10. Soledad
10
SOLEDAD
I stepped onto the back porch with Luke in my arms, craving the sunlight and warmth of a glorious Saturday morning. Alex had risen early and was already hard at work in the yard. As I settled into a chair, he stopped, eyed one of the potted plants, and turned as if evaluating where best to place it. I hadn’t questioned him when he put the magnolias and azaleas he’d purchased in colorful clay pots, but something had happened to change his mind. Two of the pots were already empty, and the others were lined up like soldiers waiting for their orders.
Gardening seemed an odd interest for a man like Alex. It was the last hobby I would have expected from him. He seemed more the type to pursue white-water kayaking or bungee jumping. Something that involved more of an adrenaline rush than putting his hands in the soil, which was what he was doing at that moment. But there was no denying that he knew what he was doing. Already, the garden was completely transformed from how it had looked before he'd come home. And I got the sense that he had a lot more in mind. At the moment, he was bent over a hole he’d dug, letting the dirt run through his fingers as if it was telling him something.
Funny how that made Alex happy, but he was tough to read sometimes. Tough to understand. Over the past several days I’d become more attuned to him than ever before, a thought that made me smile, but I didn’t fool myself into thinking I knew everything about him. That would be a mistake. Instead, I’d committed myself to enjoying what we had, because when it was good with Alex, it was amazing.
I settled Luke more comfortably against me so he faced his daddy, too. I couldn’t be sure what my baby saw, but I knew what I did. Alex’s thigh muscles bulged. I followed the muscles up to where they disappeared under the navy shorts, and from there to his tight glutes. Even under the fabric I could see the power there. As if he suspected I was watching, he pulled off his T-shirt, casually tossing it aside and giving me an opportunity to admire his pecs, the width of his shoulders, the muscles of his back, and the narrow line of his hips.
I’d spent years on track teams in high school and college exposed to great male bodies, but Alex’s was the best. Runners were lean and lanky, good in their own way but not really anything to write home about. But Alex…
“Yum,” I said softly, forgetting how good his hearing was. He swung his gaze to me. Uh-oh. Busted.
“Something I can do for you?” he asked with the devil-may-care grin I loved so much.
“Don’t mind me,” I called, giving him an innocent smile, eyes wide. “Just enjoying being outside.”
“Yeah, right,” he countered. “You’re checking me out.”
“Nonsense. Why would I do that?” Why would I, when I knew every inch of his physique? I’d run my hands and my mouth over much of it just that morning. Luke slept a little longer each night, and I was grateful for that extra time. Not that I was using it to sleep.
“Because you can’t get enough of me.” He stalked toward me. His tanned skin was highlighted by a thin layer of perspiration, making him even sexier. So sexy that if I didn’t have a baby on my lap, I’d do something about the hormones pinging through my system. Right there in the backyard.
“You have an exaggerated opinion of yourself,” I said, sucking in a breath when he reached me, leaned over, and rested his hands on the arms of my chair. His position was both intimate and exciting.
“Do I? Maybe we should ask this guy about that. He can be an impartial judge.” Alex dropped to one knee in front of me. I knew it was to bring him eye level with our baby, but a moment of anticipation rolled through me. He was posed like a man offering a proposal. I’d say yes—I’d say yes in a heartbeat and work out the details later. I felt a flush creep up my cheeks that had nothing to do with the warm day. As much as I knew Alex wouldn’t ask me to marry him, the thought of it made me tingle everywhere.
“Luke, was your mama checking me out?” Alex’s attention focused on the baby. Luke smacked his little hands together and made a happy baby squeal. Alex chuckled. “That’s what I thought. Good man.”
“He’s just happy to see his daddy,” I pointed out. “Not a fair way to judge.”
“You could just admit it,” he said. “You think I’m sexy.”
My lips twitched, part of me longing to tell him how much he meant to me, but that would end the easy flirtation. Soon I would tell him and wait for his reaction, no matter what it was, but not today. Today was about being happy.
“Go back to work,” I told him.
“While you lounge?” he teased, rocking back on his heels.
“While I care for our son,” I corrected.
His expression changed. It was almost tender and a little vulnerable. Should I say what I was feeling? Before I could speak, he rose, pivoted like a man in a Mr. Universe pageant, and strutted back to the shrub he was transplanting.
Had I lost an opportunity or inched my way one step closer to a future with him? I didn’t know. I stroked Luke’s silky hair and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. If, together, Alex and I could make something so perfect, couldn’t we be perfect together?
I sighed and settled back in my chair. Maybe we could.
Alex
I went back to work, transferring the plants I’d potted just weeks ago into the ground. I had a vision in my head of what the yard could be. I needed shade for Luke, a good place to put a playset, maybe expand the grill that was already in place so that we could have a more elaborate barbeque setup for the next time I found myself hosting a family barbeque. I gently packed dirt around the roots of an azalea, admitting to myself that my plans for the yard all suggested one thing: I was staying. The decision to retire from the SEALs had been on my mind, but it was no longer the source of stress it had been. I knew what that meant. I was close to making a decision, close to leaving a life I’d loved that had presented me with the ultimate challenge—in favor of one that fulfilled me in another way.
I glanced toward Soledad. Her head was bent over Luke as she kissed him. This could be a good life, too. I wasn’t sure I was ready for it, but I couldn’t imagine being away from them for months at a time without any communication. What if something happened? What if Luke became ill? Kids did. I knew that. Soledad would have to manage everything herself. She could, of course. She was plenty tough and resilient. She’d proven that during her pregnancy.
She’d be okay without me. So would my garden. I could put in a modern irrigation system if I decided to re-enlist. Everything would survive. Ultimately, nothing was contingent on me physically being there. I simply wanted to be. I wanted to see my plants flower almost as much as I wanted to be around when Luke cut his first teeth and took his first steps.
I had a little time left on my leave, hopefully enough to deal with Bruce and come to a final decision. I heaved another shrub into a hole I’d dug, letting myself enjoy the work, focusing all my energy on that and letting the rest drop away.
The day grew hotter, the sun becoming more intense on my shoulders. In the background, I could hear Soledad singing to Luke. Just as I placed the last shrub, I heard the distant chime of the front doorbell. My phone chirped simultaneously. I dug it out of my pocket, knowing that the motion-sensitive camera on the front door would have been triggered. Sure enough, my phone’s screen lit up with an image. I moved to the shade of the back porch to see it more clearly, my warning senses firing.
“Do you want me to get that?” Soledad asked, half rising from her chair.
“No.” My answer was terse as I studied the screen.
A man wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled low was putting a package down on the step. The man turned quickly, razor sharp and precise, and strode off down the sidewalk. But I had seen enough. I’d lived with and worked alongside Bruce, day in and day out for months at a time. After so much time spent basically on top of each other, I could recognize any of my teammates by the tiniest detail. A gesture, a whispered word, the shape of their faces even in near darkness. I had no doubt who’d left the package.
I considered sprinting around the house to confront Bruce, but the package had me nervous, had me staying with Soledad and Luke.
Soledad was on her feet, picking up on my tension. She leaned closer to see the image on my phone. “Were you expecting something?”
“No.”
“I haven’t ordered anything,” she volunteered. “It could be another baby gift?”
I knew it wasn’t. “Inside,” I commanded, yanking open the back door. “Stay here near the door, and be ready to dial 9-1-1.”
“Alex, what…” she began, but I cut her a look that stopped her question and had her gripping Luke tighter to her.
I took her under the arm, guiding her quickly into the house. “Phone?” I waited until it was in her hand.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
“Always,” I responded before heading to the front of the house. From my phone’s screen, I knew the package was three feet out from the door, but I wanted a direct view. I swung the door wide, revealing a package the size of a shoebox. It was wrapped in brown paper and was addressed with a red marker in bold strokes. No postmark or package label. No obvious ticking, no wires attached to it. Those were good signs, but caution ruled my world.
My head told me that Bruce was just screwing with me, playing psychological games rather than actually attacking, but I couldn’t take that chance with my family in the house. I had to get them to safety before dealing with the package. Closing and locking the door, I rapidly considered the best course of action. Get Soledad and Luke out, and call my family.
I called to Soledad to meet me upstairs before taking the steps two at a time. First I went into Luke’s room, where I stuffed diapers and extra clothes in a bag. When I returned to the hall, Soledad’s dark eyes were wide.
“Alex, what is going on?” She looked at the packed diaper bag. “Are we going somewhere?”
“I’ll explain it all to you later, but for now, I need you out of the house. Grab a few things—you might need to stay overnight—but be quick.” I took the baby, and in under two minutes we were on the move again. In the garage, I lifted Frankie onto the back seat and strapped Luke into his infant carrier.
“You’re not coming?” she asked as she climbed in and I handed her the truck keys.
I shook my head. “Go to Colin’s house, and stay there until I come for you. Don’t stop for anything. Don’t go outside once you’re there.” Colin lived just a few minutes away. I mentally followed the route she would take. There were only three stops, three places where she’d be truly vulnerable.
“What the hell, Alex?” she muttered but started the truck. I opened the garage door, doing a visual sweep of the driveway and street before motioning her to move.
I watched as she drove out of sight, feeling greater fear than I ever had on even my most dangerous missions. I needed to gain control over the situation. My battle instincts told me that the only way to slay fear was to master it and be ready for anything. I’d already let this game with Bruce go on for too long.
First things first, though. I dialed Zach.
“Hey.” My brother answered on the first ring.
“I need your help.” I quickly explained about the package and asked my brother to call the in the nearest bomb squad. Springwell’s police department didn’t have one of its own, of course, but maybe they could call one in from somewhere nearby. Or maybe Zach’s security company had some experts on staff—they had the reputation for hiring a lot of ex-military. My brother had the connections to cut through the rigmarole and get to the right people quickly. He also promised to call Chance.
When I hung up with Zach, I called Colin. “Are you home?”
“Yeah. It’s Saturday.” Colin sounded relaxed. I was sorry to ruin that, but I needed my brothers’ help.
“Good. Soledad and Luke are on their way to your house. I need you to keep them safe.”
“Bruce?” Colin’s tone altered, becoming serious and efficient.
“Yeah, he left me a gift. Not the kind that anyone wants, I’m sure.” I heard the beep as Colin’s alarm system disarmed, followed by a door opening. I knew my brother was walking out of the house to wait for Soledad to arrive.
“They just turned onto my street,” Colin said after a ten-second silence. “I’ve got them.”
“Thanks. I owe you.”
“Doesn’t work that way, bro. I’ll be over as soon as they’re settled in the house.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I disconnected. Now I could do nothing but wait.