Riley (The Kendall Family #3) by Randi Everheart Page A

life, that person belonged to you. As a modern woman, the idea of being anyone’s property rankles, and I can’t take that literally, but the fact is I wouldn’t be sitting here were it not for you. My loyalty to you is...deep. And I wish that’s something I could make everyone, especially Kris, understand.”
    He squeezed her hand and didn’t let go. “I understand. Telling us more about you can only help, warts and all. And I certainly want to know everything.”
    Jordan leaned against his leg, realizing she had to open up to this room full of strangers like she hadn’t to anyone, to gain their trust. With a sigh she asked, “What do you want to know?”
    “Start at the beginning with where you’re from and lead up to today.”
    She made a face. “Well, that’s a long story. Can I have a glass of that wine I see over there?”
    Quinn went to the kitchen counter nearby and poured her a glass. On returning, he flicked a glance at Tristan as he handed it to her. “Why don’t you stay a bit if you can. Victoria will pound you with questions you’ll need to answer.”
    “True,” he agreed. “Should I go get Kris?”
    Quinn hesitated but Riley firmly said, “Yes. And tell her to not talk and just listen. She’s made her position known and I don’t want to hear anymore of it.”
    “I can’t wait to make that suggestion.” Tristan headed for the door leading toward the barn.
    After he left, no one said anything and Jordan found herself emptying the wine glass faster than normal. Her mouth felt dry and her stomach twisted. Wondering at the reaction, she realized that she really did feel indebted to Riley and wanted not only his acceptance, but that of his family. She wanted to protect him the way he’d protected her. A deep sense of loyalty had arisen, surprising her with its existence and strength. Since Jake’s attack, she had repeatedly envisioned herself with a bullet hole in her forehead. The vision returned now as she sat there, and that Riley had prevented that very image becoming reality after she’d tried to do the same thing to her had humbled her. Even humiliated her. Somehow she felt vulnerable. And in need of forgiveness. And the one person who clearly wouldn’t do the latter was the one Tristan returned with minutes later.
    An irritated-looking Kris followed him in and sat as far away as possible, for which Jordan was glad. Everyone settled in to hear what she had to say. The sniper polished off the first glass of wine, extended it for a refill, and began talking, wondering if getting a little drunk would make her seem more honest. She had every intention of telling the truth. Mostly.
    “My name is Jordan Hunt,” she began. “My father was an army Colonel stationed in Russia when he met my mother, a Russian. They got married and I was born here in the U.S.”
    “Where?” Riley asked.
    “New York. We lived there a while, apparently. I don’t remember it. I never stayed in one place too long.”
    Riley nodded. “Army brat.”
    “Never liked the term, but yeah. My father taught me marksmanship when I was a kid. One of his army buddies was a sniper and taught me even more as a favor to my dad, who thought I was very good. He got me to do some competitions, which I usually won. Like a lot of military kids, I was being groomed to enter the service, but everything changed when a suicide bomber killed my parents in an attack in Paris. They weren’t the targets, just caught in the explosion.”
    “Oh, my God,” said Chloe, putting her hands to her face. “That’s terrible.”
    Jordan met her gaze and nodded her appreciation. “It ruined my life.”
    “How old were you?” Riley asked, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
    She wasn’t used to the compassion, which almost felt weird. “Twelve. After that, I mostly lived with my father’s sister here in the U.S., but she and her family didn’t want me joining the military, and they weren’t too keen on me continuing to shoot at the range,