Chapter 11
Cassie
It was the very next day, and I woke up and smiled at the sight of the wedding band that had been added to my engagement ring.
I wondered if twenty-five hours broke the record for the shortest engagement ever.
I looked at Alec, who was awake and smiling at me, and I said, “Morning, Husband.”
He winked, “Good Morning, Wife.”
Then he bent his neck and kissed me softly.
***
We were at the mall because, thanks to Tatum, she had figured out that this needed to stay quiet.
She had told us about a guy in the mall who could solder my rings together so it wouldn’t be noticeable that we were married.
And Alec’s ring was on the same chain as his dog tags.
That was when his phone rang.
He pulled it out, checked the screen, then he winked at me, then he answered it and put it to his ear, “King? What’s shaking?”
I watched Alec’s face as he listened, and then I watched as his eyes closed, and his body tensed, and then he whispered, “Fuck.”
Bringing my arm up, I wrapped it around his waist and gave him my silent support.
He bent his neck and pressed a kiss on my head, then he said to King, “Let me ask Cassie, one second.”
Then I gave him my eyes. He asked, “One of our buddies was KIA last week. They are bringing his body home today. Go with me to the airport?”
Immediately, I nodded.
To King, he said, “We’ll be there.”
Then he hung up and hung his head. I pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw as his beard tickled my cheek.
The man who had been soldering my ring was done, and then he asked, “Military?”
I didn’t respond.
Neither did Alec.
He took Alec in, and then he nodded, “This is free. Congratulations.”
Alec opened his mouth to argue, but the man shook his head, “Airborne.”
To that, Alec nodded.
Then he took my rings from the man and then tagged my hand and placed them back on my finger, “These never come off. Ever again.”
At my nod and smile, we left the mall, and then we headed to the airport.
At a gate, Alec showed his military ID.
The man radioed in and got confirmation.
Then he told us which tarmac to go to.
When we pulled up, it was to see veterans lining a long red carpet.
American flags were held.
The wind picking them up and making them beautiful.
I waited until Alec rounded the hood of his truck and opened my door.
Then I took his hand and climbed out.
He led us over to the line, and then we waited.
The plane had just landed.
And when the plane pulled up in front of us, the back door opened to the cargo hold, and then six men left the line and went into the plane.
I wrapped my hands around Alec’s left hand and squeezed.
He squeezed back.
Then, when the casket came to the front of the long red carpet, a man called, “Attention.”
I let go of Alec’s hand as he did just that.
Then a man called out, “Salute.”
Every man in uniform, and those not in uniform, brought their right hand up to the corner of their right eyebrow.
It was so beautiful, and crippling at the same time.
The six men carried the dark coffin with an American flag atop it down the long red carpet.
Tears welled in my eyes.
And the moment the casket was placed into a hearse, every man lowered their right hand.
I wrapped his left hand in mine again, but he squeezed it, released it, and wrapped his arm around my waist.
Then he led me to his truck, opened my door, and once I climbed in, he closed it.
He was in the driver’s seat, his hazard lights on, and we followed the blue flashing light escort to the funeral home.
That night, on our back porch, I curled my body around Alec’s and held him tightly.
He was staring off into the night when he said, “We called him Julep. Fucker hated it.”
I chuckled softly, then I asked, “Why is that?”
He chuckled, “We had been about to board a plane for our first co-op mission with Seal Team Two. He had been out partying prior to the call. And when he walked into the plane, he smelled minty, sugary, and he reeked of bourbon.”
I chuckled.
Then he said, “First mission, fucker asked where he could go pee.”
I laughed.
“Told him we couldn’t move from our spot, and he needed to hold it.” He said with a laugh.
Then he said, “Fucker couldn’t hold it. And since we couldn’t risk our cover... fucker smelled like piss the whole way back to base.”
I winced, “Ew.”
He chuckled.
Then, tentatively, I asked, “How did you get the handle of Ghost?”
He was silent for so long that I thought he wouldn’t answer me.
And if he didn’t, then that was alright with me.
But he opened his mouth and said, “Was in training when I earned that. I had been hidden in a way that nobody could find me. And when they called the training to a close, I said, up here.”
They all looked up and then started laughing.
“I was right in front of them, and they couldn’t see me.” He said.
And then... last night... he had the first nightmare that I was present for since that night I met him.
Carefully, I had placed my hand on his cheek and then waited.
It took a few minutes, but his jerking stopped.
And then his breathing, which had been rapid, had slowed.
For the rest of the night, I lay awake, keeping watch over him and protecting him the only way I could.
Alec
I looked over at Cassie, who was singing along to the radio as we headed to Clover Valley.
She didn’t know it, but she was about to meet my team.
It was something we all did the day after New Year’s.
When we pulled up outside of Jackie Graham’s house, I put the truck in park.
Cassie turned her head and smiled at me.
Then I got out of the truck, rounded the hood, and opened her door.
As she was climbing down, I heard the front door open.
Then I heard Dalton say, “Fuck me. There’s your better half.”
Cassie’s head whipped around me.
Then I introduced her to Smoke, aka Dalton.
Followed by Ice, aka Zane.
Then Wolf, aka Josiah.
Then Jekyll, aka Noah.
Then lastly, Hyde, aka Tyron.
She smiled at all of them and said hello.
Then they pulled her into the mix by treating her like gold.
“Cassie, you’re the first woman in our group, settle a running bet for us, okay?” Wolf asked her.
She lifted her brow then nodded.
Wolf smiled, “Okay, which is the best sex position? Missionary or from behind.”
Cassie giggled, then she said, “Neither.”
They all locked their eyes on her and waited.
She said, “Island sex is the best.”
They all nodded, then looked at me, and grinned.
Then Cassie said, “Or in front of the bathroom mirror.”
They all busted out laughing.
Just then, Jackie Graham, the matriarch of the family, came outside and introduced herself to Cassie.
She smiled, then nodded, “Yeah, I see it.” Then she looked at me and said, “You did good, boy.” Then she winked.
Three motorcycles pulled up, a Chevelle, and two trucks.
Then I watched as Vance, Deacon, Lane, Larson, Wyatt, and Boone walked over.
I introduced them to Cassie.
Not only had they all shown up, but so had Playboy, Stripe, King, Raptor, Ripper, Sire, and Laurie.
Along with a few women, they had been seeing.
Needless to say, I had to hold in my groan as she swapped numbers with everyone.
Oh, the haze that was about to follow.
But I fucking loved it.
Loved that they wanted to include her.
***
The call had come in.
The one we had been waiting on.
We got the go-ahead to take out the leader of a regime who was responsible for killing seventy-five soldiers last year.
Operation Fubar Text Thread
Wolf – Fucking finally.
Smoke – Been ready.
Ice – Let’s rain hellfire.
Hyde – Rain hellfire.
Jekyll – Rain hellfire.
Me – Rain hellfire.
I went into the guest bedroom and started packing my stuff.
Cassie came walking in then and handed me the thing I was about to reach for.
She smiled.
But it wasn’t that bright smile I’ve come to love.
It was a sad smile.
She was trying to put on a brave front for me.
And she didn’t know how much I appreciated it.
I knew that if I had told her about the man we were going after, how dangerous he was, she would have sat on me and not let me leave.
And I loved that fact about her.
Smaller than me.
Untrained.
But never would she stop trying to protect me.
To keep me safe.
With the last of my things packed, I stalked over to her, wrapped her in my arms, and kissed her.
Cassie
“Stay right there for me, okay?” he asked.
I stayed right where I was, tangled up in his sheets.
I smiled up at him, “Why do you do that?”
He winked, “Cause when shit gets crazy, it always helps to have an image in my head to keep me grounded.”
“And you want me to be that image?” I asked.
“For what I do. Yeah. I need you to be that image, Cupcake.”
I didn’t know all that he did.
And I never would.
But if I could give him this... then I would do it. Gladly.
I just didn’t know that the moment I waved him off... things would change.
Change in a way that no one ever wants to happen.