Protective Love (Hidden Secrets) Read Free Page B

had to deal with to hang around with the constant reminder of what only I knew happened.
    Amazed, I looked around the table as all the men’s mouths dropped open when my sisters jumped up to hug me.  The amazing part was my sisters didn’t even seem to notice.  I hugged each of them.
    “So proud of you both.”
    They both gave me a huge smile then Mylee turned to the group of men and I could feel my fear kick in a bit as she introduced me to the group.
    “This is Mitch, Donny, Kenny, and John.  Guys, this is our sister Kayla.”
    All of them said “Hi.” Three of them turned their attention back to my sisters, but one kept his eyes on me.  The look in his eyes was giving me the creeps.  I tried to hurry away, but the guy stepped in front of me.
    “I’m Mitch,” he said, holding his hand out for me to shake.
    I smiled and tentatively shook his hand.
    “Kayla.  See you around.”
    When I tried to pull my hand from his, he wouldn’t let it go.  Suddenly I was so nervous that there were butterflies in my stomach and I felt like I was going to be sick.  It wasn’t a good nervous either.  This guy scared the shit out of me.
    “Don’t leave.  We should get to know each other.” 
    He brought my hand up to his lips.  Finally able to yank my hand free, I left without looking back or saying a word.  When guys looked at me like that, I could see their intentions.  His were not honorable.  One could tell a lot from someone’s eyes.  I could hear the guy walking behind me.
    “Kay Key!” 
    I a lmost jumped with glee. I had never been so happy to hear my childhood nickname.  I looked around to see who was calling me, and there, with his arms opened wide, was my brother Jake.  We used to be close. 
    God, I miss my family.  
    The closeness we ’d once had seemed to have vanished in a single night.  Current events kept me from getting close to them again.  However, this guy Mitch was giving me the creeps, and for the first time in a long time, I hugged my brother.  He seemed to be just as shocked about it as I was, but I wanted to be safe from this guy.
    “You’re shaking Kay.  What’s wrong?”
    “Is that guy still watching me?  Don’t let him see you look.”
    After a moment, Jake said, “Yes.  Why?”
    “Just trust me when I say he’s bad news.  He’s giving me the creeps.”
    I had no more than finished telling Jake that when I felt my brother stiffen and his arms tighten around me.  The pressure made me start to panic.  I pushed against Jake, but he would n’t let me go.  Soon I found out why.
    “You going to introduce me to your friend, babe?”
    “Babe?” I whispered.
    Jake finally released me and I turned around.  To my horror, Mitch actually reached for me.  I immediately stiffened.  Then flat out fear broke out when I saw who walked into the backyard.
    Alex!
    He seemed to be searching for something or someone.  Just then my oldest brother Elijah came into the backyard.
    “Kayla!”
    I watched in terror as Alex found me, smirked and started walking toward me.  Elijah got to me first and tried to hug me.  I didn’t return it.  I loved my brother, but it was his idea for the ‘party’ they had and it was Carson that screwed Alex over.  Both of their decisions ruined me and the person I wanted to be.
    “You’re still mad at me?  This cold shoulder is getting old.  What the hell happened? What…”
    I didn’t hear the rest of Elijah’s speech over the top of my heart pounding its way out of my chest.  As he got closer, I started trembling and knew that my eyes had to be as big as my head.
    “Hey everybody! Thanks for the invite.”  Without thinking, I stepped back and behind my brother Jake as he said “Hello Kayla. Pretty as ever even after all these years.”  The smile on his face and the look in his eyes made me start to shake worse.
    My brother eyed me oddly.  Without a doubt I knew I was making an ass out of myself, but they wouldn’t think so if