing the plans over dinner. They both agreed a quick union would be preferable, especially so the event wouldn’t overshadow Scott’s father’s campaign for Senate. If he’s elected, Scott will need to take his place as CEO of their company. The board would all feel better if he was settled down. And with Regina’s husband running again for mayor, it would be selfish to wait.”
Hannah rolled her eyes and quickly walked through the darkened lot, clicking her key fob to unlock her car doors as she approached her simple sedan. Brainwashed was the only word that came to mind. Vivienne had been fed all the proper information since birth, and now her sister didn’t even realize that her words weren’t her own. “You have a say in your life. You know that, right?”
“This is what I want,” Vivienne said. Did that unquestionable tone actually help her believe it? “I want you to be a bridesmaid. I want Collin to be the ring bearer. Please, Hanni Banani. I…I need you right now.”
She gripped the car door. The childhood nickname, before their mother had deemed it ridiculous, made her pause in her tracks. For what it was worth, she and Vivienne had been playmates once. Friends. They might be close still if they hadn’t been dragged in such different directions.
“Text me the dates. I’ll do my best to get the time off.” Hannah slid into her car and locked the doors.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
They said their goodbyes and ended the call. Hannah plugged her phone into the charger, twisted over the center console, and rested her forehead against the steering wheel. Sometimes, she allowed herself a stolen moment here and there to just close her eyes and think of nothing for a few seconds. She breathed in through her nose, out through her mouth, then lifted her head and started the car. She couldn’t wait to get one of her son’s big, all-consuming bear hugs. Sure, Vivienne’s wedding was an unexpected inconvenience, but it also reminded her of how lucky she was to have gotten away from the stifling clutches of her family. If it weren’t for the scandal of her unwed pregnancy, her parents never would’ve let her leave so quickly. Casting her aside in a hushed fashion prevented the rumor mill from churning—at least a little bit. Especially seeing as her baby’s father had been so far outside her family’s social circle, one of the things she’d coveted about their relationship. The normalcy of it all. They hadn’t been in love, but their friendship was solid and special.
When Russell died so suddenly, she’d never felt more alone. She’d never forget him, though. Not after he’d given her life’s most precious gift—Collin.
Chapter Two
Branch’s conversation with Hannah hadn’t gone as planned, and for the past three days, he’d been staring at the warped ceiling tiles above his head, wondering what he’d said to turn her off so completely. Hell, maybe the flicker of interest he thought he’d seen several times over the past months hadn’t really been there at all. She’d rushed out of his room before he could ask if she would bring Collin by. Now that several days had passed, it seemed apparent that she wasn’t planning to.
He sighed and leaned back against the thin pillows effectively flattened by his large mass. Being stuck in the hospital was making him cranky. He usually rolled with the punches. Had an easy time sliding into someone else’s shoes. He was being less than fair to Hannah. She had more on her plate than any one single person should have to juggle, and she made it look easy. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was purposely keeping Collin from him because she was offended by his advance.
He had feelings for Hannah. Ones that he instinctively knew had the power to take root and run deep. It would hurt if she didn’t share the same feelings, but he wasn’t willing to lose his relationship with Collin either way. There was a light rap on the door, and he used the remote control to shift his bed into more of a sitting position. He might be the easiest-going member of his team, but he still liked to be in control, and being confined to a hospital room sucked.
“Hello? Is it all right if we come in?” A soft voice rang out. Sam. Joker had met his match the night he decided to visit the bar alone after a mission and met her. And the fact that she’d been the woman who rescued Brynn, Ransom’s now-fiancée? It was one of those eerie coincidences that made you question fate.
Another voice grumbled alongside hers. “And what? He’s gonna get up and close the door if he doesn’t want company? Go on, then.” Fred, Sam’s elderly next-door neighbor, had become somewhat of an adopted member of their SEAL team and a guardian angel to watch over the women while they were called out. The former Marine was gruff and a bit rough around the edges, but he cared about all of them. He was already grousing under his breath about how Sam shouldn’t be on her feet in her state—that state being pregnancy. Watching the women’s responses to Fred’s somewhat old-fashioned views was typically pretty amusing.
“Sam, Axe.” He used the old Marine’s nickname. Most of his teammates were long dead, but he was now one of theirs. “Nice to see you both.”
“You’re rotting away in that bed.” Axe threw up his arms. Despite the warming weather of early May, a long-sleeved shirt concealed the faded tattoos that covered his arms. “I would’ve ripped out that IV days ago and walked out with my bare ass flapping in the wind.”
He fought to maintain a straight face, but the mental image of Axe strutting out of the hospital with an open-back johnny, bare feet, and no fucks given was too much. “If I’m still here by tomorrow, I might consider it.”
Fred nodded his approval. “Tell this one to sit down. I’m not equipped to deliver a baby.” He was already sliding a chair behind Sam’s knees. To her credit, she merely rolled her eyes with affection, even though there was a twinge of frustration there, too.
“I don’t think standing ever induced spontaneous labor,” he said, grabbing the cup of water the nurse had left earlier.
Axe lowered himself into a chair beside Sam and raised one brow at him. “You say that now, but you won’t when you’re elbow-de—”
“Okay,” Sam soothed quickly. “No one’s delivering this baby except for a trained medical professional, so don’t worry. I still have three months to go, and I’m hoping she’ll wait to appear until after Brynn and Ransom’s wedding in June.” She ran her hands over her rounded belly, and he couldn’t stop the image of Hannah doing the same thing from entering his mind. If he couldn’t even convince her to give him a chance, there was no need to fantasize about how fucking gorgeous she’d be carrying their child.
“What if you can’t fit into a dress?” Axe leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
Sam merely shrugged as though this wasn’t the first time he’d asked. “I’m sure Brynn will be flexible with my choice of wedding attire.”
He could listen to Sam and Axe’s back-and-forth banter all day. The old man had no filter and was funny as hell. And Sam, she was so goddamn patient. She deserved a fucking medal for putting up with Axe and Joker. After Sam had nearly been killed by her estranged mother, both men hovered. Well, they all did to some extent. Brynn and Sam were part of the family now.
“Watched Collin lately?” he asked Axe. There was a pang in his chest. He wished Hannah would leave him here during her shifts. Collin was a constant source of fun and never tired of a good card game.
“Night Hannah came to see you after her shift. Always busy since Sam introduced me. Babysitter. Pet sitter. Chaperone.”
“And you love it.” Sam laughed.
“Course.” Axe cleared his throat. “Anyway, Collin was a big help. Programmed that tablet you all got me. Smart as a goddamn whip, that kid.”
Pride swelled through him. “That he is.” Collin was incredibly bright, though some didn’t take the time to see it. Their loss. Everyone had unique skills and challenges. Individuals who had autism were no different.