Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
Bowie rubbed the back of his neck as he stared at the information on the computer screen. The new radio communication system was undoubtedly better than they had used. Every single exercise he and his team had done would prove to be beneficial to any military operation.
But that wasn’t even the point.
Any number of highly skilled and qualified personnel could have done this and that pissed Bowie off for a plethora of reasons.
“You look like someone sucker punched you in the gut.” Flint flopped into the seat next to Bowie in the conference room in the main building on the Brotherhood Protectors ranch. “Did something go wrong with that last field exercise?”
Bowie shook his head.
“Then what’s got you looking like you want to haul off and punch someone?”
“This whole fucking assignment.” Bowie pushed his laptop to the side. “Don’t get me wrong, I like being in Hawaii. I’m enjoying a little R and R. Hanging out with you, Quinn, and Carter, well, it doesn’t get much better than that. Seeing Waylen and his team again is icing on the fucking cake. But it burns my ass that we’re sitting on the sidelines because of goddamn Fuller and four other assholes who killed four good men.”
“Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Flint leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “And I know it’s not just that, so what else crawled up your ass today because you’ve been a bit of dick.” He tapped the screen. “We all know you and Waylen have been fucking with us just a little. Not that we care, but today, you went a little over the top.”
“Just following orders.”
“Bullshit.” Flint lowered his chin. “You and I go back longer than anyone else on this team. Now talk to me.”
“As far as what Waylen and I are doing? It’s all about keeping skills sharp and trying not to be bored stiff.” Bowie shrugged. “About me being a big prick? It has less to do with the field testing and more to do with staring at those re-enlistment papers every night.”
“I get it.” Flint nodded. “I do the same thing, especially watching Carter and Mia. That man has it bad. Like as bad as it gets. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
“I’m not sure any of us have and it’s a little freaky.” Bowie chuckled. “I get the distinct feeling that while Carter’s still saying out loud ‘all for one and one for all,’ his heart is saying something completely different.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if when push comes to shove, he won’t want to sign. Not if he’s still with her and to be honest, that’s more than likely. The man’s in love.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
Flint dropped his hands to the table. “If you didn’t sign, I wouldn’t either.”
Bowie stared at his longtime friend for a good ten seconds. While they’d always said they would retire at the same time and go find some organization much like the Brotherhood Protectors or open a business together, it was always two men, shooting the shit with not a lot of action behind the words.
But this shit was real.
Bowie tapped the center of his chest. “I don’t know, man. A month ago, I was ready to sign on the dotted line. Figured I had another good ten years in me. I know better men than me who served close to their fifties. But now?” Bowie shook his head. “I’m thirty-eight. Twenty years in and I’m looking around this ranch thinking to myself, I could do this for a long time. A lot longer than I could active duty with the SEALs.”
“Exactly where my mind goes every night before I fall asleep.” Flint nodded in agreement. “Have you talked to anyone else about this?”
“No. And I’m not sure we should. We have time and we all agreed no one makes a decision one way or the other until Castle either nails these assholes or we’re stuck in a position where we no longer have a choice.”
“Yeah, but Carter’s already got one foot out the door.”
“We all do at this point,” Bowie said. “But Carter won’t simply not sign. He’ll have the discussion. Just like no one will put their John Hancock on that paper without talking it out. That’s not how the four of us work.”
“Very true.” Flint clasped his hands together. “So tell me, what did you really say to get pulled off this island so you could escort Moana to Nashville?”
Bowie wondered if the conversation was going to turn to the sexy singer. Somehow it always did.
“Absolutely nothing.” Bowie lifted his hands, showing his palms. “I opened my mouth, stated the problem and that I wanted three days. Castle said absolutely not. I think Waylen knew exactly who I was talking about and asked for a few more details, specifically a name. I sat back and listened to him and Hawk explain to Castle why I was needed. Castle said fine. That was the end of it.”
“Are you kidding me? Castle gave up that easily.”
Bowie laughed. “No. Not really. He’s worried that someone will find out I’m not here, which is a legit concern. So, Waylen explained how he’s so much fucking smarter than I am and will make sure that as far as the comms training goes, no one will know. But then Castle got all worried about me flying and Hawk wasn’t too keen on using the company resources, so Waylen offered one of his friends. Some rich private dick by the name of Mano. Guess he owns his own private jet.”
“Maybe there’s hope for you to join the mile high club after all.”
“Don’t be an asshole.” Bowie sighed. While he liked Moana a lot—more than most women he’d been interested in over the last couple of years—this wasn’t a pleasure trip. It wasn’t a date.
It was a job.
And he was a professional.
“You’ve given up?”
Bowie wasn’t sure how to respond to that. He should stop trying. While she always said no to anything other than a drink at the bar, and she chatted with him for a good hour each time, it was all surface level shit. Hell, she didn’t know much about his life, his family, or his career.
Nor did he know shit about hers.
They generally discussed her music. Movies. Television. Even books.
But that was about it.
A tap at the door caught his attention.
“Hey, Bowie.” Waylen stuck his head in the door. “Can I see you in my office?”
“Yeah. Sure thing.” Bowie stood, closed his computer, stuffed it in his backpack, and tossed it over his arm.
“See you later for a beer?” Flint asked.
“Sorry, man. I’ve got to pack, and then I’m picking up Moana early to head to some private airport in the morning. I’ll text you when I get back.”
“Stay out of trouble and make sure you use protection. We don’t need any little?—”
“Shut the fuck up. That joke is mine and it’s ridiculously old.” Bowie strolled down the hallway until he came to Waylen’s office. The door was open, so he stepped over the threshold and set his bag on the floor. “You wanted to see me, sir.”
“I fucking hate that and we’ve known each other too long for you to be calling me that. I’m not your superior. I’m not even your boss. Hell, I’m barely three years older than you. Now close the door and take a damn seat.” He waved his hand toward the chair in front of his massive desk.
Bowie did as requested and made himself comfortable. “How’s Presley feeling?”
“Fat.” Waylen laughed. “Which is funny because she’s barely showing. But she stands sideways in the mirror and wonders what’s she’s going to look like when she doesn’t have a waistline or when she can’t see her toes, but she has tiny feet. I tell her she’s pregnant, it’s temporary, and in four or so months we’ll have a precious little baby, and do you want to know what I get in return?”
“That you don’t have to squeeze a nine-pound bowling ball out of a ten-centimeter hole.”
Waylen burst out laughing. “That about sums it up, but how the hell did you know I would say something like that?”
“Pregnant sister and a brother-in-law who once called my parents, jokingly of course, asking what their refund policy was on a defective daughter.”
“Jesus Christ. That’s a good one.” Waylen shook his head. “I’m exaggerating slightly, but my wife doesn’t like to be told she can’t do something, and the morning sickness just let up, but now the doctor is telling her to take it easy with the heavy lifting while on charter. My mother, who is wonderful but a tad overbearing, is smothering Presley, and it’s getting to both of us. No idea how we’re going to get through the rest of this pregnancy.”
“I know one way to solve that problem, but you’re going to want to time it right near the end of this trimester and before things get too real.” Bowie should not be giving Waylen family advice, especially this little nugget since it got his brother-in-law into a shit ton of trouble. But it did help the tension between him and Bowie’s sister.
“I’m all ears.”
“Send your mom on a cruise.” Bowie held up his hand. “Surprise her with the plane tickets and every spa package possible on that boat. Worked like a charm for my sister and her husband when my mom was getting to be too much. They even had my dad in on it and he got to play golf on Sunday.”
Waylen glanced toward the ceiling, rubbing his chin. “You know what, that might be about the most evil, yet ingenious thing I’ve ever heard. I’ll have to run it by my wife, but knowing Presley and how crowded she’s feeling, even though she adores my mom, I bet she’ll go for it. Thanks for the tip. Now if I could get Presley to stop worrying about the size of this kid.”
Bowie shouldn’t laugh at Waylen, but it was too funny not to. “That’s never going to happen. Just think about it in terms of passing a kidney stone. Not something a man ever wants to experience.”
Waylen shifted in his chair as he adjusted his jeans. “Yeah. Been there. Done that. Don’t want to do it again.”
“I’m guessing that might be about the closest thing to childbirth we’ll ever have to face.”
“Good Lord. I never needed to know that.”
“Just be prepared for a lot of weirdness coming your way.” Bowie smiled. “This is my sister’s second kid. I happened to be home on leave the day she went into labor with the first one. Drove her to the hospital because her husband was at the hardware store. I sat with her for a bit, waiting on the rest of the family. Things progressed pretty quickly and unfortunately for me, I got to hear all sorts of nasty shit come out of Lola’s mouth. And when Harvey, her husband, walked in the door, she picked up a tennis ball and told him if he ever thought it was okay…” Bowie shook his head, chuckling. “…mind you, this is a direct quote. ‘But if he ever thought it was okay to shove his dick?—’”
“I get the picture. I don’t need to hear more and I’m sure Presley and her mouth will have some lovely-ass things to say to me. I’m looking forward to being a father. Even being there with her during the delivery, but not the painful parts.”
“None of that will be pleasant.”
“I didn’t bring you in here to talk about my wife and unborn child.” Waylen leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. “I want to discuss this trip to Nashville.”
“All right.”
“I’m going to do something I rarely do and tell you a couple of things I know. And you can’t tell anyone I told you. Not your team. Not my team. The only person you can discuss this with is Mano.”
“I take it this is all about Moana.”
Waylen swiveled back and forth. “She’s about six or so years younger than me, so I really didn’t know her when I was a teenager. I mean, I did. We grew up not far from each other. My parents were friendly with hers. Presley knew her better. And longer since Presley only moved away for four years during college.”
“Does this have to do with me helping her find her sister?”
“It does.” Waylen leaned forward, fingering a folder. “Kalena is sixteen years older than Moana. I didn’t know Kalena really at all. She never graduated high school and has been in and out of Moana’s life. She’s a drug addict. She’s been arrested as a sex worker. For selling drugs. She’s been in and out of rehab more times than anyone in this town can count. Moana’s parents are nearly broke because of it.”
“Moana mentioned part of the reason she needed to go back to Nashville was to make a little cash to help out her parents with some medical bills for her dad.”
“Yeah. He’s in bad shape. He had a stroke a few months back. A bad one. Insurance didn’t cover half the cost of the care he really needs and Moana has spent some of her money bailing out her sister. She always says she will stop, but Moana can’t.”
“Why not? She’s not her sister’s keeper.”
Waylen pushed the folder across the desk. “You can’t let Moana ever know I told you this part. Very few people in this town know that Kalena is Moana’s biological mother.”
“Well, damn. Has Moana known this her whole life?” Bowie took the file.
“No. She found out in college. Mind you, I wasn’t here when that happened. But Presley was and so was the man who will fly you to Nashville. Moana has confided in him.”
“Mano, right?”
“Yeah. He and I go way back to middle school. He’s a good man,” Waylen said. “Moana lost her shit when she learned her parents and sister, and she always calls Kalena her sister because she doesn’t want people to know, had been lying to her for her entire life. Her parents even legally adopted her. The second Moana graduated college, she came home, told her family she never wanted to see them again, and took off for Nashville.”
Bowie opened the file. The first page was Moana’s birth certificate, which indicated that the father was unknown. The next page were the adoption papers. “How long did she go without speaking to her sister? Her folks?”
“It didn’t last very long because one of the things Moana wants is to know where she came from. That’s why she reached out to Mano.”
Bowie lifted the birth certificate. “Any luck?”
“Mano tracked down a few boys Kalena had been known to hang out with when she found out she was pregnant. They were all willing to do a DNA test, but no matches were found. Moana has even put her DNA on one of those sites. No match.”
“I wouldn’t have recommended that, especially if you don’t want people to know, but that’s just me.”
“I wouldn’t either, but this is important to her. However, Kalena won’t tell her a single thing, except that she doesn’t know.”
“That’s possible,” Bowie said. “I had a friend in high school who was raised by a single mom who was raped when she was seventeen and it produced my buddy.”
“We’ve thought about that and from anyone who knew Kalena back then, they all say it’s possible. She was a spunky, outgoing teenager, until one day, she wasn’t. No one knows what flipped that switch. A boy. A man. Drugs. Rape. Your guess is as good as mine.”
Bowie continued to flip through the pages, but there wasn’t much there. “So, how long has Mano been working on this?”
“On and off since Moana was twenty-one. She’s constantly changing her mind. But the last three years, it’s been full speed ahead. Only Mano hit a brick wall. And it’s worse now that Kalena has up and disappeared again, which she does every year. Sometimes for months. Once she was gone for over a year. But to be honest, something feels off about this time because she’d been clean and sober for three months. Longest she’d gone since Moana had been about five years old.”
“That’s just fucking sad.”
“Kalena is just fucking sad. But there was no sign of falling off the wagon, even if that’s what everyone believes, including Moana and her parents. It’s the go-to thing.”
“Why do you believe differently?”
“Because Mano and I saw her three days before she disappeared.”
“Sorry, man, but a lot can happen in a short period of time.”
“I’m well aware.” Waylen nodded.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I have a few issues. First one is I’m not exactly sure why you’re telling me all this. Secondly, you’ve put me in an uncomfortable situation with this knowledge. I’m not a fan of being a secret keeper, especially with friends. I don’t know her well, but we’ve hung out at the bar when she sings.”
“I’ve noticed, which is why I suggested you help her find Kalena, even though I knew it would make her mad. Moana might still harbor a shit ton of resentment toward her family, but deep down she doesn’t want to see her sister die. And she wants the best care for her dad. Emery had already told me about that jerk in Nashville. Those texts have a classic stalker flare to them and the idea that Moana would go back there, alone, even with a man from my organization on the ground, who, by the way, didn’t know the extent of the problem until I told him.” Waylen sighed, running his fingers across his chin. “That girl is stubborn. She might be on the quiet side. Maybe even a little shy. But she’s fiercely independent. Mano said when she left this island, she did so with barely two pennies to rub together. She wouldn’t take anything from her parents. She flew to Nashville and chased her dream. She made it happen. Only, outside of selling her songs, she doesn’t have much to show for it because she ends up paying for her sister’s rehab and medical bills. And now she’s doing it for her dad.”
“Doesn’t sound like a woman who doesn’t want much to do with her family.” Bowie closed the folder. “So, why is Mano flying with us over in his personal toy instead of flying commercial or even taking a Brotherhood Protectors’ plane.”
“The latter isn’t possible. This isn’t our case. According to the government, you came down with a nasty bug and are sick. Castle has that covered. Hawk normally doesn’t have a problem with us using company assets for stuff like this, but he’s worried someone might take notice of you in one of our planes. No one will pay attention to Mano jetting off somewhere. He does it all the time. And he has flown Moana before. Your job is to stick with her twenty-four seven. Where she goes, you go. Mano and Jaden are going to find that little shit and follow him. They will search his car. His home. They will dig until they find out if this shithead is worth our time and energy,” Waylen said. “Moana is a special girl. I’d hate for anything to happen to her.”
“It won’t. Not on my watch.”
“One final thing.” Waylen leaned forward. “Moana has already called Presley. She’s not happy about any of this. She begged Presley to talk me out of sending you with her. She thought it was over the top. This is her career and she doesn’t want some alpha military asshole cramping her style and interfering in her business.”
Bowie chuckled. “We get such a bad rap sometimes.”
“Tell me about it.” Waylen shook his head. “Another reason I wanted Mano to go. They have a unique relationship. Besides her having a mad crush on him when she was like twelve, Mano and his wife have been there for her through a lot of shit. She leans on him. Trusts him.”
“Perhaps we should flip this. Let me do the digging and let Mano be the bodyguard.”
“No. We will only ever use Mano in this capacity. Besides, Hawk wants you to do it, and so do I. Consider it a job interview.”
Bowie cocked his head. “Whatever gave you the idea that my team and I are staying? We’re still enlisted men.”
“Have you signed your new contract?”
“Not even the point.”
“I’ve been in your shoes when I first came here, although I was already out of the Navy.” Waylen waggled his finger. “I see the look in your eyes and everyone on your team. I get you love being a SEAL. I also understand that your soul is no longer there. There does come a point when every sailor has to walk away.”
“We came here together, and we decide together. But we’ve got twelve more days of testing. If Castle can’t nail that bastard by then, we take leave. After that, we have an interesting decision to make.” Bowie rubbed the back of his neck. The Navy had defined him long before he’d ever gone to the Academy. It was in his blood. It was a part of him as much as his family. But going back, even if Castle did take down Fuller and his cronies, didn’t feel right anymore. “While we’ve all discussed the possibility of not re-enlisting, we haven’t come to a conclusion one way or another.”
“Let me ask you this.” Waylen stood, strolling around to the side of his desk and resting his hip on it. “If you all left, would working for the Brotherhood Protectors here in Hawaii be an option for you?”
“It would be.”
“I’ve had the honor of working with your team for the last two weeks. Hawk has enjoyed seeing you four in action. I know for a fact he’d love to recruit you, so the offer would come if you left the military.” Waylen tapped his fingers on the desk. “He knows what Carter did for Mia. And now he’d like to see how you handle yourself on this little jaunt to Nashville.” Waylen raised his hand. “I get that this might not be an exciting assignment. I read the background check on this little weasel. Rosco doesn’t present as a threat. He doesn’t have a criminal record. Nothing that Mano has uncovered screams psycho, but that doesn’t mean shit. Rosco is obviously obsessed with Moana and that’s enough for me and Mano to be concerned about what this dipshit might do next.”
Bowie rose, stretching out his aching back. “I read those texts. Besides being passive-aggressive, the man believes he’s got some claim to her. I also scrolled far enough back and saw a disturbing picture.”
Waylen cocked his head. “I don’t know anything about a pic. And I don’t believe Mano does either. What did he send?”
“A dick pic. I’m a little shocked she kept it.”
“Fuck. That’s gross.” Waylen sighed. “I do know she spoke to the police once in Nashville. He suggested a formal complaint. It was weak for a restraining order, but she had decided to move back here and figured that would be the end of it.”
“Obviously not.” Bowie stretched out his hand. “I’ll take care of her and work with Mano and Jaden.”
“Just don’t try to join the mile high club.” Waylen chuckled, waggling his finger. “I see how you look at her.”
“I became a member of that club ten years ago.” Bowie took Waylen’s hand and shook. “But if she wants to join, who am I to tell her?—”
“Don’t finish that statement. I was busting your balls.”
“I know. But I enjoy giving it right back.” Bowie tucked the file into his backpack, tossed it over his shoulder, turned on his heel, and waved his hand over his head. “I’ll see you when I return.” He yanked his cell from his back pocket and pulled up Moana’s contact information. At least now he had it.
Bowie: Hey. It’s Bowie. Are you free? I’d like to talk to you about the trip.
Bubbles appeared.
He strolled down the long corridor toward the side door that led to the parking lot. He paused just outside as a message appeared.
Moana: Can’t it wait until we’re wheels up?
Damn. He liked her lingo.
Bowie: It could. But I’d rather chat now so I can digest a few things, and then I’ll probably have more things to discuss on the plane.
Moana: I don’t see what’s to mull over. Isn’t your sole purpose to stick to me like glue? You have the itinerary. And I’m not stupid. I know why Mano is now flying us over. He’s going to be the pain in the ass he’s always been and go poke a bear that doesn’t exist and he’s going to take Jaden with him.
Bowie chuckled. The more time he spent with this chick, the more he liked her.
Bowie: We can talk about Mano and Jaden and what they’re doing too, if you’d like. I’ll be at your place in fifteen minutes.
Bubbles flashed on his screen. Then disappeared. Then flashed again. He held his cell in his hand while he strolled toward the Jeep that Hawk had let him borrow while he stayed on Big Island.
He honestly could get used to living here permanently.
It wasn’t too far away from his family that he couldn’t go visit often and they all loved to vacation here anyway.
His phone vibrated. He unlocked the vehicle, tossed his backpack across to the passenger seat, and only then did he glance at the message.
Moana: How do you know where I live? I never told you and that’s creepy.
He smacked his hand to his forehead. She had a point.
Bowie: Mano gave it to me. He told me I was to pick you up tomorrow.
Moana: That’s brand-new information. Fine. Whatever. Are you hungry? I was just about to order a pizza.
Bowie: Starving.
He left it at that as he climbed behind the steering wheel. This should be an interesting conversation.