Chapter 2
Leo rubbed his jaw and drank his third cup of coffee as the team settled, watching them. Tess placed the butter and syrup on the table and bade them all goodbye.
“Thanks, Tess,” Leo said, tiredly. “Listen up. We’re spinning up again in a matter of weeks. We have some administrative things to handle before we leave. Everyone met Rocker, Sparky’s friend. His divorce became final last week, and he wants to interview for a position on Team Hawk.”
Shadow leaned in, taking the butter. “We’ve met him at great lengths. I think he’ll be a great addition. When can he start?”
“I haven’t offered him a position because Sparky worked with him.” He turned to her. “Will you have an issue with him working on the same team?”
“No. He’s a great team player, and he risked his life to save mine. He’ll do the same for his brothers,” she confirmed.
“I say we let him get settled and then offer him a position. The divorce took the wind out of him. We need his head in the game,” Leo suggested. “I’m not opposed to hiring him as long as the rest of you agree.”
Everyone nodded around the table.
“Then it’s done,” he announced.
Shadow raised his hand. “I know we returned late last night, but what’s the word about Cole’s old boss? Do we know any more about the investigation?”
“Bear’s working on it in his office. He’ll update us this afternoon.
I want us to hand over our equipment to Archer for cleaning and inspection.
Pack our go-bags and get everything in order.
I don’t know how long we’ll be gone.” Leo paused.
“Patch and Knight will be welcoming little ones before they know it. Let’s get this handled so they can support their partners.
We’ll take today to get everything prepped.
If we get everything done, we’ll take Thursday and Friday off for a four-day weekend.
Then we’ll start Monday off with the investigation. ”
Everyone glanced around the table and continued to eat their breakfast. Leo rose and entered his office. Sighing, he took out his phone and texted his wife.
I’m home, Kit Kat. I want to see you and the kids. Can I run by this morning before Melody leaves for school?
Samantha has already picked her up, and I’m on my way to the hospital. The kids will be in the daycare. She texted back.
How about I go to Ty’s and bring lunch? He texted back, relieved she responded.
I’m not eating lunch these days. In case you forgot, I’m pregnant.
Kit Kat. He started to text and then erased it. What could he say to make her feel better?
A soft knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in,” he ordered.
“Excuse me, Leo,” Stormy said, slipping inside.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“Since I won’t be participating in the mission. What do you want me to do?” she asked. “I have everything stocked and ordered.”
“Why don’t you spend time with Cole and the dogs? I’m sure he’ll leave you in charge of Brody and Brownie,” Leo suggested.
“I’m happy to do it. He’s taught Archer and me how to use hand signals. Pretty soon, you’ll have a great K-9 team. Cole says Apollo is ready to go.”
“He’s done an amazing job with them,” Leo acknowledged. “You’re not doing bad, yourself. I walked into the stockroom and hardly believed my eyes.”
“Thank you. Sir, I came here on a more personal matter. I know you’re staying here on the couch.
I’ve taken the liberty of making up the last bunk.
You’ll be more comfortable there. I thought perhaps since you’ve already turned in your equipment and done everything last night, you might want to pick up the flowers you ordered for your wife and Ty’s making her a soup packed with protein and easy to handle in the early stages of pregnancy. ”
Leo glanced up from his messy desk. “And when did I order those flowers?”
“You placed the order this morning, and Mrs. Carpenter will have them ready when you arrive. Then, you can drop by Ty’s for the soup. Go see her, Leo,” Stormy said softly. “She’s upset, and I know it’s not my business, but I think she needs you now more than ever.”
Leo rubbed his chin sheepishly. “I guess everyone heard her yell at me, huh?”
“Yes, sir. But as you said, get your affairs in order. Your in-laws, Jake and Carol, have offered to babysit if you want an evening out,” Stormy suggested. “Maybe take her the peace offering and then ask her to a nice dinner.”
“How did I operate this place without you? The men don’t tell me how to make up with Kit Kat. They want to know where she’s at on the psycho meter. Having women here will provide the needed balance on this team. Any other advice?” he asked.
“Samantha has offered a prenatal massage before or after dinner while you get a Swedish. It’s a couple’s massage in the same room with candles and soft music,” she offered. “What’s a psycho meter?”
Leo ran his hand down his face. “Geez, the entire town knows I screwed up,” he said under his breath. “It’s how the team measures how badly we fucked up with our wives. Remember, I’m counting on what we say at the team building to stay here.”
“It’s a small town. But we hate seeing you like this, and you can’t run a mission without your head in the game. My lips are sealed. I don’t know how this works with Cole and me since he works here, too. You’ll feel better if you can work it out,” she advised, and she rose from her chair.
“You’re a peach. Tell Sparky thank you. I’m sure she asked her husband to make something Kit Kat can tolerate,” Leo said sadly. “And don’t worry about Cole. We’ll kick his ass first for the fun of it, then ask him what he did.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Stormy encouraged and giggled before leaving.
Leo put his head back in the chair and spun it around, feeling like his life sped out of control, and he didn’t know how to stop it.
A louder knock sounded on the door, and he stopped. “Come in. Grand Central Station has a seat,” he snarked.
Saint, Taco, Shadow, Whiskey, and Doc entered the office and took a seat. Shadow dug something out of the back of the sofa and threw Leo’s underwear on the floor.
“Whatever happened to keeping everything tidy?” Shadow grumbled.
“I didn’t go to sleep until 0300, and then we started PT at 0500. Give me a break,” Leo said, exasperated. “Now you’ve called Doc.”
“We’re concerned about you, boss,” Saint said, taking a seat by the desk.
“I fucked up, guys. Take notes on how not to piss off your wife. When you get fixed, be sure to go to the follow-up,” Leo groaned.
“You’re not solving anything by feeling sorry for yourself,” Doc advised. “Kassie has kept her workload light and made her rest in the afternoons.”
“Why?” Leo asked, sitting up. “She’s never rested with the others. Did something happen?” he said, rising from his desk chair.
“Sit down,” Doc ordered. “She has three kids at home and carrying a fourth. It takes a lot out of a woman to have back-to-back pregnancies.”
“As if I can’t feel any shittier about the whole thing,” he mumbled.
“He’s not telling you to make you feel worse. Listen, brother, you and Catherine have worked out bigger problems,” Shadow encouraged. “Why will this be any different?”
“Because I let her down. She seems to think I’ve done this on purpose. First, we raced to Texas to help Matthew. Then she told me about her pregnancy, and I rushed off to help Julio find Rebecca. I’m on her shit list,” Leo admitted. “She doesn’t want me coming to the hospital.”
Taco rested his elbows on his knees. “Did she say she didn’t want you to come?”
“I texted her this morning.”
Whiskey shook his head. “Gah, the whole texting thing. You can’t hear the inflection in her voice or see her face to know how she means it. Don’t read into it. She’s a redhead. If she didn’t want you to come, she’d tell you to fuck off.”
“Good point,” Leo conceded. “I heard a tree fell yesterday, and Liam and Addyson took a joyride down the mountain via a mudslide. How are they doing?”
“Addyson has a gash across her forehead, and Liam’s leg got pinned under the dashboard, but he’s good. They’re very lucky,” Doc informed the team.
“Good,” Leo agreed. “I must speak with Liam about his hire date. He’s due to get out of the hospital soon, and he’ll have to bunk here. All the cabins have veterans in them, and the second subdivision has guests in them.”
“We’re here for you, brother. We’ve all done dumb shit and pissed off the women. One day, we’ll remember this and laugh,” Saint spoke up.
“All right. I have to go into town. It seems word has spread like wildfire, and I have major ass kissing to do.”
“Try using your words,” Taco said. “Kissing her ass probably got you here in the first place, dude.”
Shadow punched Taco in the arm.
“Owww, come on, like you weren’t thinking it. They have three kids and still have time for sex. Except for Doc, who does things in doubles and adopts, the rest of you are slacking,” Taco bragged.
“Says the man with no kids,” Shadow said, punching him again. “Between school functions, bake sales, work, and spending time with Deni, I don’t know how anyone handles more than one.”
Leo scrunched his nose. “It’s easy. You somehow do it all.”
Doc rubbed the back of his neck. “Sometimes, Kassie and I drop on the bed and pray we get two hours of sleep before one of the kids wakes us up. Luckily, we have a huge family to support us all. Kassie’s godparents, Joe and Maddie, volunteered to take Emma, Sara, and Tori for the weekend while we visited Lucas and José before they ship out.
Kassie’s still reluctant to leave the twins because they’re a handful. Joe and Maddie aren’t spring chickens.”
“Tess and I will be here to lend a hand,” Taco offered. “We may want to see the world, but we make a great aunt and uncle.”
Doc rose. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll let you know when we finalize the plans.”
“Shit. I’m a horrible person. I can’t recall the last time I spoke with Lucas,” Leo said, ready to find his wife.
“The boys haven’t communicated much. Kassie’s only spoken to José once. He writes and always includes money for Sara, which Kassie puts into her college fund,” Chase informed him.
“I doubt we’ll make it to Lucas’ shipping out. Will Victoria, Nick, and Ivan go?” he asked.
“Yes. Victoria has a bunch of presents for both. I tried explaining it’s not like moving out. She only glared at me and told me to mind my own business,” Chase explained with a chuckle.
The team laughed as they left the office, letting Leo leave.
“Good luck,” Doc said, giving him a manly pat on the shoulder.
“Thanks. I think I’ll need it,” Leo said as he headed for his truck.
He missed his wife and the chaotic mess of their kids. Leo didn’t want to leave with this hanging over their heads.