Page 2 of Last Man Standing

“Lincoln?” My mouth moves in spite of my desire to remain hidden. My feet walk, despite wishing I could hide a little longer. Stumbling forward on jelly legs, I approach the bottom of the porch stairs and stare up at the only man on the planet I can’t live without.

Little sisters are supposed to be annoyed by overbearing older brothers.

Older brothers are supposed to ditch their younger siblings in favor of their cooler friends and cooler adventures.

But that’s not us. It never has been. So when Lincoln literally tosses Nova to the side and spins, I come to a stop, my heart in my throat, and a wild, wide grin stretching across my face.

This might be the first smile I’ve smiled in days.

“Scarlett?” He charges down the stairs and crashes against me with the fury of a storm, dragging me into a hug that steals my breath and crushes my cheek against his fiercely pounding heart. “What are you doing here?” He yanks me back, manhandling me in ways that would scare me if it were anyone else… any other man. “What the fuck, Scar?”

You’ve practiced this, Scarlett Castro. Don’t mess up now.

“What?” I dial my grin even higher. “I missed you. Two months is a long time, Linc. And I knew where to find you.”

“Does Mills know you’re here?” Roughly, he cups my face in his hands. “He’s gonna be pissed when he finds out you skipped town. Especially since I already told him I was coming to you. Soon,” he adds for emphasis.

“Yes, he knows.” I playfully huff. That’s it, Scar. Act right, or he’s gonna figure you out. “And you know I’m not a very patient person.” I drag his hands down and turn to face the woman whose stare warms my skin. Nova Nichols boasts beautiful mousy brown hair that verges on blonde, bright hazel eyes, and once we stand side by side, maybe a two or three-inch advantage compared to my five-two.

Wringing my hands together, I wander up the stairs.

I used to be the center of my brother’s world. The beginning and end of every big decision he ever made.

Now… she is.

“You’re as pretty as he said you were.” I crest the top step and meet her nervous gaze. “Nova, right? I’m sorry for just turning up.”

“No, it’s…” She trembles. Just like I do. Terrified, kinda like I am. “I-I’m sorry. I must seem so rude.” She grabs my hand. “Nova Nichols. Lincoln has told me so much⁠—”

“Move.” The third person, the massive, irritated, muscle-clad military-type, picks Nova up and tosses her aside. Taking my hand for himself, he flashes a wide, could-be-charming smile.

Except it’s not charming.

Not even a little.

“My name is Sebastion.” He draws my shaking hand higher and presses an arrogant kiss to my knuckles.

Nausea bounces furiously in my belly. Anxiety coils tight. Waves roar in my brain, just like they used to back when… back before…

“My friends call me Bas.”

“No!” Lincoln’s booming snarl shatters the wall of noise in my head. He wrenches me back from the edge of insanity, metaphorically and, as he charges up the stairs and grabs on, literally, too. He yanks me away from Sebastion and tucks me securely behind his back. “Absolutely not! No fucking chance.”

Both men remain oblivious to the tears scorching my eyes. To the wild thunder of my heart. They stand toe-to-toe, challenge-to-challenge. Just like always, Linc lends me his strength because mine has a nasty habit of washing away on those horrible waves.

But Nova… she’s not as unobservant as the other two. She peeks around Lincoln’s broad shoulders, her brows pinched tight and her eyes narrowed to slits. In just a single second, while Linc and Sebastion glower, she latches onto my wrist and tugs me away.

Alarmed, Linc spins to save me. Always to save me. “Nova, what⁠—”

“We’re going inside.” She leads me across the porch, whips the back door open, and slingshots me in ahead of her, then she whirls back just in time to thrust her palm in Lincoln’s face. “Girl time. Go do that peeing-on-people thing boys so enjoy. Outside.” With a blinding smile and dancing eyes, she swings the heavy wooden door shut, slamming it so hard the walls rattle and a teapot sitting high on a shelf shifts.

“I’m so sor⁠—”

“No idea why you would be.” She comes back around and faces me, less pissing-the-menfolk-off, and more… well, soft. “We have about five minutes to ourselves before they climb onto the roof and crawl down the chimney.”

“Nova—”

“So we’re going to take that five minutes. You can wipe your face and take a deep breath.”