The Officer's Promise (Brothers in Blue Book 1) by K. Langston Page A

table, embracing the tiny woman. She couldn’t be any taller than five feet without those four-inch heels she was wearing, but this woman had a presence and she was absolutely beautiful.
    “It’s so good to see you again, Hank. I’ve missed you. How are things?”
    Hank?
    This woman certainly did not look like a Hank. She looked sophisticated. Smart. Her blonde hair was twisted elegantly at the back of her head, while little tendrils of gold framed her porcelain face. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had me wondering how old she was.
    “Honey, if I were any better I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
    Ryker stood, embracing her next.
    “Lawd, it’s been too long. How’ve you been, sweet boy?”
    “I’m good.”
    “I see,” she said in a sultry voice.
    A small whimper of jealousy hung in my throat, but something told me she wasn’t interested in Ryker like that. That she was more like a mother figure to him than anything.
    “And this gem must be MaryAnn.” Extending her hand, she gave me a warm smile. “Pleasure to meet ya, darlin’.” Her southern drawl was thick and smooth. I could listen to this woman talk all day long. “Reese tells me you need a job.”
    A smile tipped my lips, my chest expanding with gratitude, knowing Reese had already spoken to her about it. “Yes, ma’am. But, um, I have a broken foot, so I’m not sure what use I’ll be until I get this cast off.”
    She waved her manicured hand back and forth. “That ain’t nothin’. I have girls come in a hell of a lot more banged up than that.”
    Apparently, Reese had filled her in on everything.
    “I have the perfect spot for you. Can you start on Monday?”
    “Of course.” I was on the verge of tears, pure joy seeping into my chest. I couldn’t believe how easy this was. “That would be…amazing. Thank you so much,” I said to them both.
    Reese smiled.
    “Anytime, darlin’. Do you need anything else? A place to stay?” Hank asked.
    “I got that part covered,” Ryker all but growled.
    “I’m sure you do,” Hank replied, then her hazel eyes met mine. “But, honey, if that changes, you let me know.”
    I nodded, chewing on my bottom lip. Was this really happening? This seemed like a new chapter in my life, one that had yet to be written, one I had no idea could even exist until this very moment. The realization slammed into me, hard and fast, my emotions completely taking over.
    Ryker handed me his napkin and Hank’s voice broke through my sobs. “This journey is your own. No one else’s. I know what it’s like to live with fear. The fear of the unknown. The fear of failing. The fear of leaving for good. But once you decide, once you make that choice, each choice after becomes easier and easier. Are you ready to start your new life, MaryAnn?”
    I turned her words over in my mind carefully. This was my journey. My life to take back. I’d wasted too many years being worthless. He stole all of those years from me along with everything else.
    It was time to take it all back. I lifted my chin, wiping away my tears once and for all.
    “Yes, I’m ready.”

T he last week has been a blur but in a good way. I’ve been feeling more and more like myself as the days go on. I still have a long ways to go but I feel like the damaged part of my soul is slowly being restored. And I have mostly Ryker to thank for that. He’s made me smile more in the last week than I have in the last six years. It feels good to smile again. To laugh again. To be myself and not be afraid of the consequences.
    Things have been unusually quiet in regards to Trent. Something I didn’t expect. Maybe he’s so angry with me, for standing up to him and following through with the charges, that now he hates me as much as I hate him. Either way, I’m thankful for his silence. It pairs well with the solace I’ve found at the Bird House.
    I could thank Reese a million times over and it would never be enough.
    In my short time here, I’d