CALLEN (Second Chance Novels Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: Kemmie Michaels
certainly use that skill of theirs now.
Where Spades was straight-laced and even, Riggs was a laugh-riot and socially unpredictable.
"They're meeting us at Second Chance as soon as they get here," Mason says to me in the office today. "Be there before seven."
"Done," I grin. Mason nods and maintains his smile before a thoughtful expression drops his grin a single degree.
"I haven't seen them since I left."
"Won't be an issue. Brothers are brothers," I assure him. "I haven't seen them either."
Mason nods with a more relaxed smile. "Don't be late."
I shake my head at his enthusiasm. I couldn't be late if I wanted to. I'm ready to get out of my head for a few hours and reunite with the only family who's ever meant anything to me.
I'm at Second Chance by six that evening and I enjoy talking with Jackson until Mason gets to the bar at six-thirty. I can't imagine a better place for a reunion.
As I sit here with Ledger and Mason, I think again of the name of this bar. It seems everyone who comes in here needs the second chance the title offers. Ledger broke his old life of stuffy formality and law school. Mason found his new life here with Sofia. I found Evelyn. I hope Riggs and Spades find their way into a new life here, too.
Our work at Delta may offer them the stability they need to keep from roaming. I know exactly how empty that life is. None of us deserves that, and none of us should have put ourselves through it. I guess we all make stupid decisions once we're on our own.
"Tell me how Riggs got that nickname," Ledger asks as he pours another beer for Mason.
"You've seen Lethal Weapon, right?"
Ledger grins in understanding.
"Yep," I shake my head. "He's that crazy. His real name is Ted Stinson. Doesn't fit him at all."
Mason chuckles at some fond memory of Riggs and his reckless, brilliant place in our team.
"What about Spades??"
"The Ace of Spades," Mason chimes in. "That man could not be stopped in a poker game. He can read a tell like no one I've ever seen."
"True," I confirm. "He was the most steady and even of us, always keen. He kept us together in some pretty nasty shit...but always as the background guy. Still, hell of a poker player."
"Bastard made me poor," Mason grins as he shakes his head.
I smile and drain the last of my drink before the door of the bar catches my attention. The last two men of our original band of brothers walk through the door.
"RIIIIIIIGGS!" Mason hollers like a boxing announcer. "Followed...byyyyy…THE ACE OF SPAAAAAAADES!"
Riggs throws his hands up in mock victory and shadow-boxes his way to the bar. Spades casually strolls behind him as Mason jumps to tackle them. They hold strong and drop him after they catch his attempt. All of us chuckle as Mason wobbles until he stands firm. "You'll never knock me down," he grins.
"Junior, I love a challenge," Riggs grins wickedly.
"How about a beer instead?" Ledger calls over pointedly.
"Yeah, sorry," Mason grins. "We'll save the fight for later."
Ledger shakes his head with a smile, and all I can do is pull the men in front of me into a brotherly hug with a strong clap on each of their backs.
Instantly the four of us fall into our old routine as Ledger joins in easy conversation. Mason turns into the smiling, pestering younger brother he always was. Riggs has us rolling with stories of women and bar-fights. Spades stands among us and enjoys every story. He doesn't share much, of course, but clues us into his past year and a half in one basic statement.
"Ranch hand," he announced mildly. "Hard work. Kept me in shape."
"Spades in a rodeo," Mason grins.
Spades simply shakes his head with a mild grin. Suddenly Riggs jumps up on the bar. "I have an announcement to make," he belts out grandly.
"That you're getting the hell off my bar?" Ledger asks in amused annoyance.
"Much better than that," Riggs directs at Ledger in an average speaking voice. Returning to his grand bravado, he continues. "I'm
Where Spades was straight-laced and even, Riggs was a laugh-riot and socially unpredictable.
"They're meeting us at Second Chance as soon as they get here," Mason says to me in the office today. "Be there before seven."
"Done," I grin. Mason nods and maintains his smile before a thoughtful expression drops his grin a single degree.
"I haven't seen them since I left."
"Won't be an issue. Brothers are brothers," I assure him. "I haven't seen them either."
Mason nods with a more relaxed smile. "Don't be late."
I shake my head at his enthusiasm. I couldn't be late if I wanted to. I'm ready to get out of my head for a few hours and reunite with the only family who's ever meant anything to me.
I'm at Second Chance by six that evening and I enjoy talking with Jackson until Mason gets to the bar at six-thirty. I can't imagine a better place for a reunion.
As I sit here with Ledger and Mason, I think again of the name of this bar. It seems everyone who comes in here needs the second chance the title offers. Ledger broke his old life of stuffy formality and law school. Mason found his new life here with Sofia. I found Evelyn. I hope Riggs and Spades find their way into a new life here, too.
Our work at Delta may offer them the stability they need to keep from roaming. I know exactly how empty that life is. None of us deserves that, and none of us should have put ourselves through it. I guess we all make stupid decisions once we're on our own.
"Tell me how Riggs got that nickname," Ledger asks as he pours another beer for Mason.
"You've seen Lethal Weapon, right?"
Ledger grins in understanding.
"Yep," I shake my head. "He's that crazy. His real name is Ted Stinson. Doesn't fit him at all."
Mason chuckles at some fond memory of Riggs and his reckless, brilliant place in our team.
"What about Spades??"
"The Ace of Spades," Mason chimes in. "That man could not be stopped in a poker game. He can read a tell like no one I've ever seen."
"True," I confirm. "He was the most steady and even of us, always keen. He kept us together in some pretty nasty shit...but always as the background guy. Still, hell of a poker player."
"Bastard made me poor," Mason grins as he shakes his head.
I smile and drain the last of my drink before the door of the bar catches my attention. The last two men of our original band of brothers walk through the door.
"RIIIIIIIGGS!" Mason hollers like a boxing announcer. "Followed...byyyyy…THE ACE OF SPAAAAAAADES!"
Riggs throws his hands up in mock victory and shadow-boxes his way to the bar. Spades casually strolls behind him as Mason jumps to tackle them. They hold strong and drop him after they catch his attempt. All of us chuckle as Mason wobbles until he stands firm. "You'll never knock me down," he grins.
"Junior, I love a challenge," Riggs grins wickedly.
"How about a beer instead?" Ledger calls over pointedly.
"Yeah, sorry," Mason grins. "We'll save the fight for later."
Ledger shakes his head with a smile, and all I can do is pull the men in front of me into a brotherly hug with a strong clap on each of their backs.
Instantly the four of us fall into our old routine as Ledger joins in easy conversation. Mason turns into the smiling, pestering younger brother he always was. Riggs has us rolling with stories of women and bar-fights. Spades stands among us and enjoys every story. He doesn't share much, of course, but clues us into his past year and a half in one basic statement.
"Ranch hand," he announced mildly. "Hard work. Kept me in shape."
"Spades in a rodeo," Mason grins.
Spades simply shakes his head with a mild grin. Suddenly Riggs jumps up on the bar. "I have an announcement to make," he belts out grandly.
"That you're getting the hell off my bar?" Ledger asks in amused annoyance.
"Much better than that," Riggs directs at Ledger in an average speaking voice. Returning to his grand bravado, he continues. "I'm
Readers choose
T.A Richards Neville
Ellen Datlow
Christina Moore
Michael R. Fletcher
Alyssa Goodnight
Heidi Belleau
Maureen Child
Michael Jan Friedman
Yōko Ogawa
Barry Sadler