"Hand her over," Ash demanded, reaching towards Luke.
He stepped back, cradling Isabelle's head in his massive hand. "Baby, you know I love you, but you got to hold her for over nine months. It's my turn, now."
Aislinn's whole face lit up. She fought the emotion back down and rose up on her toes to kiss her husband's cheek. Then, without pause, she leaned down and placed soft kisses on Isabelle's chubby cheeks. "Your daddy is a charmer."
Liam looked over at Emily and Aiden. Each of them had a hand over their heart with a swoony smile covering their faces.
"That's the sweetest thing I have ever heard," Aiden sighed.
Gus shook his head and gently popped Luke on the back of the head, since he was still holding the baby. "Stop making my woman want you, Shady."
Luke shrugged with a wicked smirk, "I can't help it if I'm irresistible."
Liam laughed as he led the way up to Isabelle's headstone. He swept off a few twigs that had fallen from the tree next to her and stared down at the words on the stone.
'Your memory will never be forgotten.'
Those final days of Izzy's life were some of the hardest for their family. She refused to stop taking care of them and wore herself out quickly. Liam stayed home from work and held her in their bed whenever she was awake. They shared memories of their life together and he made her laugh a lot those last few days.
He could still hear her laugh in his mind, making him fall in love with her all over again.
Gus poured the drinks, and as always, Conall went first, raising his glass.
"Remember the day Mom found out we all skipped classes to go swimming in Lake Merritt? She showed up at school the next day in her swimming suit and a pair of shorts."
Liam laughed, shaking his head in astonishment. "She was so jealous you all went without her," he said.
"Yeah, and she walked into each of our classrooms with that white gunk all over her nose and said 'You didn't invite me yesterday, but I sure as hell am not missing out on it again.' I had never been so embarrassed in my life," Con added.
"She excused me from classes once a year after that, just after school started," Ash chimed in. "Just her and me, swimming in the lake until it was time to go home and make dinner. I always kept it a secret."
"She did the same thing with me," Gus stated, his lips turned up into a bright smile. "Told me not to say anything so you all wouldn't be jealous."
"Same here," Con said roughly.
Liam felt the lump already forming in his throat. "She wanted you all to have something special. Planned it out every year," he said quietly. "She loved that time with each of you. Talked about it for days afterwards. She refused to let any of you have fun without her knowing about it because she just wanted to share that with you."
Ash wiped under her eyes and sniffed. "It was special. Everything about her was special."
"Mom knew how to have fun," Conall said, holding his glass toward her headstone. "You loved each of us in your own way, Mom. But we all knew we were special, that we each had your whole heart. You were fierce with that love."
"Fierce!" they all said in unison.
All of them lifted the glass to their lips and drank. Emily, of course, sipped from her bottle of water and Ash did the same since she was nursing Isabelle.
Aiden moved around the circle, pouring another shot of whiskey in each of their paper cups.
"Remember when Mom paid each of us to tell Dad we liked his beard?" Gus smirked.
Liam straightened his shoulders and felt his eyes widen. "Excuse me?"
Ash burst into a fit of giggles when Luke said, "I made ten bucks every time you kept the beard for longer than two weeks."
"I made twenty when I stopped you from shaving it that one time," Ash informed him. "I knew she was good for it so I hid your razors and told her about it, hoping I'd get a little extra. She slipped me twenty bucks when you came home. When you couldn't find them, you promised you would wait another week."
Aiden laughed. "If you look anything like Gus does when he grows out his beard, I can understand why she did it."
"Ah, my little fire. I look better," Liam winked at her.
Gus rolled his eyes and held his glass out. "You knew how to get what you wanted, Mom. Out of Dad... out of any of us. What you didn't realize was that we would have done anything for you, without taking a damn penny." Gus sniffed, his eyes glistening with tears as he looked up at the sky. "You were loved just as fiercely as you loved us. Still are, Mom."
"Loved." The word was said together, but the sound was carried away in the breeze that suddenly surrounded them.
They each smiled as they took another drink, eyes wet with tears, but not a trace of sadness. Only love.
Each of them said their peace. Even Emily and Aiden shared stories of how Isabelle changed their lives without ever needing to meet her. She lived in each of her children and they carried on her love and the things she taught them.
When it was finally Liam's turn, he shook his head, fighting the tightness in his chest. "I remember your mother every day, and every day I love her more, I miss her more. But know this..." He raised his class to Isabelle's head stone and smiled. "She's here. She's always here. We never have to be without her and we never will be."
Liam looked around at his children and stopped when he saw little Isabelle squirming in his daughter's arms.
"Your memory will never be forgotten," he said, quoting those words on her headstone.
They all took a drink. No other words were needed to seal that tribute to Isabelle Brannock.
Twelve years without his Izzy was a long time and even though every day without her hurt a little, Liam couldn't be happier about the time he had with her. His children reminded him of her every day and he would never be lonely.
Not when he had the memory of his Izzy so deeply ingrained in his heart.
They all stood to leave a few minutes later, whispering a soft see you soon and touching the top of Izzy's headstone with a kiss.
Liam was the last to walk away, as he always was, because he had one final thing to ask his beautiful wife.
"Are ye happy today, my love?"
The End.
###
Thank you so much for reading Protector. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review on Amazon/Goodreads and tell your fellow readers about the series.
Jessica Wilde
About the Author
I live in Morgan Utah with my husband, daughter, and dogs, Kolo and Keena. I write as often as my active daughter will let me and my husband has the patience of a saint. I find inspiration from dreams, people I meet, and life experiences. When I write, I usually end up drinking one too many cans of Peace Tea, eating three too many Fruit by the Foot fruit snacks, and accidently kicking my pup and best buddy, Kolo, too many times since he loves to sleep under my desk at my feet.
I started writing as a teen, but my fear of the unknown won out every time and I threw everything out. After becoming a mother and deciding to stay at home to raise my beautiful little girl, I tried again when I couldn't stop thinking of ideas. I loved every minute, every hour of sleep lost, and every character that came to life in my mind.
It's strange, but my favorite moments are when I have writer's block because I can turn to my husband and find inspiration through him by just doing what we do best together. Talking, laughing, and just being in love. He doesn't like to read, but he never stops encouraging me to keep going.
Writing has become an important part of my life and every book has a special place in my heart.
Connect with Jessica Wilde
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7373464.Jessica_Wilde
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJessicaWilde
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Acknowledgements
The journey with the Brannock family has been so incredible and there are so many people that have been with me from the very beginning.
Lucas, Ash, Con, Emily, Gus, Aiden, and now Liam and Izzy! This family... well, you know what I'm talking about, don't you?
I cried many nights while writing this story because I just can't handle seeing this beautiful family go. So, I'll share a secret to those of you reading this right now.
There WILL be more! Maybe not very soon and maybe after this series has slowly faded from your mind and endless reading list, but it WILL happen. You got the cops, the good guys... well, I have some bad boys up my sleeve! *wink wink*
Okay, now on to thanking all of the amazing people in my life that have been with me on this journey. I can't thank you enough, but I will certainly try.
To my husband - This one was a doozy. Thank you so much for being patient with my endless nights and my absent mind. Your ability to calm any situation and distract our baby girl is miraculous! I love you! Your support is endless and my love for you, even more so. You have made me the happiest woman in the world!
To my beautiful baby girl - I am lost without you. One day, when you read this, you will understand some of my love for you, but these words won't be enough to tell you completely. So I'll show you. Every single day for the rest of my life, I'll show you how much I love you and cherish you.
To my family - What can I say? Your support on this journey has been so freaking amazing! Thank you for telling me you are proud of me, for always sharing a positive thought, and for the endless amount of love.
To Erica - God, there are honestly no words that would do justice to how grateful I am for you. You have changed my life! Never in a million years did I expect to have a friend like you! You push me to be better, to do better, and I envy your ability to freaking DO EVERYTHING!! I love you a billion times over! I wouldn't have been able to write this without your amazing support. I just... I don't even know how to say it! Thank you! For a cherished friendship and a million laughs. For the late night Skype conversations and for being the person I can turn to for anything. You mean the world to me! And I'm going to shout out to your beautiful blog, Always Behind a Book! Always ready to spread the word and set something up that blows my mind! Thank you!
To Jess - You are one of the biggest reasons why I wrote this book! Your love for the Brannocks has been such an amazing gift to me, if that makes sense. Your enthusiasm makes me want to write faster :) I can't thank you enough for the late night laughs when I was feeling anxious and the amazing support you have given me from the very beginning! I love you to pieces! Thank you so much!
To Keara - There is just so much I want to say to you, but like so often, I find that words are just not enough. Your friendship is so immensely important to me! You have been there for me through so much and I just want you to know that I will FOREVER cherish this friendship! You and your beautiful family are now a part of my own family! Thank you for the amazing support, the listening ear, and for always spreading the word. I love you! So excited for what's coming next!
To Tracie - I CAN'T WAIT FOR JULY! You, my friend, are probably going to get hurt from the tackle hug I will be giving you! Thank you for EVERYTHING! I can't freaking wait to write with you and not just because this idea kicks ass, but because you are an incredible writer and the places your mind can take readers to just blows me away. You have the gift! Please, don't let anyone convince you otherwise!
To Loraine, Blythe, Amie, Jamie, Amy A., Amy S., my Wilde Ones Street Team (you know who you are, my lovelies), to anyone that I have chatted with even if it was just for a minute, and all the beautiful bloggers out there that have stuck with me through it all - I just can't thank you enough! Thank you thank you thank you! Your shares, your pimping, the amazing support and enthusiasm, the messages of encouragement, and the reviews. I hope you know how grateful I am! I always try to say it right away, but it just isn't enough. So, thank you for being the difference this book world is all about.
There are just so many others that I have met along the way that have either inspired me or seriously made my day! Thank you for your messages and your love.
And to the best for last...
My beautiful, extraordinary, spectacular readers!
Each and every one of you holds a special place in my heart. Thank you for the messages, the questions, the reviews, your incredible support, the comments that make me smile every day, the messages that you loved one of my books and can't wait for more. I have the best readers in the world!! I know a lot of authors say that, but we honestly believe it. You are the best readers I could ever ask for and thank you so much for sticking with me. For taking a chance on me when you didn't know what to expect. For being the reason I do this! Thank you! I love you!
Like I always say, without you, I am just a woman with a lot of voices in her head! :)
Here's to many more books! Bring on the sleepless nights and the blurry vision from staring at the computer for too long. I'M READY! And I have so much more to give!
THANK YOU!!!
Find other titles by Jessica Wilde
Leverage (The Brannock Siblings, #1)
Print ISBN-13: 978-1495276989
ASIN: B00J8766O0
eBook ISBN: 9781311640024
Adventure. That's all Aislinn 'Ash' Brannock wanted in her life. Her dad and two brothers - all cops - got to see it all, but their over-protectiveness made her feel like she had been locked away in a tower with three fire breathing dragons watching her every move. Yes, it was that bad. The only silver lining? Lucas Shade. Her brothers' best friend growing up, and apparently the only man she will ever love because let's face it, none of the others even come close. After an unfortunate mistake lands her back in her father's home, her world is turned upside down and Lucas is there in a tightly wrapped package of serious with a big red bow on top. Life just got interesting, but it comes with a price, one she never wanted to pay.
Detective Lucas Shade never had a real family, but the Brannocks took him in as one of their own and he never took it for granted. Ash was a big reason for why he stuck around, but in order to save himself the beating of a lifetime from her two older brothers, he kept his feelings for her hidden. When the case he has been working on for months takes a turn, Ash could become the leverage the bad guys have been waiting for, but keeping her invisible may destroy everything Lucas has worked so hard for. Good thing Ash is the only person he would give up everything to protect.
Conned (The Brannock Siblings, #2)
Print ISBN13: 978-1499363180
ASIN: B00L2FQE9I
eBook ISBN: 9781310302473
Conall Brannock takes his job seriously. He doesn't get attached, he doesn't ask questions, and he protects his family at all costs. Nothing will change that. Not even the sweet, green eyed witness that just burst into his life and shifted his world. He has one job to do; protect Emily until she can testify. He can't let his interest in her get in the way, but the more he finds out about her, the more he can't help but wonder how the beautiful broken girl got into this mess in the first place. And the longer he takes to learn the truth, the deeper he falls for her.
Emily Dawson has a job to do. Stay off the grid, testify, and hopefully get her brother back. He's all she has left of the family she struggled so hard to hold together and she would do anything to keep him safe. Even if it means she has put herself in harm's way or that she has conned everyone into believing she saw something she didn't. She knows where her loyalties lie, but her stoic yet gentle protector and his crazy family makes her question everything she once knew.
Loyalty can be one sided.
Family isn't always blood.
And honesty can destroy everything she has come to love.
Missing (The Brannock Siblings, #3)
Print ISBN-13: 978-1500858032
ASIN: B00N505Q06
eBook ISBN: 9781310343186
There are tw
o things in this life that Gus Brannock truly loves; his family and his job. His family is growing and he wants what his brother and sister have before the job he's worked so hard for takes its toll. The woman he's got his eye on, however, isn't interested in being with a man who risks his life every day. When the unexpected friendship with the sassy red head he used to hate turns into something Gus just doesn't want to live without, he will do whatever it takes to have her. The hazards of his job as a detective for missing children may end up proving to be too much, but there's a reason Aiden was brought into his life and nothing will stand in his way to keep her there.
Aiden Murphy used to hate the handsome jerk next door until a surprising discovery spun her world in another direction. Her life of devotion to her sister and niece has been her biggest strength with the exception of her art. That is, until Gus turns out to be the one thing that has been missing from that life all along. Aiden must decide if the unknown is worth the risk of loving the dedicated detective or if being pulled into his world is more than she can handle. When Gus becomes the only way for her to keep the people she loves most safe, will she understand why he treasures her untried strength or will she let her fear of the unknown decide for her?
Ricochet (Rise & Fall, #1)
Print ISBN-13: 978-1507574621
ASIN: B00SJ2A8MQ
eBook ISBN: 9781311230010
Fear.
It's the last thing I remembered.
I was afraid.
Afraid to fight, afraid to run… afraid to breathe.
Then, everything had gone dark. As if life was finally hearing my pleas, my cries to end the torment. To end the fear.
But even in the dark, I still felt it.
Protector (The Brannock Siblings Book 4) Page 20