His Protected Wife: Regan Brothers, #3

By S. D. Wells

Dillon Regan is the middle child of seven boys. After serving eight years in the Marines he moved back home to become the town's youngest police chief. After watching two of his older brothers' find love he begins to remember the woman he once loved. She had been his until fate had taken her from him, leaving him broken and near death. With Hannah owning his whole heart he knew there would never be room for another. Until the day the state assigned him a fake wife to protect.

Megan Cooks is a lowly photographer working in downtown Chicago and caring for her elderly parents. On a family outing her life was changed forever and she was put into protective custody where she was whisked away to a small farming community to become the fake wife of her protector.

When Dillon first lays eyes on the lovely Megan he is lost in her beauty and it takes everything in him to fight his desire for her. Megan is completely thrown by the handsome Police Chief and vows to win his heart.

Can she break through the barriers Dillon has built up? Can Dillon let go of his past and give Megan his whole heart? Can this couple find the happiness that they both deserve?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Wells
• Release date: Feb 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386978497

S. D. Wells

I am married with 3 grown children. I was raised in Dallas, Texas and have always loved to read and write. I have been married since April of 2001 to my best freind. I have experince loss of my own in my past. My eldest child died in 2006. I am a Christan and am strong in my faith. To me family is important as are freinds and God.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

September 21, 1996~ Chicago, Illinois

Dillon smiled at his lovely bride as she kissed his fingers. They had been married fourteen glorious weeks and had decided to wait until after he sanctioned out of the Marines to take a honeymoon. As his service time came to an end, Hannah had spent her days packing up their apartment and ship everything to their new home in King’s Hill, Wisconsin. They would be living in the house he had grown up in until their house was built. That was one project he would start on just as soon as they arrived home. He was looking forward to working side by side with his brother and father while his wife set out a shingle to practice law.

Their honeymoon was an extended road trip that had started on the beaches of Quantico, Virginia and would end at their new home. They had taken a detour to Philadelphia and New York before going to visit Boston. They had spent the night in a fancy hotel and had shared a meal with his brother, Conor, and his live-in girlfriend, Heather. The next morning they had a leisurely breakfast before heading out to take a tour of the city. For lunch they had met up with his other brother, Brendan, before heading to Chicago. There they would stay the night before finally heading home to King’s Hill.

After checking into the hotel, they walked around the famous Navy Pier where they stumbled upon a carnival.

Her eyes widened with excitement. Oh Dillon, can we ride some of the rides?

Anything for you, Songbird. Her eyes danced with excitement as she laughed with him. They played games and rode a few rides before she begged him for a hot dog.

Not a very romantic meal. Let me take you someplace special.

This is fine. I don’t need romance all the time. She looked around. There are some tables over there. I have to go tinkle and I’ll meet you there in ten minutes. He chuckled as he watched her walk away.

Can I help you, sir? the vendor asked.

I’d like two Chicago dogs, two bags of sour cream and onion chips and two bottles of Pepsi. The man nodded and as Dillon pulled money from his wallet he heard someone scream. Turning, he saw three men pawing all over his bride. Hold on to those and call the police. With purpose, he stalked toward the group of men.

Come on lovely lady, we just want to have some fun.

Let me go, Hannah cried.

Not until we’ve had our fun. Boys, hold her hands.

Get your hands off of my wife, Dillon barked out as he pulled one man off of Hannah. One of the other men hit him on the head with a metal object and he stumbled to the ground.

Dillon! Hannah screamed. Shaking his head, he got up, ready to fight the scumbags touching his woman. As the blood dripped from his head he lunged after the first man.

Looks like we have a fighter, fellows. Jack, take her into the funhouse and we’ll have our fun with her later. This shouldn’t take long. Jack did as he was told and Hannah screamed for him as she was dragged away. The other two assailants fought him with fists and metal objects. Being an ex-Marine he knew he could hold his own.

I’ve had enough of this, he bellowed as he punched one man in the throat and gave the other a roundhouse kick that sent him flying backwards. With two of the men down he started toward the funhouse. Just as he entered, someone hit him on the back of the head and stabbed him several times in the lower back. With a groan, he fell to the ground as Hannah cried out for him. Sirens could be heard in the distance as the three assailants took off. On his hands and knees he made his way deeper into the funhouse where he found his bride lying on the ground. She was covered in so much blood he couldn’t tell where it was coming from.

Hannah, he cried as he pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck.

Dillon, she whispered. I...I’m sorry.

No, baby, it’s not your fault. Help is on the way. Hold on for me, please.

Dillon, hold me closer, I’m so cold. He tightened his grip on her as tears slid down his cheek.

Hold on, baby. Don’t let go.

I... I.... love... her words died off and he looked down to see her eyes opened but glazed over.

Hannah, please don’t leave me, please don’t leave me. Someone tried to pull him away but he didn’t want to let her go.

Sir, let her go so the paramedics can work on her.

She’s... she’s cold.... Hannah! he cried out as they finally pulled him away. The world began to tilt as he watched the EMT’s perform CPR on his wife. Hannah! he cried out again before everything went black.

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I once had a wife who I had loved to the depths of my core; I saw myself as not only her husband but her protector! I loved her with my whole heart; I promised that no one would ever keep us apart. Then one day a dark cloud swooped in and stole her away from me; Now living without her will be my ultimate fee. By: Dillon Regan

ONE

December 14, 2000 ~ 05:13 am ~ King’s Hill, Wisconsin

Hannah! he screamed as he sat up in his bed. Falling back, he took several deep breaths as he tried to shake the memories from his head. Lately, the dreams about that awful day had haunted him more than normal. She had taken her last breath in his arms and had tried to make her last words memorable. Even though she never finished the sentence he had known how she felt. It had taken him almost two weeks to recover enough for him to attend her funeral. Her family had flown out and her grave had been placed in the Regan Family Cemetery next to his mother and Nana Regan. At first he had protested because he wanted her parents and siblings to have a place to visit her. In the end, though, everyone told him that it was what Hannah would have wanted.

Shaking his head, he climbed out of bed and went to stand at the window of his bedroom. With Thanksgiving behind them and the Christmas season fast approaching, he knew that the dreams would only get worse. Closing his eyes, he fought back tears as he remembered the day he had met his Songbird.

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December 24, 1992 ~ Quantico, Virginia

He had been invited to a Christmas party by his buddy’s wife. Amanda had told him that it was also a birthday party and she was eager for him to meet the birthday girl. When he arrived it was a little past six and instead of ringing the bell he walked right in. It was what he had done since Amanda adopted him into their family. The couple had two little girls and had been expecting their third sometime around the first of March. Looking around the room, he spotted Amanda talking to someone and quickly made his way over to her.

When she saw him she smiled and kissed his cheek. Dillon, it’s nice of you to come, she stated and turned to the person next to her. I want you to meet my friend, Hannah Callaway. Hannah, this is Dillon Regan. He is one of Kirk’s buddies. The woman turned around and he almost forgot to breathe. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Standing at five foot, four inches, she had long wavy red hair and bright emerald green eyes that were fanned by long lashes.

Hi, Dillon, it’s nice to meet you, she greeted with a smile. Her smile was sexy and infectious. All he could do was take her hand and bow.

And it’s nice to meet you, he flirted as he kissed her hand.

She giggled and smacked him on the arm. You are a flirt, aren’t you?

I do try, he stated with his best smile and batted his lashes at her. That had them all three laughing.

Oh, Hannah, Amanda screeched out, interrupting his lustful thoughts, there’s your song, girl. Dillon, go dance with her. Amanda pushed them onto the dance floor with a sly grin.

Chuckling, he led her to the middle of the room and circled his arms around her. I guess we are supposed to dance.

You do know this is a set up, right?

I know and happy birthday.

Thank you. It’s fun having a birthday close to Christmas. More presents.

Yeah my older brother’s birthday is the twenty third. Use to tick me and my other siblings off that he got more stuff. Of course I’m pretty close to him now.

How many siblings do you have?

Six brothers.

No sisters?

She died at birth.

Oh I’m sorry. Are your parents still around?

My mom died when I was nine but my dad is. They danced through three songs as they talked about his life in Wisconsin and her life in Virginia.

I’ve lived here my whole life. My mom is a school teacher and my father is a fireman.

Any siblings?

A brother who just became a fireman and a younger sister who is still in high school. She says one day she wants to be a teacher like mom.

And what do you do?

I work as a waitress in a bar part time.

What do you do the rest of the time?

I go to school. I’m going to be a lawyer.

That’s very ambitious.

Would you be supportive of my career if we got married?

I would as long you understand that my life is in Wisconsin. Once my time is up in the Marines I’ll go back home to help run the family farm.

Well, they need lawyers in Wisconsin too.

Can I kiss you, Hannah? She smiled at him before pulling him down for a hot, searing kiss. In that moment he had known she would someday be his.

With tears in his eyes, he looked back out the window and watched as Linda opened the back door to the diner. That indicated that as Chief of Police he needed to get ready to start his day. After Hannah’s funeral and the sentencing of the scum who had taken her from him, he retreated to his friend’s dude ranch in Janesville, Wisconsin to complete his recovery. His intention was to eventually return to King’s Hill and work the farm alongside his brother and father. However, two days before he was due to return home, the government approached him with a job offer he could not refuse.

The mayor of King’s Hill had come to the state about suspicious behavior from the local police force. The crime rate was high and there was a drug war between two local gangs that had been the cause of a few deaths. It was suspected that the police chief and his deputies were being paid to look the other way. His job as acting Police Chief was to go in and ‘clean house’ as they called it. At his request he had fired the entire staff and hired his own crew.

Deputy James Calderon was a lifelong friend who had served four years in the army and three in Special Forces. Deputy Conrad Stevens had served with him in the Marines and had jumped at the chance of the new job when it was offered to him. Deputy Chris Benson had been a friend of Aiden’s and had served in the Air Force for almost ten years. Deputy Craig Jamison had served in the Navy for four years and was a Navy Seal for another three. Deputy Holt Mason had served in the Navy Seals along with Jamison. He had a good bond with his men and would trust them with the lives of those he cared about.

Betty Johnson was actually placed in the office by the mayor himself. He had known her most of his life and was happy when she took the job as the station’s administrative assistant and 911 operator. His office might have been understaffed but they all worked well together. Since he had taken office, the crime rate had decreased and the drug issue was almost non-existent. Though he knew it would never be perfect, he could sleep better at night knowing his family was living in a safe town.

Sighing, he looked at the picture of his Hannah on the bedside table before heading to shower and prepare for his day. Would he ever date again? No, because the vows he had made to his Songbird were forever. The memories of her death and what they had shared would forever haunt him. There could never be any room in his heart for another.

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Lingering pain from the past can keep you from taking your rightful place in the world. By: SDW

TWO

January 07, 2001 ~ 12:57 pm ~ Chicago, Illinois

Megan Cooks was a twenty six year old photographer living near the downtown area of Chicago. Since returning home from college, almost two years ago, she had been running the family studio and caring for her elderly parents. Bill and Bonnie Cooks had never been able to have children of their own and had adopted Megan when they were in their mid-forties. Megan had been just a toddler, barely out of diapers, when she came to live with them. Her real parents, Cynthia and Alex Webber, had been killed in car crash and as far as anyone knew, she had no other family. She had no memories of them or even what they looked liked. Did she think of them? Of course, it was a natural curiosity but the Cooks had given her a good life. One she would forever be grateful for. Maybe that was why she was still single and living at home.

She looked at her parents sitting across from her and smiled. They had been married over forty years and yet they still acted like newlyweds. They still held hands when they walked along the streets of Chicago together. Her mom said they were as much in love now as they had been the day they said ‘I do’. Bill still called Bonnie his bride, even after all the years they had shared. Looking out the window of the diner, she wondered when she would get her happily-ever-after. Would she ever have a man look at her with longing and love shining in his eyes? Would she ever have children of her own?

Megan, honey, do you want dessert, her father asked.

No, daddy. But thanks for asking. I do need to go use the ladies room. So if you’ll excuse me.

Alright, dear. We will take care of the bill and meet you in the car, her mother stated in her best English accent. Her father always