Chapter 13
Cassie
I sat on my couch, curled up in my blanket as my eyes watched the news about the war in the Middle East, and my ears listened to every word that was said.
I was spinning my rings around and around my finger, and the only picture I had of us was in a frame resting on my knees. One of our very first Christmas.
It’s been three months since I last spoke to Alec.
Three long months.
I missed him.
I missed his arms around me at night.
I missed the way he kissed my forehead.
I missed the way his eyes lit up when I entered the room.
I missed everything about him.
Just then, there was a knock on my door.
I sighed as I got up and walked to it.
Checking the peephole, I saw that it was Garrick.
What on earth?
I twisted the lock and pulled the door open.
When he saw me, he asked, “You alone?”
Had this been anyone else, I wouldn’t have answered him.
But since it was Garrick, I nodded, “Yeah.”
His shoulders sagged, “Fuck.”
I lifted a brow, “Why?”
“Cause I’m worried. He ain’t back yet. He’s never been gone this long.”
I sighed, then I moved out of the doorway, pulling it closed behind me and sitting down in one of the chairs on the front stoop.
“Has anyone asked you anything?” I asked.
He nodded, “Yeah. They’ve been wondering why he isn’t answering his phone.”
I nodded, “Yeah, I’m getting it too.”
He nodded, “What have you been telling them?”
“That he was asked to help on a tour of sorts to different campuses around the U.S. Told them he checks in at night, but it’s only for a few minutes.”
Garrick nodded at that.
Then he sighed, “You don’t have a number you can call, do you?”
I bit my lip and nodded, “Yeah. I do. But he told me to only use it in case of an emergency.”
“Fuck,” he said.
I nodded.
It was two days later, and I pulled up in front of Frank and Misty’s house for dinner.
I sighed.
Then I pinched the bridge of my nose.
I had just opened the door and climbed out when I looked up and saw Garrick headed my way.
The moment he made it to me, he nodded, “We got this.”
At my nod, I closed the door.
Sage came running over to me, and she asked, “Why do you look sad, Aunt Cassie?”
I smiled at her. “I just miss your Uncle Alec. That’s all.”
She nodded.
I walked into the house behind Garrick, Tatum, and Sage.
Misty smiled at me, then looked around me, and I watched as her shoulders dropped. Then I smiled, “He’s super busy.”
She nodded, then went back to the kitchen.
I headed in there and smiled at Harlee, Talia, Everly, and Lila.
Cole and Madalyn ran by with Melanie.
We had just put the food on the table when there was a knock on the door.
Frank stood up and then headed to it.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
A woman’s voice said, “Yes, is Bronson here?”
Bronson growled, then stood up and headed to the door.
“How’d you know we were here?” he asked.
Then we all heard, “Madalyn told me. Wanted to see them.”
Things were quiet until Bronson stepped back into the room and looked at Misty, “Have enough food for one more person?”
But then his eyes moved to Cole and Madalyn, and then to Lila.
Misty nodded.
Then Bronson looked behind him and said, “Okay. But be on your best behavior?”
“Excuse me? I always am.” The woman said.
“I’ll add that to the number of lies you’ve told me,” Bronson said so low I almost hadn’t heard him.
Then he introduced us to Eve. His ex-wife and the mother of Cole and Madalyn.
I moved over to Lila and squeezed her hand.
Talia did the same thing.
Cole walked over to Eve and hugged her, then Madalyn followed.
Then they both walked over to where we were standing and got in front of Lila.
Interesting.
We had just sat down to eat when another knock came at the door.
Frank lifted his brows, then asked, “Anyone know who that could be?”
At everyone’s shake of their heads, he stood, then went to the door.
“Can I help you?” we all heard him ask as we started passing the food around.
“Yes, I’m here to see Talia.” A man’s voice said.
All our eyes went to Talia, whose face had gone pale, and there was a tic in Dom’s jaw.
She stood up and said, “Excuse me.”
Then we all heard her say, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Frank came back in then and locked eyes with Dom.
“You ended things with me, rather abruptly, and I want to know why.” The man asked.
Wait.
What?
I locked eyes with the girls, who all looked confused.
We all heard Talia growl, “We were never a couple, Austin. Jesus Christ. We went on two dates. Two. And I was asked to do that as a favor to my boss.”
“You’re a fucking tease,” the man snarled.
And that was when Dom stood up and then prowled to the door.
“Think it’s time for you to leave,” Dom said.
“And who is this? Your new fuck toy?” the man asked.
Then we all heard what sounded like someone being punched in the face.
And then the door was closed.
Talia came back into the dining room and was followed by Dom.
She looked over her shoulder and said, “Thank you.”
Then when Dom opened his mouth, she shook her head, “Not tonight. Please. Don’t.”
That tick was still in Dom’s jaw when he nodded, then sat down beside her.
We started eating, and then there was another knock on the door.
“Now who is it?” Misty asked with a sigh.
Frank shook his head but got up and walked to the door.
We all heard, “Can I help you?”
“Yes, is there a Cassie Griggs here?” a man asked.
At hearing my name, every eye turned to me.
Looks of surprise, worry, concern, and hurt came from Misty.
But my heart had just lodged in my throat.
Because that wasn’t Chief Klein’s voice.
Garrick was here.
So was Tatum.
They were the only people other than Alec and me who knew that we were married.
I stood up on shaky legs and then walked to the door.
The only person who would know I was here was.... oh no.
I started walking even faster, and when I saw two men in uniform standing there at the door, I felt my knees go weak, as I called out, “Garrick.”
The man looked at me, “You're Cassie Rae Griggs?”
I felt Garrick come up behind me as I nodded.
He nodded back and then said, “Can we speak in private, please, ma’am?”
At my nod, I felt Garrick follow me.
The men looked at Garrick and said, “I’m sorry, sir. But what we have to say is for Mrs. Griggs and only Mrs. Griggs.”
I shook my head, “It’s okay.”
They both shook their heads.
I looked over my shoulder at Garrick, then at the two men, and nodded.
I followed them out to the front porch.
Once the door was closed, the man with salt and pepper hair and a clean-shaven face who was almost as tall as Alec said, “My name is Captain Potter.”
I nodded, “Can I see your ID, please?”
He nodded, then pulled out his ID and handed it to me.
I looked down at the military ID that Alec also had, then nodded and handed it back to him.
Then he introduced the younger man to me, “This is Chaplain Reynolds.”
The man nodded at me.
Captain Potter asked, “You are aware of what SFC Griggs does, correct?”
I shook my head, “No. He told me he would never be able to tell me things that he does. But I do know his rank. I know that he’s a team member. I know he occasionally works with Seals. And I know the names of the members on his team. That’s it.”
He nodded, “Good.”
Then he locked his eyes with me and said, “We regret to inform you that as of 0600 this morning, we received word that SFC Alec Griggs has been captured.”
I felt my knees go out from underneath me, and I hit the porch.
The Captain smiled sadly as he dropped to his knees.
Chaplain Reynolds, who was younger with blonde hair, smiled sadly as he lowered himself and took one of my hands in his.
“Orders have been placed to go in and rescue him. You will receive a call after we have him back.” The Captain said.
At my nod, he nodded, then stood up.
The Chaplain said, “Hold on to your faith, Mrs. Griggs. We will get him back. One way or the other.”
And I knew what he meant.
I had seen what happened with the other way.
I pushed that thought out of my head.
That wasn’t going to happen.
The Captain opened the door, and Garrick was there.
Tears were in my eyes as he came to me and wrapped me in his arms.
I watched, but it remained unseen as the two men left and got into a black SUV.
I felt my heart... stop.
I had just processed everything.
Garrick whispered, “What is it?”
That was when, through teary eyes, I saw everyone had walked out of the house and were now on the front porch.
I took in a breath and then wiped at my cheeks.
Then I started to stand.
Garrick helped me by wrapping his arm around my waist.
I looked at Frank and Misty, then I swallowed.
“Let’s take this inside,” I said.
Misty shook her head and snapped, “No. Tell me.”
I looked at Frank, then at Garrick and said, “Inside.”
Garrick nodded.
Misty opened her mouth to protest, but Frank hushed her.
Then I looked at Eve and said, “You need to leave.”
She shook her head and sneered, “My kids are here.”
I was close to breaking when I said, “You're not family. They are.”
When she looked at Bronson for his help, he shook his head.
She huffed, then stormed off the porch and to her car.
I looked at Everly, Lila, Bronson, Dom, Harlee, and Tatum and said, “Can y’all give us a few minutes, then I’ll tell y’all what I was told?”
They all nodded.
Frank, Misty, Carter, Garrick, Ethan, and Talia followed me into the house.
The kids were in the living room, so I asked, “Is there somewhere we can go that will be private?”
Misty huffed, then stormed away.
We all followed her.
When Frank closed the door behind us, I took the room in and knew that this was their bedroom.
Then I looked at everyone, “Please, take a seat.”
They all shook their heads.
“You're going to need it. Please. I’m trying not to lose it.” At my words, they moved to the bed, but Garrick didn’t.
He stayed at my side.
Frank looked at Garrick and said, “You know?”
Garrick shook his head, “I know some. But not all of it.”
Then they all looked at me.
I swallowed.
“What is said in this room can never be repeated to anyone. I can’t tell you everything, even though I don’t know everything. But I promised to keep Alec safe.”
They all nodded.
“For the past sixteen years, Alec has been in the military.” At my words, Frank’s mouth dropped open.
As did Misty’s.
As did Talia’s.
Carter and Ethan had looks of disbelief on their faces.
I nodded. “While he was in basic training, he was selected because of his skills. I won’t tell you by which group he was selected. That’s for Alec to tell y’all. But he hasn’t been giving speeches at Universities. Every time he has been gone, it’s been for missions.”
“How could he keep this from us?” Frank asked.
I looked up at Garrick, then at Frank, and swallowed, “He’s always felt like the black sheep of the family. He didn’t think y’all had a lot of faith in him.”
Misty’s eyes watered, then she whispered, “All the times I got onto him.”
Frank nodded.
Talia winced, “All the hard times I’ve given him.”
Carter’s head was hanging, “I’m his big brother, and I didn’t fucking know it.”
Frank looked at Garrick, “How do you know?”
“He was acting strange a few years ago. Followed him. Shocked the fuck out of me when he pulled up to the parking at a tarmac. After Sage’s birth. When we got home from the hospital. I didn’t like the look on his face. Confronted him. He told me a little bit.”
Then I swallowed, “Now for why we’re in here.” My voice shook as I said, “They just informed me that Alec was captured. A team is being sent in to rescue him.”
They all gasped.
The men all whispered, “Fuck.”
“I don’t know about the rest of his team. I didn’t ask.” I said as I felt like shit for not asking.
I stepped out of the room to give them time alone, but Misty raced over to me, and then she slapped me right across the face, and then she gasped.
Then she broke down in tears.
My cheek was stinging, but I wrapped her in my arms and held her.
I had just told her that her son has been keeping an important part of his life from her.
I understood it.
I got it.
Then after she was done crying, she pulled away.
Her eyes immediately went to my cheek, and she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I smiled sadly at her, “It’s okay. I get it.”
Then Frank pulled her into his arms and winced, “Sorry, honey. I know you were lying to us to keep Alec safe. Thank you for that. For putting my boy first.”
At my nod, he closed the door.
I headed to the living room and shared that Alec was in the military and that he was captured with Lila, Everly, Bronson, Dom, Harlee, and Tatum.
Tatum smiled softly at me, then she wrapped me in her arms, softly she whispered, “Now it makes sense.”
After a while, they came out of the bedroom and into the living room.
They asked questions like when did we get married, how long have I known, where was he at, etc.
I answered what I could.
Or I said I don’t know.
Or I said I can’t talk about it.
It was a few hours later, and I was about to go crazy.
Until a thought popped into my head.