Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
“We lost a lot of good people.” His grandfather’s fingers skimmed over the names of the fallen from the Vietnam War as they walked alongside the memorial in D.C. “We lost a lot of frogmen, too.”
Liam eyed the black band on his wrist, a reminder of a frogman he’d lost from Bravo. He inhaled a breath of the night air, forcing the memory away, and tucked his hands into his pockets as they walked.
He still had to figure out how to tell his grandfather he’d given away the coin, a coin his pops had carried with him throughout the Vietnam War.
“It was 1967 when I was deployed as a SEAL to Vietnam.” His grandfather stopped walking and pointed toward a bench, and Liam followed him over and sat next to him.
“Your mom was barely four at the time. Fighters would hide in those thick mangrove swamps and attack our squad.” He placed his cane across his lap and leaned back, eyes still on the memorial.
Liam had heard his grandfather’s stories dozens of times since he’d first started spending his summers as a kid in the U.S.—and he’d never grow tired of listening to him talk. He couldn’t be prouder of the fact his grandfather had been one of the first SEALs.
He waved a hand through the air, his eyes closing in the process. “Our boys wore Levi’s, not the Navy-issued fatigues.” He grinned. “We had our own set of rules.” He swallowed as if a painful memory had snagged in his mind. “But it wasn’t easy.”
“You’re an inspiration, Pops.” Liam thought back to the summer of ’94 when his grandfather had first taught him to shoot a rifle. “I always knew what I wanted to do—follow in your footsteps and make you proud.”
His grandfather shifted on the bench to face Liam, pale blue eyes locking on to his face. “You make me proud.” He patted his shoulder.
Liam looked up at the cloudless night sky. “There’s something I have to tell you.” He found his grandfather’s eyes again. “I was on an op in Argentina this week, and we rescued a little girl.” He tensed at the memory of when he’d had to say goodbye to Elaina.
His grandfather was the only one in his family who knew the truth about Liam’s job. He’d never lied to him, and he didn’t want to start. More than that, he trusted him, and he knew his grandfather would never tell anyone the truth, not even Liam’s mother.
His grandfather had been a Teamguy, after all. There was a code they lived by. A trust they shared with each other.
“What happened?”
“Well, she was scared, and I didn’t know what to do, so I gave her my coin to make her feel better. Your lucky coin.”
“You always do the right thing, Liam,” his grandfather answered without even taking a pause. “I’m sure she needed it.”
“I’m sorry, though.” He’d had that coin with him since before his first deployment. It’d become like a piece of his body—and somehow, he’d handed it off so easily to Elaina.
“Don’t be sorry.” He started to stand, and Liam helped him up all the way.
They began walking again, heading for Liam’s truck, which he always kept in his grandfather’s garage for whenever he visited.
“How’s work otherwise?”
He wanted to tell him about Emily because, well, he didn’t keep secrets from him. But for some reason he couldn’t get the words out.
Liam reached for the keys in his pocket.
“Work’s busy. Back when we started, we carried out an op for POTUS once every few months at most, so the majority of our jobs were for Scott and Scott.
” He unlocked the truck and helped his grandfather inside.
“But,” he began once he was in the driver seat, “now I feel like we’re constantly spinning up for the president. ”
“Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.” His grandfather fiddled with the radio as they pulled away from the curb. “Still hiring vets for your security company?”
“Of course.” Liam smiled. “Who better to run protection?” Plus, he’d never been a fan of the way veterans were often treated after they’d returned home—and so, it felt good to be able to do something about it.
Even if in a small way. “Someday I’ll retire from Bravo and test out the civilian life. Not any time soon, though, I hope.”
“Nah, son. Once military you’re never really a civilian again. Military’s in your blood.”
“True.” Liam nodded.
“But, I’d like to see you settle down and have kids someday. I’m pushing eighty,” he said with a laugh. “I’m lucky your mom had you when she was young, or I might not be alive to see some great-grandkids.”
“Well, I don’t know how long it’ll be until one of us has kids.” He was one of four boys, and he certainly wasn’t going to be the first to have children.
“When’s the last time you talked to your mom?”
“I checked in with her earlier today to let her know I was safe.” He’d called her on the plane from Vegas to Argentina before his op. He never told her where he was going, but since there was always the chance he wouldn’t make it back, he liked to chat before heading out.
He’d stayed at JFK when they’d arrived today and caught the next flight to Dulles instead of heading back to HQ with the team. Thinking about facing Emily later had his heart doing some sort of awkward and unfamiliar dance, though.
His grandfather reached for the controls on the radio and turned up the volume. “You think this Bennett guy will run for president?”
“Knox’s dad?”
“Yeah, won’t that be strange if he wins and you all report to him?”
“I’m guessing it’ll change the dynamics quite a bit.” He clutched the wheel tightly as he considered a future with Knox’s dad as Command.
“Well, Bennett’s got my vote if he runs.” He coughed into his fist. “Unless you don’t want him to win, and then I’ll vote for the other guy, even if he’s—”
“A different party.” Liam chuckled. “You’d do that for me?”
His grandfather placed a hand over his heart and glanced at him. “Anything for you.” He winked.
“Thanks, Pops.” They fell silent and listened to the news as the radio guest discussed a potential presidential run for Bennett. “We’re here,” Liam announced when they pulled into the long, curvy driveway. His grandfather had dozed off, lulled to sleep by the monotone voice on the radio.
“That was fast.”
“Er, Pops . . . who’s here?” Liam parked behind a black Audi, but before he looked at his grandfather, he caught sight of two people exiting the house.
He grasped the steering wheel and gathered a deep breath as his stomach did a full-on freefall.
“Did you know he was coming? And bringing her?”
“I wanted to tell you, but . . .”
Liam chanced another look at his older brother.
“When Brandon found out you were in town and going to visit me, he asked if he could come over.” He reached for Liam’s forearm. “I thought maybe it was fate you were both in D.C. at the same time.”
“Not fate,” he said, almost under his breath. “Mum.”
“You haven’t spoken to him in years.” There was a note of sadness in his tone.
Liam’s gaze locked on to his brother’s wife. “They’re having a baby?”
“Yes,” his grandfather answered after a stretch of silence filled the car.
“Looks like you’re gonna get a great-grandkid sooner than you thought.” Liam exited the truck and walked around to help him out. “I’m sorry, Pops. I love ya, but I just can’t do this.”
He had his limits, and this was one of them.
“Liam!” The sound of Brandon’s voice was like a stab to Liam’s heart.
“I have to go. I’m, uh . . .” His mind blanked out for a moment. “I’m gonna take the truck into the city.” He’d taken an Uber to his grandfather’s house earlier, and he didn’t have time to wait for a ride. He had to get out of there.
“Liam, please.” Brandon strode toward him, but Liam quickly circled the truck.
His eyes connected with Melissa’s as he opened the driver’s side door and climbed in; she remained on the porch, her hand beneath the curve of her belly.
He rolled down the window and let go of a heavy breath. “Congratulations,” he said to his brother, then shifted in reverse and left before anyone could try to stop him.