Chapter 17 #2
“Mae said three clients already called in today. Two from the gym, and a group from St. Louis that were coming in next month for sim time at The Trident. We’re already losing business.” Stone added.
“Tracker, you gotta get on the paper trail here. What source is out there spreading these lies, and what evidence did they share? I’m going to go through my corporate competitors, put feelers out for anyone who may be trying to take me out of a specific game for their own gains.
Reaper, Doc… I want you guys to sit down and go through past missions.
Think about anything that might be lingering out there from our time in the Teams. Everyone else, focus on the mission the article calls out.
Try to remember what the fuck went down, because I have a version in my mind that I recall.
We’re going to write them down and make sure they match.
Because for all we know, this could be someone pissed at the way I made a call that night and they decided it was time to retaliate. ”
“Fuck,” Stone swore. “I hate how we literally have no answers.”
“None. Other than to go to Lo and ask her for her source,” Gage said.
“I’m not above that. I’ll go. Maybe I still have an in with her that I can exploit,” Hawk offered.
“Just don’t sleep with her,” Sebastian groaned. “That’s the last thing we need.”
“I wouldn’t—” Hawk started to argue.
Christ. Stone groaned as he tried to stretch in the chair.
“You good?” Hawk asked. “Need a break before we dive into this?”
“Nope. I’m fine. Just pissed I can’t remember anything about the goddamn shooting. It feels like this is all…”
“Connected.” Gage finished his thought.
“You guys feel it too?”
They all nodded.
“Can someone finally tell me what actually happened the morning I was shot?” Stone asked.
Sebastian shook his head. “No. That’s enough. We won’t be talking about that—”
“Why the hell not?” Stone interrupted. “I want to know. You’ve all been dodging it since I woke up.”
“Your doctor was clear. We have to give you time for the memories to come back on their own. If Hawk was to tell you what he saw that morning… it might taint your memories, when they do come back. I know it’s frustrating.”
“There has to be something you can tell me.”
Stone looked around the room.
“Cap?” Gage asked.
“Yeah. I don’t see why not.”
Gage turned to Stone. “You know I was going through everyone’s phones and laptops as a security measure. To make sure someone wasn’t in our systems looking at things they shouldn’t have access to.”
Stone’s eyebrows pulled together as he set his elbows on the table. “Yeah. You found something somewhere?”
“I did,” Gage said as he turned on the screen at the far end of the room. A string of text messages appeared in front of him.
Unknown:
The devil is coming for you.
Unknown:
I know the truth, and soon the world will, too.
Unknown:
Alejandro Martinez. Sean Landon. Andrew Limerick. Gabe Wollworth. Christopher Caulleou.
Names he would never forget. Names of people his training couldn’t save.
Names of his brothers in arms that were now carved on sacred ground.
Names that were spoken at family gatherings because the man was no longer there.
He’d triaged them all in the field, and hadn’t known their fate until he was back stateside, and they were being flown into Dover.
But a red flag started waving in his mind.
“Doc? What is it?” Nash asked.
“The names… All SEALs, right? Martinez, Landon, Limerick and Wollworth were KIA in the mission they’re saying we ran rogue on. But Caulleou… He didn’t die over there. I triaged his wound from that mission, and personally submitted the official complaint against him,” Stone recalled.
The complaint that got him pulled from the teams, investigated, and dishonorably discharged from the Navy.
“I remember,” Seb nodded. “I signed off on it. Asshole was nowhere to be found as soon as we hit the bunker.”
“So, what’s his name doing there with those guys? Where does he fit?”
His teammates sat silent. Nash scrubbed at his chin, Hawk rubbed at his temples. Sebastian grabbed a bottle of water and took a long drink from it. But none of them said a single word, lost to the same thoughts as Stone.
“All of their obituaries were attached to the message,” Gage finally spoke up.
“What do you mean?” Surely not all of their obituaries. He’d seen Chris at the Shop and Save just the week before. He wasn’t sure of it until his name was listed in that text message. But if his obituary was attached before Stone was even shot, how the hell could he have just seen him?
“Here, see for yourself.”
Stone read over the detail on the screen, his heart sinking with each and every word.
Life after the Navy.
Struggled with his demons.
Took his life…
“You’re sure this is real?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Gage answered. “He’s gone. Why?”
“My mind is playing tricks on me.”
“Care to elaborate?” Sebastian asked.
“I thought I saw him. Last week, when Mae and I were out shopping.”
“Here in town?” Gage asked, clicking away at his keyboard.
“Yeah. The night before we all got together for my homecoming. The night before…”
Mae had her miscarriage.
Fuck.
“I’ll pull the video footage from the security cameras and see if there is anything on the feed.”
“Someone’s blaming me for all of their deaths.” Stone shook his head. “That’s what this is. That’s why they came for me. Were there more messages?”
Gage nodded.
Unknown:
Can’t get anyone to fix this for you.
Unknown:
Will that pretty brunette you’re always holding hands with leave you once she finds out you’re a killer?
On and on the messages went, and Stone’s head spun as he tried to figure out where the hell Gage had found them.
“I don’t understand… where are these from?”
“Your texts. They were read, and then deleted. The first one came in weeks ago.”
No. There was no way he’d get something like that and not immediately go to his team. “I can’t remember anything…”
“We know.” Gunner grumbled. “Doesn’t mean we’re not all pissed at you for deleting threatening messages and not telling us about them.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking.” Stone shrugged. “I feel like I would always come to you guys. I wouldn’t try to handle something like this on my own.”
“So, reading them… it doesn’t bring up anything for you?” Nash asked.
“Nothing. I feel sick. I don’t like whoever the hell this is bringing Mae into it. But it’s not bringing back any memories.”
“Fuck.” Hawk’s sentiment rang around the room, echoing exactly how Stone was feeling.
“How many of these messages are there? How many did I delete?”
“There are twenty of them. The last one you deleted was the morning you were shot.”
“Which one is it?” Stone asked, looking at the screen.
“Doesn’t matter.” Gage reached for the remote.
“Show me.”
“It honestly doesn’t matter. We’ve got this weird information and no lead. For now, it’s a dead end anyway, until I do some more digging.”
“Show. Me.” The more Gage pushed back, the more Stone knew he had to see it.
“Just let him see it. The threat they made already happened.” Gunner huffed, picking his coffee cup up and taking a sip, all while his eyes stayed on Stone.
Unknown:
Time to pay the devil.
He was about to respond when Gage stood up. A flashing white light in the corner made Stone’s blood run cold. Mae had pressed the silent alarm at her desk.
The guys all moved as one, but Stone ran to get there first. If she needed to be protected, he was going to be the one doing it.
“Get the fuck out of here.” Mae’s vicious growl tore through the space.
Stone took in the scene at the front of Montgomery Defense for half a second before moving into action. Because Beau Ford had his arms wrapped around Mae’s waist, holding her back from lunging at Laurel, who was being restrained by Beau’s brother Hayes.
“I’m going to rip that smug smile right off your face, you fucking bitch,” Mae growled as Stone stepped in front of her.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Sully, I swear to God! I’ve had it! She’s not going to walk in here like she owns this goddamn place, like she isn’t trying to take everything from you guys—”
Stone’s eyes lifted off Mae’s flushed face, over her shoulder to where the team was standing, glaring at Laurel. Sebastian’s eyes landed on Stone.
“What did I say, Cap? Pool Comp,” he shrugged. “It’s Pool Comp all over again.”
Laurel’s hands flew up by her face. “There’s no need to be so hostile, Mae. I was doing my job, just like I told you I would be. The guys had the opportunity to go on the record and give their side of the story.”
“Unless you’d like to reveal your source to us so we can speak directly to them, you aren’t welcome here.” Hawk growled. Guess he decided against the fun and flirty approach.
“I know, I know, the devil’s in the details. Unfortunately, that’s not how source protection works.” Laurel winked.
“Then get out.” Gunner’s words flew from the back wall towards Laurel.
“I’m just looking for a quote. Something to help you guys out here.
You have to know, by not saying anything, you’re just adding fuel to the fire.
My colleagues have picked up the story, and not just in Texas.
I’ve gotten on-air requests from the big three.
Why not let the reporter who broke the news also be the vessel to carry your redemption story? ”
“How nice of you.” Mae pushed against Stone’s embrace. “I’ll give you a quote. How about I tell you how far up your own ass—”
“Nope. No, no, no, no, no.” Stone pressed his hand over Mae’s mouth gently. “I love you so much for sticking up for all of us, but we’re not giving Laurel one single thing to use against us, baby. Not a single thing.”
“Funny you mention baby, Stone.” His stomach dropped as he watched Lo’s smile turn malicious. “Congratulations are in order, aren’t they?”
“Laurel!” Gunner barked, stepping around Sebastian to march towards her.
“Oh, did I spoil the surprise?” Her eyes flicked to Mae, who had gone deathly still in his arms. “I just put two and two together. Getting sick the morning we met. Then bumping into you outside the doctor’s office…”
“Holy…” Hawk mumbled, his eyes going wide as he looked over at his sister.
Stone’s arms tightened around Mae and she pressed her head down on his shoulder.
“We lost the baby, Lo.” Stone’s heart shattered for Mae, as he was forced to mention it in front of everyone. “Thanks for bringing it up in front of everyone, though. Really, so kind of you.”
Laurel’s face fell. “I—”
“I think you can see that you’re really not welcome here.
Step foot on our property again, and we will press charges…
” Sebastian’s voice faded into the background as Mae pulled out of Stone’s embrace.
She turned back to the reception area and began shuffling papers.
Her eyes were shiny with tears, but he knew on principle alone she would never let them fall.
“We’ll make sure she takes off before we head to the diner,” Beau said as he walked past Stone.
“Thanks guys, appreciate that. And I appreciate you stepping up and protecting Mae until we got out here.”
“Sorry for your loss.” Hayes held his hand out to Stone, who shook it with a lump in his throat. “If you need anything, don’t be afraid to reach out.”
“Thanks.” He dropped his voice down. “She doesn’t really want anyone to know right now.”
“Say no more. It won’t go further than us.”
“We appreciate it.”
Beau and Hayes grabbed their bags and tossed them over their shoulders before heading out the main door. Nash flipped the sign and locked the doors, effectively putting an end to their insane work day.
The only sound in the room was coming from the paperwork Mae was shuffling around. The file cabinet under her desk opened and closed, and Stone watched as she sat back in her chair, her eyes fluttering closed for just a second before she squared her shoulders and stood up.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she announced. Stone watched Mae shake her head at Hawk who was walking towards her. “I’m not ready to. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to. I haven’t told—”
“No one else knows.” Stone took over. “This isn’t how we would have shared it.”
“What just happened here stays here. Just between all of us. It’s as simple as that.” Gunner crossed his arms and nodded at Mae. “And if there ever comes a time when you do want to talk about it, we’re here. But we’ll let you take the lead.”
Her shoulders relaxed and Stone could have kissed Gunner for that kindness.
“Sloane’s making dinner tonight,” Gage said. “Actually, it’s Lily cooking, but we’re hosting. How about we all head up there? Feels like we all could use a breather.”
The guys agreed in various grumbles and grunts, but Stone didn’t move, his eyes staying locked on Mae.
“I’m just going to go up to the apartment,” she finally said, breaking through the silence.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No. You can’t. It’s important that you spend time with the team. Especially after what happened today.”
She was pushing him away. Again.
“What are you going to do for dinner? You need to eat, too.”
“I’ll figure something out. Go. Be with your team. Fill me in on everything when you get back?”
He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her against his body in a bear hug. “I feel like you need me more right now.”
“I just… I need you to figure out how the hell to get that bitch out of our lives. She got what she came for. She sold her little story. Now, I just need her gone.”
“Okay.” Stone pressed his lips to Mae’s temple.
“Don’t let Betty bite you,” she teased.
“Oh shit.” Stone went still. “I wasn’t even thinking about their dogs. Damn. Can I just come home with you? Please?”
She laughed, her whole face transforming in that instant. “I will absolutely never understand how my big, bad, former SEAL is afraid of an itty, bitty, old dog named Betty.”
“It’s not just Betty. Darius scares the shit out of me, too.”
Gage’s laugh filled the reception area as he walked out, his laptop bag slung over his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Sloane already stuck Darius in our bedroom. Embrie and Sage wouldn’t let her put Betty in there, though, so watch your ankles when we get up to the apartment.”
Mae laughed, patting Stone on the chest. “One day soon you’ll find a dog you will fall in love with.”
“It’ll have to be a golden retriever. That’s the only kind I’ve ever liked.” His fingers found Mae’s and he tugged her towards the elevator.
“Right,” she giggled. “We just have to decide… Matthew, Colleen, or Brian.”
Stone laughed. “Exactly.”