Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Christian noted the man favoring his left leg. “Why you limping?”
“Got shot a few months back. Poacher.” Dutch shrugged, the deep lines in his face showing more wear than his patch. “Took him down. Won’t poach again.”
The AWT members were almost mystical in the state of Alaska, and this one was legendary. Rumor had it he was a ghost in the woods until he wanted to be seen. Or heard. He’d been friends with Hank, and Christian had known him his entire life since Hank took the brothers in after the rest of their village had perished in an avalanche.
“You really Dutch?” Christian asked, surprising himself.
Dutch paused as well, running a hand through his grizzly gray hair. “I dunno. Probably not. My daddy might’ve been, but my mama was Inuit, like yours. Probably. Not that we ever figured out about you four. You ever consider doing a DNA test?”
“No.” They all looked alike, and Christian figured they were biologically all four related. “We’re brothers.” Period.
Dutch nodded. “Yeah, that’s what Hank said. I’m glad he finally gave you names. It was irritating as hell when he called you A, B, C, and D.”
Christian didn’t really remember that time. “Why are you here, Dutch?”
“I was lookin’ for you.” Dutch kicked an icy pinecone out of the way. “I’m getting old, Christian. Want to leave my territory to somebody who’ll take care of her.”
Christian barely kept himself from taking a step back. “Ask Ace.”
“Ace belongs in the sky, and you know it.” Dutch lowered his gray stubble covered chin. “Brock’s keeping the town safe as sheriff, and who knows where Damian is right now.”
So Dutch wasn’t in the loop. “Damian was honorably discharged and has taken over as the head of security for EVE.”
“No shit?” Dutch scratched his neck. “That can’t be good. What is he doing? You sure he was discharged? The guy worked in intelligence, you know.”
“I know.” Christian had yet to decide what to do about Damian. He’d gotten Brock all settled in, and right now, Ace required more of his attention. Well, when he wasn’t saving Amka from an arsonist. “That’s an issue for another day. Damian could take over for you.”
Dutch snorted. “Right. Like he’d give up his three-piece suits to scramble around in the brush. No. It’s you, Christian. Either that, or somebody from one of the cities, who won’t love this place like you do. Right now, the town needs cover.”
Christian’s chin lifted. “Meaning?”
“A possible killer in the mountains. Hank’s murder. Flossy’s confession. The entire town covering for her so the prosecutor can’t charge anybody. Anchorage is pissed, and while I get it, Knife’s Edge is under scrutiny now. Especially since now we got someone setting buildings on fuckin’ fire. You want an ally out in these mountains, and right now, I’m all you got.”
“I’m not lookin’ for a job.”
“Why not?” Dutch took a granola bar out of his pocket and slowly unwrapped it. “You plannin’ on livin’ on your thrift pension plan forever? You weren’t in the Navy long enough to get a retirement pension, but rumor has it, you did your job well those twelve years.”
Christian didn’t want to talk about being a sniper. Ever. “You think I need money?”
Dutch took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. “No, but you might wanna get married, and women like money. So do kids.”
Christian shook his head. “I ain’t ever getting married.”
Dutch ate half of the remaining bar and then swallowed. “Famous last words. Just because Hank never married doesn’t mean you won’t. You might fall for some sweet blonde gal who wants security.”
His type was not blonde. “You never married.”
“Who says?” Dutch finished the bar and shoved the wrapper in his pocket.
Christian stiffened. “You’re married?”
“Was. For ten years.”
Christian cocked his head. How had he never known that fact? That was huge.
Dutch sighed. “It was a good ten years. Cancer got her. There never was another one like her, so I didn’t do it again. But maybe you’ll find the one for you.”
“No.” He’d never looked twice at a woman for anything beyond a night—except Amka. Not that they’d ever had a night, because if they did, he knew he’d never let her go. That guy didn’t live in him. She was too kind, too soft, too feminine for a killer like him. Even if she didn’t have a fiancé, which she did. “Not gonna happen.”
“Well, then? I guess the reason you take the job is to protect Knife’s Edge. It’s up to you, C.” Dutch glanced down at a series of deer tracks. “Besides, Hank would want you to have purpose. You know that. He wouldn’t like you living on the mountain, away from people, just eating off the land and wandering around when you’re not looking for game. You gotta protect your brothers and your town. Your home.”