Retribution (Moonstruck Genesis #4)

Chapter 21

DUKE AND the rest of his team waited on the beach of Ambergris Key, wearing Class A uniforms for the first time in ages. Their new CO was arriving in a matter of minutes. None of them were happy about that, but this was the Navy. No one up the chain of command questioned their account of the events in the western Virginia countryside. LT Carter had died in the line of duty protecting his team—a lie that tasted like vinegar to all of them, but they had no alternative. All those home-grown terrorists had died, every man, woman, and child, going out like the Branch Davidians. According to the official report, anyway. That final fire Cop and Boomer started was so hot there’d been no remains to examine. There’d only been enough left of Carter for DNA identification.

The low rumble of a helo vibrated the air and SEAL Team Atlantis came to attention, slitting their eyes against the sand kicked up by the craft’s rotors. The engine whined to a stop and the rotors finally swung to a desultory halt. The cabin door slid open and a man in dress whites stepped out. A commander. Hard on his heels, a lieutenant and two swabbies wearing Master at Arms insignia. Navy police.

Duke mulled over all the permutations of what might be happening and none of the scenarios boded well for the team. The commander approached, stopped, waited for Duke’s salute. After the formalities, the man identified as “Commander Allen” according to his name plate, turned and took a few steps along the beach.

“Walk with me, Master Chief Reagan.”

The commander headed off up the beach. Duke hesitated for the length of a few breaths before following, catching up to the other man in a few long strides.

“Things are changing, Master Chief. We need to utilize your unit in more efficient ways.”

Duke kept pace but didn’t speak.

The commander continued. “The lieutenant will be here for administrative purposes only. The others are here for guard duty. There will be a full rotation of security personnel arriving soon. We can no longer leave this base unsecured between missions. You seven are about to get very busy, Master Chief Reagan.”

“Sir?”

“The world is in flames, Master Chief. SEAL Team Atlantis is uniquely qualified to put out those fires. Your team is going to be very busy. Starting now.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You leave in twenty-four hours. There’s a warlord in Africa who’s gotten too big for his britches.”

“NO.”

Mac stood in the back of the room, his arms folded across his chest, his expression implacable. The Wolves and Harjo ranged behind him, some looking amused, others as poker-faced as Mac.

Josiah leaned back in the chair on the other side of a scarred wooden table. Flossie, Granny Mae, and Walt Tarrant, the town’s fire chief, flanked him. Zeb Bivens, town marshal, and Dave Cardiff, of the West Virginia Highway Patrol, stood behind Josiah’s chair. None of them spoke. They could be just as patient as Mac, and just as predatory.

“I told you before. I’m telling you again. These are your people, Mr. Cadogan. Not mine. I will not challenge you for Alpha.”

“I don’t think you get it, son. You aren’t challenging me. I’m steppin’ down. We’ve decided.” He gestured toward the people around him. “Walt’s been my second since we were pups. He’s as old and tired as I am. There’s not another Wolf in town who could challenge any of you. Heck, there’s not one in town who’d challenge me. Not Zeb or Dave. Hell, not even Garth Gryffon.” He paused then chuckled. The hard glints in his eyes softened for an instant. “Well, ’cept maybe Silas, but he’s a mite young yet. He hasn’t outgrown the stupid.”

Mac shook his head again. “We brought nothing but trouble, Mr. Cadogan. That won’t change. Death and destruction follow every step we take. I won’t—” He gestured behind him with a sweep of his arm. “ We won’t take the chance of bringing it down on innocent people. I won’t endanger innocents.”

“And you think that’s not true for all of us, son? Death is just a breath away from any of us.”

Granny Mae sat forward. “The science is catchin’ up to the magic. An’ when it does, we’re all doomed, ’less there’s somebody strong enough, powerful enough, and with enough help to stop it from comin’ here.” She stared intently at the big Alpha. “Ian McIntire, you got more power in yore li’l finger than most Wolves have in their whole bodies. You lead men who would be Alphas anywhere but where you are. And they follow you. Outta respect. Outta pride. Outta love. That’s somethin’ big, Mister McIntire. Somethin’ huge.” She glanced at the two men next to her. “It’s somethin’ none of us ever seen before.”

She pursed her lips and studied each man. “Joshua Harjo, you ain’t a Wolf, but yore shore ’nuff a man with magic at yore fingertips. You’re a brother to these Wolves and they respect you. There’s a place here in Blaidd’s Gap for you an’ yore lady.” Her eyes flicked to the next one. “Michael Lightfoot, you live in balance with the land. Always have, always will. The land here needs you and your little gal. She understands the science, can make it work for us instead of against us.”

Her gaze landed on Sean. “You, boy. You grew up here, Sean Donaldson. You got the healer’s touch, but you shore ain’t afraid to protect what’s yours. We need that. We need yore pretty li’l mate and her babies to remind us that our pups are what matters. Rudek Tornjak, you found a home with these folks whether you believe it or not. Same with you, Antoine Fontaine. Lone Wolves don’t live right. Y’all know this. All y’all. You made your pack with yourselves. You’re family. Now you have the chance to have more family.”

Nate Connor hadn’t moved from his place at the very back. Even here, he stood apart. Granny Mae pushed up out of the chair and shuffled toward him. She crossed the room in silence, her gaze intent on him. Only his iron control kept him from flinching when she raised her hand to cup his cheek. She didn’t speak—simply touched him and looked into his eyes as if she could see into the very heart of him.

“You ain’t broke, boy. If’n you were, you’d be rogue and we’d be puttin you down like a rabid dog. But you ain’t.” She glanced over her shoulder at Mac and tilted her head, studying him before returning her gaze to Nate. “You got strength, Nathanial Connor. Real strength. Someday, you might even challenge yore Alpha.” She watched him a moment longer before shaking her head. “Naw. That ain’t right. Yore honor wouldn’t let you do that. Yore completely loyal to these men you’ve taken as yore brothers.”

A knowing smile hovered on her lips as she dropped her hand. “And that there is the bottom line. Y’all are brothers. It goes beyond blood. It goes straight to the heart. We need y’all. We need yore new blood. We need yore pups and yore mates and all the talents they bring to this place. But most of all, we need yore heart.”

Turning away from Nate’s startled expression, the old woman ambled back to her place at the table. The chair—or her bones—creaked as she settled into it, the sound dropping into the sudden silence like a firecracker in a well. She glanced at Josiah and winked. “We even got a place for yore lady, Mister McIntire. She can be mayor.”

“Oh hell to the fuck no!” Hannah’s voice shattered the quiet.

Granny Mae’s face crinkled with laughter. When she paused for breath, her gaze encompassed everyone in the room. Then she spoke. “Y’all are home now. Might as well make yourselves comfortable.”