Chapter 10
TEN
Linc managed to catch a full seven hours of sleep before jolting awake at dawn. With Jalen still sound asleep, Linc checked his phone to see if there was a message or text from Bri or the police about finding Regina.
The only text was a response from Dev with the combination to his gun case.
Rather than wake Kendra, he texted to let her know he was going out for provisions and asked her morning beverage preference in case she preferred fancy coffee drinks. With Dev’s loaded Sig Sauer strapped on, Linc grabbed Dev’s keys and slipped quietly out of the house.
He’d nearly finished in the grocery store when his phone chimed. I don’t deserve it, but I need a miracle.
It was just Kendra replying instead of Bri or Clara. He backtracked and picked up a box of English Breakfast tea. Good thing he asked. So far, he’d been off on everything he thought about Kendra.
He’d been wrong about her reason for rejecting him, but that she didn’t date military guys made it a moot point. That’s who he was. The military had been his best option when he aged out of foster care. It provided financially and had given him skills and access to higher education that had otherwise been out of his reach. He had twelve years of service behind him and planned to do at least another eight to hit twenty and full retirement. He’d likely stay in longer. His team was his chosen family, and he wasn’t giving up on them or his career because of a woman, especially since marriage was not in his plans. Not with his past. It’s one reason he’d pursued the dangerous path of Special Forces. He wouldn’t have to worry about leaving a wife or kids to manage on their own if something happened to him. Not the way he and Bri had been left behind.
That Kendra didn’t give details on what happened with the military guy she dated, despite disclosing everything else, had kept him awake last night. But he hadn’t asked. She’d gotten stuck in this situation and was helping him out. No point in pressuring her when there was a lot of family history there already. Too much to overcome. He’d learned you couldn’t make people change their prejudices, and it wasn’t worth trying. Better to let it go and not let them hurt you more.
“Your Uncle Linc’s back,” Kendra said when the garage door went up. She couldn’t blame the boy for being anxious after he woke up to find Linc gone. She’d panicked that he’d taken off for Mexico and left her here with Jalen until she saw the text he’d sent. Hopefully, he’d accepted the futility of trying to rescue Bri on his own, though she doubted he gave up easily.
“Help me with these groceries, J-man.” Linc entered carrying several bags.
“Did you get me chocolate milk?”
“Of course. I’m your favorite uncle for a reason.”
Jalen gave him an adoring smile, and Linc smiled right back. “And Captain Crunch?”
“Yes, since it’s the weekend.” Linc handed two of the bags to Jalen, and they carried them into the kitchen. Then, he went out and retrieved another load.
“How long are you thinking we’re going to be here?” Kendra eyed the covered island. She’d thought this would be a day or two at most. She had a job and a life— and he probably thought he was doing his by keeping her safe.
“I don’t know. Hopefully, this is overkill. I can always take the food to Bri’s, but if I go down to Mexico, I want you and Jalen to have what you need so you don’t have to go out.”
And poof went her hopes they could avoid another difficult conversation.
“Can you open dis?” Jalen handed her the cereal box.
“Sure.”
Jalen went around the island and climbed onto the bar stool.
Linc loaded groceries in the fridge and avoided her gaze as she poured Jalen a bowl of cereal.
“Have you heard anything from Clara or the police?” she asked when he handed her the box of tea.
“Not yet. Dev must have filled in Chief Lundgren because I got a text from his wife, Stephanie. She’s the head of the Family Readiness Group and reached out to the other wives. They’ve offered to help watch Jalen. I wasn’t sure about it, but no one would know to find Jalen with them, and Walt Shuler didn’t deploy because he’s transitioning to a different role. He’s around, there’s good protection, and they have a couple of kids Jalen can play with today. That frees me up to search for the van. You can stay here or come with me.”
“What are you going to do if you find the van?”
Linc hesitated. “That depends.”
“On . . .?”
“On where it is and what intel I can get.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” She could call Clara and insist he let the police handle it if, by some miracle, they did find the van. Staying in a stranger’s home alone not knowing if Linc was doing something reckless would stress her out all day.
As they drove to his friend’s house, Linc told Jalen they were taking him to play with Mr. Walt’s kids and have lunch while he and Kendra worked.
“Can we go to that playground?” Jalen asked as they drove past an elaborate climbing structure with tubes and slides.
“I’ll tell Mr. Walt you want to go.” Linc parked on the street in front of his teammate’s house. “Do you want to come in and meet the Shulers?”
“Okay, but I do trust your judgment.” They’d also had to pass through security to get on base, which would make it harder for whoever had taken Regina to get to Jalen if they found out where he was.
Linc unbuckled Jalen and carried the booster seat with him to the door.
A woman in her late thirties opened the door, still wearing her pajamas. “Come on in.”
“This is Jalen,” he introduced them as Jalen hugged Linc’s leg.
“I’m Miss Tammy.” Behind her, two kids popped into view and stared at Jalen. The younger girl followed her brother to their mother’s side. “This is Beckham and Emma.”
“Do you want to play with my truck?” Beckham held a yellow toy dump truck.
“Can I?” Jalen looked at Linc.
“Give me a hug first.” Linc dropped to a knee. His eyes closed as Jalen wrapped his arms around his neck, and he hugged the boy back.
“You’re squeezing me,” Jalen croaked dramatically.
“Sorry,” Linc chuckled. “Have fun and play nice. I’ll see you tonight.” Moisture glistened in his eyes as he got to his feet. As Walt joined them, the boys scurried into the adjacent room, followed by the young girl. “You’re sure this isn’t an imposition?”
“Not at all,” Tammy assured him. “It’ll keep those two from tormenting each other.”
Walt nodded his agreement as he shook hands with Linc. “Sorry to hear about your sister.”
“Thanks. This is Kendra Andrews. She knows Bri. We’re trying to locate the van that snatched Bri’s grandmother. If we can find her, it could give us a lead on where Bri is.”
“If there’s anything I can do, or you need backup, let me know.”
“For now, keep him safe.” Linc nodded to where the kids had disappeared.
“I got your six. How’s the new guy doing? He earned his nickname yet?” Walt asked.
“He’s still Newbie, and not happy about it.”
Tammy rolled her eyes. “Team tradition,” she explained to Kendra. “You should let the wives contribute ideas.”
“Not happening. I can’t have all the guys calling me McSteamy or Mr. Buns of Steel,” Walt cracked.
Tammy laughed out loud and patted his backside. “In your dreams.”
Kendra eyed Linc. “And yours is?” Why did she desperately want to know his nickname?
“It’s classified.”
Based on his grin, that wasn’t true, though that beat his usual intense expression. When he aimed his smile at her, it had an even more disarming effect than when he smiled at Jalen.
“If he gets wound up, swinging or having him go in circles helps ground him,” Linc shared. “There’s a change of clothes in the backpack, just in case. If you tire him out at the playground, he might take a nap for you. Call me if you need anything.”