Chapter 9
Waylen slipped from the bed as carefully and quietly as he could. He didn’t want to disturb Presley. She needed her sleep. But he had to contend with the damn cat that decided he liked to snuggle between Waylen and Presley and he wasn’t going to be moved. Every time Waylen tried, his namesake came right back.
After four attempts to find the cat a suitable spot on the bed that wasn’t wedged between him and Presley, Waylen gave up.
He hiked up his jeans and pulled his shirt over his head. The cat purred and stretched at the edge of the bed before jumping to the ground and racing toward Waylen so the silly kitty could dance around his legs and rub up against them. Waylen bent over, lifting the cute little bugger up, scratching his head. “I’m gonna go get some coffee and breakfast sandwiches. I’ll be right back,” he whispered, wiggling his feet into his shoes. Gently, he set the cat on the mattress and slipped out the door.
Raking his fingers through his hair, he stared out into the harbor. He sucked in a deep breath, enjoying the salty air. He’d been a lucky man most of his life. Sure, he’d experienced death, heartache, torture, divorce, among other things. But overall, he had his health. A loving mother. Great friends. The perfect career. He’d even experienced the best kind of love with Presley.
His heart tightened. There was always that chance his team didn’t want to stay. Or they didn’t go after the job with the Brotherhood Protectors. Or if they did, Hank Patterson, the head of the entire organization, sent Waylen and the boys somewhere else.
The plan had always been to retire together and continue on as a team. They were all on board.
Waylen’s heart fractured. He wanted to work with his brothers. That meant the world to him.
But he wanted to stay on Big Island and find out if this exciting twist of fate had been what Father Time had in store for him all along. He didn’t know how to reconcile that conflict in his mind.
Or his soul.
“Yo, Waylen. What’s uuuupppp?”
He leaned over the railing and tried not to smile. “Hey. If it isn’t Mr. Popular.” In middle school, they weren’t friends because Waylen only saw Mano as the cool kid.
Mano hated it because the kids only liked him because he was rich. It had taken Mano a few years to learn that tough lesson, but once he did, he had developed a sixth sense about who wanted to hang with him because they wanted to see his parents” mansion, go for a ride in one of the family”s fancy vehicles, or go on the yacht, or better yet, the private helicopter.
Waylen and Mano had bonded over being used by their peers for things they couldn’t control—Waylen for being smart, Mano for being born into a rich family. They were two young boys who, by all means, shouldn’t be friends if you went by the standard social construct of young kids and teenagers. But none of that mattered to them.
“I never thought I’d say this, but it’s damn good to have you back on this island.” Mano held up a tray of coffee and a bag. “Little Miss Sunshine awake yet?”
Waylen shook his head. “Where’s her ex?” He jogged down the steps.
“Hale’s talking to him and when he’s done, I’ve got two people posted on his house.” Mano handed him a mug of coffee.
“Do you know anything about Hale?”
“Yeah. We’ve butted heads a few times on some cases I’ve worked, but at the end of the day, he’s a good man. Excellent at his job. He’ll do right by Presley.”
“That’s comforting.”
“Hale can be tough. He won’t cut corners and he might piss you off. But he’s all about justice and he’ll work with you. He respects the Brotherhood Protectors and the military,” Mano said. “I’m sorry about yesterday. Someone rarely gives me the slip and Vernon’s a slippery asshole. He’s smarter than he looks. Fucking master manipulator is what he is.”
“How well do you know him?”
“Well enough to want to rip his eyes from his head. He didn’t like me and Presley hanging out and I didn’t want to make things hard for her, even if I didn’t believe he was the right man, so I kept my distance but never turned my back. I know people who have crossed paths with Vernon.” Mano jerked his head toward the marina. “Let’s go sit on that picnic table over there.”
“All right.” Waylen raised the mug and sniffed before taking a sip of the amazing brew. “Sweet Jesus. You remembered.”
“That you’re a weirdo and like vanilla and hazelnut in your coffee?” Mano shook his head. “Who drinks that at seventeen?”
“Me.” Waylen laughed. He took the bag and reached inside. “Please tell me you got a sandwich with sausage, bacon, double egg, and hot sauce.”
“You’re so fucking predictable.” He pointed to the apartment. “Just like ending up with Presley. How long did that take? Five seconds.”
“Jealous?”
“More like doing a little happy dance inside.” Mano climbed up on top of the table. He almost never sat on the bench. “I’ve watched Presley put on a smile and tell everyone that she was fine. That everything was going to be dandy after you left. She’s a strong girl who believed you’d come back together. But that resolve broke as life happened. She did her best to take care of business and her parents, but it was rough for a bit.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t step in and sweep her off her feet.” Waylen found the sandwich he’d been looking for. He opened the wrapper and his taste buds went wild. He lifted the greasy treat and took a big-ass bite. Still the best fucking breakfast in the world.
Mano laughed. “Even if I had feelings for her, which I never did, I would never do that to you. You and Presley have always been family.”
“I hate to admit it, but I’ve missed your ugly face.” Waylen’s heart swelled. They’d all grown into bigger, better versions of the same stupid teenagers they once were. This felt easy. Like a comfortable old weathered shoe that you’d do anything to keep from having to toss out.
“Damn, man. Such a sentimental sap.” Mano patted his chest. “But you know, you never treated me like the other kids did, and I didn’t diss you just because you were a nerd—and you, my friend, drove the nerd bus.” Mano shook his head. “Why kids think being smart is a flaw. I was forgiven that talent because my family had money. But it didn’t mean anyone liked me for who I was. They only wanted to be my friend because I could take everyone out for pizza and soda after school. I never understood why those who sat at the popular table never softened up to you,” Mano said. “You’re good people. The best.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever spent much time thinking about it.”
“Living on this island, dealing with some of the same people, I do,” Mano said. “For me, it’s either all the little assholes we used to know want to impress me now, show me up, or still want to hang with me to be cool. Like hey, I went to high school with you, dude. I’m too old for that shit.”
“Try going to a bar with a flattop haircut in a Navy town. The first question out of some chick’s mouth was almost always are you a SEAL. I answered no. They moved on, looking for their catch of the day. Most men gave the same response as I did. SEALs are in general a humble lot, but there was always one or two who wanted to get laid and went for it, hoping crazy eyes didn’t come out. I get it. Some people could never see past the money. But kids gave you a chance. They got to know you despite what they first saw. However, they saw me solely as the geek who was two or three grades ahead of them in most subjects. I understand how intimidating that can be, especially when I didn’t do anything to hide it and the teachers always called me out on it.”
“And the only reason you didn’t graduate early was because of Presley.” Mano laughed.
“Actually, that’s false.” Waylen wiped his fingers on the napkin. “The earliest I could attend the Naval Academy was seventeen. Same with joining the Navy. Leaving high school even a year early didn’t make sense.” He shrugged. “So, I was the asshole who took every advanced course our school had to offer, along with a few courses that weren’t typical so that I wasn’t completely bored.”
“You were a walking font of useless information—until someone like me needed it, like when I asked you to help me hack into a few things.” Mano leaned forward. “I learned a lot of tricks from you, my friend, which is one of the reasons I decided to make a personal visit this morning.”
“Should I go get Sleeping Beauty?”
“You can tell her at your leisure.” Mano pushed his food to the side. “I did some looking into Frank.”
“Hale told me that Frank’s had some issues with the law over the years, but they haven’t been able to get anything on him since he moved to Big Island.”
“He came over from the main island about six years ago. He got in a shit ton of trouble as a kid, but who didn’t.”
Waylen lifted his hand and pointed to his head. “Me.”
Mano chuckled. “However, he ended up doing some time for armed robbery and assault when he was twenty. Since then, he’s kept his nose clean. But there are rumors he’s involved in drug dealing. Arms dealing. Some other shit. The federal government has looked into his business, but they don’t have anything to go on or open an active case file.”
“I take it you found something that might push that along?” He polished off the last of his coffee.
“I’m not exactly sure. Forensic accounting was never my strong suit. But I saw some red flags. I figured you could do a deeper dive.”
“Anything that ties Frank to Vernon?”
Mano ran his hand over his goatee. “I honestly don’t know what I’m looking at. I follow people for a living. I might take a peek at bank records. I know how to flag payoffs, shit like that. But this is way above my pay grade.”
“What made you think there was something to it?”
“Large sums of cash deposits and withdrawals with people’s names next to the ledger.”
Waylen jerked his head. “On a bank statement?”
“No. Personal records. Handwritten.”
“Where the fuck did you get those?” Waylen cocked his head.
“I have my methods. Anyway, I took pictures of them and emailed the files to you.”
“You could have just called to tell me that.”
“I wanted to see your pretty face.” He reached out and squeezed his cheek. “Because it is adorable.”
“Fuck off.” He swatted his hand away.
“There is one other thing,” Mano said. “A few people have come and gone from Vernon’s place. I’m a small operation. It’s me, my girl who runs the front office, and I’ve got two buddies who do contract work for me. I can only do so much.”
“I’ll call my team. They can be here in a couple of hours. You tell me what you need help with when it comes to Vernon. We can pool our resources.”
“That would be fantastic.” Mano stood. “Your team is welcome to stay at my place.”
“They can get rooms at?—”
Mano held up his hand. “I’ve got a huge house a mile from here. It has ten bedrooms. Me and my girl, Bella, rattle around in there, getting lost. I won’t take no for an answer.” He lowered his chin. “And if my parents were still alive, they would insist.”
“All right. Thanks, man.” Waylen gave his old friend a bro-hug.
“Keep that girl of ours safe.”
“You know I will.”
“And don’t knock her up.” Mano had said that same thing a dozen times when they’d been teenagers. It had been a running joke. Not necessarily the funniest one, but Mano and Remi thought it was freaking hilarious.
Waylen glared. “That wasn’t funny when we were kids and it’s not funny now.”
“Oh yes, it is, only you’re grown-ass adults, and everyone always thought you’d make some gorgeous kids.” Mano slapped him on the shoulder. “Stay in touch.” He strolled through the parking lot and around the corner.
Waylen snagged the bag and the second coffee. His heart thumped in his chest like a jackhammer. Being back with Presley had turned his world upside down. He’d spent years pushing her from his mind, and he’d done a decent job of it until his divorce. Since then, she’d been all he could think about the moment things went quiet. There was no confusion about wanting to be with her or his desire for a second chance.
But this damn baby thing and being irresponsible at forty had him questioning his sanity. He should be utterly terrified.
However, after all these years, the thought of that kind of life with Presley was like living the dream. He let out a long sigh. Time to go wake her up.
It was going to be a long day.
“I understand.” Presley held her cell to her ear and closed her eyes. This was the third cancellation since the news of the accident broke.
Which wasn’t an accident at all.
“Is there any chance we can get a refund on the deposit?” the customer asked.
“I’m sorry. Our policy this late in the process specifically states no refunds. However, I will happily apply it to another date if you wish to rebook. Considering the circumstances, that can be at any time in the future.”
“That doesn’t help me right now.”
“I apologize for the inconvenience. But I do have a business to run and I can assure you that all safety measures are being taken.”
“I need to think about this,” the customer said. “Can you hold the reservation while I chat with my friends to see what they want to do?”
“Absolutely. And like I said, I’m happy to rebook for any available dates.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll be in touch.”
The line went dead.
Presley set the phone on the counter and groaned. If people kept canceling, this could ruin her business. Part of her wanted to give everyone back their deposits, but if she did that, she’d deplete her bank accounts.
“Hey, babe.” Waylen strolled into the office. He leaned over the counter and took her chin with his thumb and forefinger. He kissed her tenderly. “You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
“It’s been a long day.”
“Is there anything you must do before closing the office?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“My team and Blake are over at Al and Lisa’s. Let’s go get some dinner.”
“I didn’t know she was coming.” Presley tucked her hair behind her ears. The only person she’d met from the team so far had been Kian, and she was dreading meeting everyone else.
Waylen spoke so highly of them, and they all seemed larger than life. These men were the brothers Waylen never had. His family. She knew he’d do anything for them, including designing his future around them. Being jealous of them and their bond with Waylen was simply insane. They had spent years working in a dangerous environment together.
She was part of his past.
They were his present and future.
“What’s going on inside that pretty little head of yours?” Waylen inched around the counter and lifted her out of the chair, pulling her into his arms.
She could be a little honest with Waylen. “The ripple effect from what happened to Frank and it being on the news isn’t helping business.”
“I can’t imagine it has.”
“I’m so angry at Vernon and his lies. I can’t believe he told Hale that he never proposed selling me his half and offered to reschedule the charter if the Waylen needed service. It’s such bullshit and all it serves is to make me look bad. The worst part is I have no witnesses.”
“You do have one.” He kissed her forehead.
“Him making the reservation doesn’t prove anything.”
“We’re going to nail him and he will end up behind bars. I promise.”
She believed Waylen. She really did. Her only worry was at what cost? And to whom?
“Come on. I’m hungry and I bet you haven’t eaten since this morning.” He cupped her face and stared into her eyes with a loving gaze.
“I don’t really feel like socializing.”
He cocked his brow. “This isn’t only about hanging out. The boys and I need to discuss what we found out today. That directly concerns you and I don’t want to leave you out. I know better.”
“Yeah, you’d be sleeping on one of the boats if you did that.”
He chuckled, curling his fingers through her hand and tugging her toward the door. “You’re going to love the guys.”
At least she was meeting all of them on her turf and she’d have a girlfriend to hang out with while Waylen and his buddies were tossing around all their inside jokes.
Because that was what Waylen had always been known for.
She leaned against his strong frame as he meandered down the path through the marina and into Al and Lisa’s bar and restaurant. It was a quaint dive bar that catered to the tourists. They often had great local bands for live music and at the end of a charter, it was the best place for her customers to spend their last evening in paradise.
The only thing that felt magical in Presley’s life right now was the return of Waylen, but even that was tainted.
“Hey, girl.” Blake greeted her with a smile and open arms. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m vertical. That says something.”
“This guy treating you good?” Blake jerked her chin in the direction of Waylen.
He looped his arm around her shoulders. “Like a princess.”
“You better or you’ll have to deal with me,” Blake said. “We got a table in the back.”
“Perfect. Let me go introduce you to the guys.” He nudged her through the bar area.
Her pulse hammered in her throat. She hadn’t been this nervous since she took her captain’s test.
“Hey, guys. This is Presley. You know Kian over there,” Waylen said.
Kian smiled and waved from the far end of the table.
Oddly, Blake took a seat between him and another man.
“Next to Blake?—”
“Let me guess.” Presley had heard story after story about each one of these men. In her soul, she felt as though she were weirdly connected to them. “And I bet I can do it by nickname.”
“You told her the stupid dumbass names you blessed us with?” Harlan raised his drink and sipped. “What’s wrong with you? Have you not learned anything about keeping certain details to yourself? In this case not for future leverage, but just fucking human decency.”
“You didn’t have to open your mouth for me to know that your nickname is Sabian, but you’re really Harlan,” Presley said. “I loved Kevin Spacey as Chris Sabian in the movie The Negotiator.”
“I’ll agree it was a good movie, though not really how things are done and I’m better-looking.” Harlan raised his glass.
“I made the mistake of suggesting an action military movie last night and I thought Waylen was going to break the TV because everything was wrong.” She rolled her eyes.
“They don’t get much right on film,” Harlan said. “But let’s see if you can get the rest of the gang right.”
“She’ll never do it. I mean, you were easy. You gave it away with your rhetoric. But the rest of us? She’ll screw it up. No offense, but I doubt you’ll be able to blow my mind with that shit.” This man sat on the other side of Harlan, and he made an explosion sign with both hands on the side of his head.
Based on that, the average person would guess he was Raider, the explosives expert.
But something told her this was Lane. The whole concept of he doesn’t stay in his lane made her think that.
She narrowed her stare. “You’re Lane. Or as Waylen likes to call you, Tracy.”
“Jesus, she’s good.” Lane took a big swig of his beer.
“So, that leaves you, Raider. Or should I call you Blitz?”
“I much prefer Raider, thank you.” He smiled. “But at least my nickname is cool and makes sense.”
“I don’t know about that. Ancient is one of the proper translations for Kian. I actually asked Waylen if that’s the name he gave him.”
Every man burst out laughing, except Kian, who muttered, “So not funny.”
The waitress came over and took appetizer and more drink orders. She noticed the guys had ordered water or a soda, instead of a second round. Waylen had leaned over and whispered in her ear that to be safe, they wanted to make sure they all stayed sober.
She appreciated that, but at the same time, it made her nervous as fuck. Hale had mentioned that whatever was going on, the break-in could have been the end of it. That Vernon had stolen whatever it was that he wanted.
Only he had her personal computer. If he hacked into that, he had access to her personal bank accounts. Her email. Her world.
Waylen had changed all her passwords and put some alert system on it so he’d know if someone was poking around. But Vernon was smart and wicked. He’d cross whatever line he needed to get what he wanted.
He used to want Driftwood Tours.
When she fought like hell to keep it, he then made it impossible for her to be soul owner. She always wondered why he chose to be tied to her that way. It wasn’t because he loved her, that was for damn sure.
“So, Presley, tell us something we don’t know about Waylen,” Raider said. “We want to know what he was like when he was that skinny, dorky kid in that picture behind the bar.”
“Oh, jeez.” She pulled her hair over her shoulder and twisted.
“I’m not much different. Just bigger, stronger, and better at video games,” Waylen said, squeezing her thigh, as if to suggest she not tell a single embarrassing story.
“Did you know he was on the chess team?” Presley said.
Harlan set his drink aggressively on the table. “You don’t say.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised, but damn, I am,” Lane said. “But only because in all the rooms we’ve sat around playing cards and other stupid shit, waiting for something happen, he never once played checkers or chess with anyone.”
“That’s because I would have beaten all of you in five minutes. It would have bored me to tears,” Waylen said. “Now that’s enough storytelling for one night.”
“Oh, I’ve got another good one for you.” Presley sat up taller and squared her shoulders. In a matter of a half hour, she understood Waylen’s bond with his buddies. They were more than friends. More than teammates. They were male soulmates. Each and every single one. She felt that to her core. “The only time he got in trouble at school was when he hacked into the grading system and actually tried to change his A to a B.”
“Why the fuck would you do that?” Lane asked. “Didn’t you graduate with like a perfect score?”
Waylen shook his head. “Do you know what it’s like to be popularly unpopular? Kids only wanted me around if I could help them get a better grade. They wanted to cheat off me. Or have me take their tests. Some did actually want me to tutor them. But outside of that, I was invisible. I thought if I gave myself a normal-ish grade, kids would see me differently.”
“Dude, by the time you hit high school, that ship has sailed,” Harlan said.
“When he pulled that little stunt, he’d been in the sixth grade. It was how we became good friends. We were in detention together.” Presley laughed, shaking her head. “I remember telling my dad about this boy who was so tech-savvy he could hack his way into the school computer system. My father was both mortified and impressed. He wanted me to invite Waylen over to the house. So I did. My dad and Waylen fell in love with each other. It was the biggest bromance I’d ever seen.” Presley raised her hand to the ceiling. “Swear to God, those two would sit around playing chess, checkers, cards, talking about politics, and Waylen set up our computer system because my dad lived in the freaking dark ages. He also taught my parents the two-step.”
Waylen dropped his head to the table and groaned.
“Wait. What?” Kian said. “Is this another secret? Does Waylen know how to dance?”
“Um, yeah?” Presley blinked. “Not to bring up a sore subject, but didn’t everyone see that at his wedding? It’s pretty impressive.”
“No,” the entire table said at once.
“He had one slow dance with his ex-wife,” Harlan said. “And besides the fact we weren’t fans of Elena, the dance was fucking painful to watch.”
“And if memory serves me correctly.” Lane tapped Waylen on the shoulder. “You made a big deal about not wanting a big wedding or reception. You and Elena fought over that, right?”
“We fought over a lot of shit.” Waylen sat up. “She wanted a big freaking spectacle, and I wanted to elope. We compromised, including my agreement that I would twirl her around the dance floor once, but wouldn’t ever climb back on it.”
Kian leaned closer to Presley. “He really knows how to cut a rug?”
“Mostly country line dancing,” Presley said.
“You’ve got to be fucking with us.” Raider stared at her with wide eyes.
“You wanna see?” She stood.
“They do not.” Waylen pinched her knee. “Sit down.”
The boys pounded the table. “Dance, dance, dance,” they shouted.
Presley scurried over to the jukebox.
“Babe, you can play the song, but I’m not getting on that dance floor,” Waylen said. “I haven’t done that shit in years and I don’t plan on making a fool of myself now.”
She found the song—their song—and pressed the buttons. She turned, lowered her chin, wiggled her finger, and shook her hips. “Achy Breaky Heart”blasted through the speakers.
The whole thing took her mind off everything. It was exactly what she needed, and Waylen’s friends were nothing to be jealous of.
Even if they ripped him off this island, they were kind, honorable men who adored Waylen and would lay down their lives for him and those he cared for, which included her.
She felt that to her core the moment she stood at the edge of that table.
Whether Waylen stayed on this island with her or followed his team around the globe, she’d finally found the closure—no, she couldn’t call it that; it was more like life had come full circle with regard to Waylen. Her heart had been healed from the open wound that had never been properly stitched.
They had always loved each other and probably always would.
Even if they were never meant to be together.