Chapter 18 #2
Tyler nodded, grateful but grounded. “Good to be here.”
He caught the wording—this morning—and understood the implication. He hadn’t been offered a position yet and wasn’t officially one of them. But he’d been here long enough to know that trust wasn’t given on promises. It had to be earned, and he respected the hell out of that.
As he stood among the group, breathing heavily, a water bottle in hand, laughter echoing over the mountain ridge, he soaked it in and smiled at the camaraderie, the mutual respect, and the sense of purpose. He wanted this.
Whatever Logan decided, Tyler knew one thing with absolute clarity…
he was ready to be a Keeper. Once they made their way back to the compound, the others peeled off toward the low-slung, concrete building that blended into the Montana landscape, its modest exterior belying the weight of the work conducted within.
Logan veered in another direction, leading Tyler toward the smaller structure he’d been in before.
The second Tyler stepped inside, a strange flutter of nerves stirred in his gut. It was a sensation he hadn’t felt in years… wanting something that wasn’t guaranteed.
Logan didn’t bother with ceremony. Instead of taking the chair behind the desk, he pulled the other one around, turned it to face Tyler, and sat with the kind of casual authority that didn’t need to be announced. “I know you’ve had a lot to think about,” he began, his voice steady and unreadable.
Tyler met his gaze and nodded once. “I have.”
“Where do you see your future?”
That question hit harder than he expected. For a beat, he let the silence settle. Then he leaned forward, forearms resting on his thighs, the ache of the past few weeks pressing down on his shoulders.
“While I was born and raised in Colorado, there’s nothing left for me there.
My parents died when I was still in the Army.
I didn’t want to keep pushing paper or riding out the clock at a sniper instructor post, so I retired.
” He exhaled. “When I got the call about Gramps, I thought I was coming to take care of him. Thought I’d have time to figure things out while he kept living his life.
But he was gone right after I got here.” His voice dipped, tight with the grief that still caught him off guard.
“Now… I look at his place, the memories tied to it, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m standing on ground that could be mine. Montana feels like home.”
Logan nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Tyler’s. “I told you before, not everyone who wears a uniform is cut out to be a Keeper. Some are in it for the adrenaline. Others chase the ghost of their past accolades, trying to be something they already were.”
Tyler let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “I’ve spent years being the guy who never needed praise. I did my job. Kept my team safe. That was enough then. It’s still enough now.”
Logan’s mouth tugged into a hint of a grin. “Good to hear. What questions do you have about LSI Montana?”
“I know I won’t be behind a scope anymore.” A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “But you mentioned security installs, running high-risk missions, and handling contract investigations for the government.”
“That’s right.”
“I’d have a lot to learn. To be completely honest, I’ve never worked on investigations before, but I’d bring everything I have to the job. I’m a team player. I don’t shy away from hard work. And I wouldn’t turn down any mission you handed me.”
Logan leaned forward and held out his hand. “How would you like to see more of the compound?”
Tyler stood, grasping Logan’s hand with no hesitation. “Can’t think of anything I’d like better right now.”
As they stepped back out into the sunlight, a breeze carried the scent of pine and warmed earth across the open field between the buildings. The mountain peaks loomed in the distance, already capped with snow.
With each step toward the main compound, Tyler felt something shift inside him. He wasn’t just walking into another job or another team. This felt like a future.
“When we get inside, we’ll meet Mary,” Logan said. “She’s the real boss around here. This place wouldn’t function without her. She’ll have an NDA for you to sign. It’s standard procedure, even for non-contracted folks. Protects the work we do.”
“I understand,” Tyler replied, his voice calm but sure.
They crossed the dusty lane and stepped into the building.
A woman rolled out from behind the wide reception desk, her wheelchair gliding smoothly over the polished floor.
Her brown hair was pulled back in a no-fuss twist, and sharp, intelligent eyes met his with quiet authority.
Pleasant but direct, she gave Tyler a once-over that felt more like an assessment than a greeting.
She appeared efficient, not unkind, and nothing escaped her notice.
“Mary Smithwick,” she said, offering her hand and a smile. “Former Navy. Currently queen of forms, passwords, and onboarding chaos.”
He grinned in return. “Tyler Marconi. Former Army. Currently wondering if this place is even real.”
Laughing, she handed over a manila folder. “NDA is inside. Sign, date, and I’ll get you a temporary badge.”
He opened the folder, pen poised. But before he signed, he looked at the line where his name would go.
Funny how a few letters on a page could feel like crossing a bridge.
But that was exactly what this was—a step into something new.
Something he hadn’t realized he needed until it was in front of him. He signed, then handed it back.
This time, she looked at him with a smile, illuminating her pretty face. “Welcome aboard.”
“Thank you, ma’am… Mary.”
She chuckled, and Logan clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s show you what it means to be a Keeper.”
Tyler didn’t just walk down the hall behind Logan. He moved forward with a purpose. And maybe toward the life that had been waiting for him all along.