Breaking All the Rules by Aliyah Burke

Author:Aliyah Burke [Burke, Aliyah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-23T04:00:00+00:00

***

“Get out of my face, Adam.” Wild hadn’t wanted to punch his brother this bad in a long time. But he was being an ass. A condescending ass.

“Get over yourself, bastard. How is it you couldn’t make it to your only nephew’s first birthday party?”

Wild ground his jaw. “It’s been a really long night, Adam.” He shoved Rhodi’s hand away from his chest. “Back off, Air Force.”

“Alyse made it.” Adam’s comment drew his attention from his brother who’d served in the Air Force and put it back on the Army soldier.

Wild stepped toe to toe with his brother, Adam. He stood about two inches taller but Wild knew he outweighed Adam by a bit. “Watch your tone, Adam, before you push me too far.”

“Can you two just get along for the time? It’s my son’s birthday party. I’m not as pissed about his tardiness, Adam. Let it go. He’s here now.” Rhodi sounded put out. “This is getting old between the two of you.”

Wild waited, unmoving until Adam looked away first. Then he turned and walked to the house, doing his best to calm himself before he got there. He spied Karen in the kitchen with Brayden as he crossed the deck to the sliding door.

“Hi, Karen.”

“Wild,” she said with a small smile.

He liked her, a lot. She was good for Rhodi. “Hey, bud, happy birthday.” He chucked Brayden on the cheek as he kissed Karen’s.

“Where’s Alyse?”

“Living room with your mom.” She readjusted her hold on Brayden.

“Thanks.” Wild paused in the doorway and stared at the two women. Alyse held a family picture. He couldn’t see it but he knew it by the space on the mantle.

“Wild looks a lot like his father. The others take after you.”

That familiar unpleasantness cropped up in Wild’s stomach.

“He does,” she said softly, fingers tracing the image. “So much.” His mom shook her head. “Takes after him as well. Stubborn as well, never gives up on what he wants.”

“You must be proud of him. All of your sons.”

Wild held his breath when his mom turned her head slightly and pinned him with her dark gaze. “I’m very proud of him and the man he’s become.” She looked away. “Now it’s just you and your brother, no parents?”

“No, ma’am. They were older when I was born and I lost them my first year after high school. My nephew has brain cancer and so I do what I can to help ease my brother’s burden. We’re close, I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like to but we talk often.”

She touched Alyse’s arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks.” Alyse replaced the picture. “You have a lovely family and home, Mrs. Wilder. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your grandson’s first birthday.”

His mom placed her hand along Alyse’s cheek. “Honey, you are part of this family. We have breakfasts together once a week and dinners two to three times. You are now expected.”

Alyse began to shake her head. “I don’t think that’s fair, not when the other pilots aren’t here.

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