Sworn to Protect by Jo Davis

family is for.”
    “Thanks, you guys.”
    “Do you think you’ll have any trouble out of James and Rhonda over custody?”
    James and Rhonda Cooper were Brad’s parents—Drew’s grandparents. The couple had been good friends of Shane and Shea’s parents, once upon a time. Before the huge falling-out between the two couples and the accident that had followed, taking Darryl and Linda Ford way too soon.
    In spite of the Coopers’ betrayal and the horror of the aftermath, Shane and Brad’s friendship had not only survived, it had also deepened over the years. Brad had been horrified by the corrupt layers that had been revealed in his parents.
    “No,” he said coldly. “Not unless they want the entire country to know that they attempted to embezzle hundreds of thousands from Dad’s company, not to mention being indirectly responsible for the accident. They’re on a short leash, and that’s where they’ll stay.”
    They’d never met Drew, and that wasn’t going to change as long as Shane was alive. He knew from Brad that should the couple survive their son, they weren’t even invited to the reading of the will—they’d get not one red cent of his money.
    A shuffle behind them caught his attention and he turned to see Drew standing awkwardly just inside the room. His dark hair was damp from the shower, and he’d dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale.
    Shea was up and across the room in seconds, wrapping the boy in her arms. Tommy got up and followed her. Shane noted that Drew was taller at sixteen than petite Shea. Not a boy for much longer, he was again reminded.
    “I’m not going to ask a stupid question like how you are,” Shea said, earning her a sad, watery laugh from Drew.
    “I keep thinking it’s not real. Right?”
    “I know, sweetie. But we’re all here for you, and we’re not going anywhere.”
    “That’s what Dad always said, and he’s gone.” They exchanged looks of concern before Drew pulled away. “Can I have some of that coffee?”
    “Sure,” Shane told him. “Help yourself.”
    He shuffled off, and once he was out of earshot, Shea scowled. “You let him drink coffee?”
    “He’s almost seventeen, sis,” he said in defense. “Jesus, it’s not like I’m letting him shoot bourbon. Anyway, give the kid a break, huh?”
    “Sure.” She blew out a breath, then lowered her voice as she glanced toward the kitchen. “It’s just that I was thinking there’s gonna be a lot of freedoms you gave him before, as a friend, that he might not have anymore. You can’t spoil him constantly.”
    “That’s the point I was trying to make before,” he said evenly. “Don’t you think I’m aware of how hard it’ll be to walk the line between being a parent and a friend?”
    “Maybe the word you’re looking for is
mentor
,” Tommy suggested. “A mentor can be both.”
    “I can hear you guys whispering,” Drew said, walking back into the room. “I’m not deaf.”
    Shane gave him a pained look. “We’re just worried about you, kiddo. Did you end up getting any sleep?”
    The boy shrugged. “Some, I guess.” His drawn, tired face belied his claim.
    “Where’s your coffee?” Shane asked.
    “Didn’t sound good after all.”
    “Are you hungry? I was about to ask Shea and Tommy if they’d stay for breakfast and—”
    “I don’t want anything,” Drew said shortly. “Think I’m gonna crash again.”
    Helplessly, Shane watched him go, heart sinking to his feet. Finally, he turned to his sister and Tommy. “So, how about that breakfast?”
    Tommy clapped him on the shoulder. “Sure. And if the scent of bacon won’t lure him out of his cave, nothing will.”
    It didn’t. As they ate their somber meal, talking quietly, Shane wondered whether he was making a mistake allowing Drew to hide, if he should have pushed harder.
    Inevitably, his thoughts drifted to Daisy and their soul-melting kiss last night. Seemed like he was doomed to fuck up