GUARDIANS: Mission To Rescue Innocence (Beauty 0f Life Book 7)

by Laura Acton

  “Brody, thanks for the music and humor you brought into all our lives.” Jim wiped at his eyes with his empty hand.

  Taking a knee and placing a hand on the headstone, Mason vowed, “Brother, I take up your mantle and vow to always protect our little brother to the best of my ability.”

  Dan choked up. Words failed him as his eyes filled. Four hands landed on his back and shoulders. He managed to croak out the motto of the Guardians, “Solidarity.”

  “Solidarity,” the others repeated before each downed the shot of JD.

  Dan’s Apartment – 3:00 p.m.

  Dan gazed at his tree one last time. Christmas this year had been so very different. He smiled as he took each unique ornament off and set it carefully into a storage box he purchased for them. He removed the tree topper last and held the turtle dove image of him and Lexa.

  The last six days had been fantastic, spending time with his family both biological and chosen. On the twenty-seventh, everyone converged at his parent’s home again, and an impromptu hockey game ensued. He didn’t mind being benched, relegated to the sidelines as a spectator with Mom at the insistence of Jim. To round out the teams to five and five, Dad donned a pair of skates and joined the unit guys as the goalie.

  He enjoyed the spectacle being played out before him. He did not realize his dad could skate … so much about him that Dan did not know. Glimpsing a different side to his father, he vowed to learn about the man behind the mask he presented to the world.

  Dan smiled recalling the shock on Blaze’s, Winds’, Mason’s, and Jim’s faces. For so many years they all hated the general with a passion thinking he was the one pulling strings keeping him in the field, mission after mission. It was fascinating watching them all working together. The rowdy and hard-fought game ended in a tie. He rooted for both sides, and after the game went into three overtimes, they called quits because dinner was ready.

  Dinner had been fun too if he excluded all the embarrassing stories his cousins told his unit brothers about him and vice versa. However, after Scott related the one about four-year-old Dan’s escape, au naturel, up a tree to avoid a bath, caused Dan to turn a bright shade of red, his mother put a stop to the stories. Each of the remaining days he spent hanging out with the guys in Ottawa was as equally as enjoyable, but he was glad to be back in Toronto. He missed Alpha Team … Lexa especially.

  Mason exited the bathroom after showering and changing. He chuckled at Blondie’s little Charlie Brown tree, but the sight also warmed his heart since the kid hadn’t celebrated Christmas in years. “You realize your tree is more fitting for the Red Baron.”

  Dan gave Mason a lopsided grin. “You haven’t called Mike that in years. Too bad he can’t join us for Jim’s bachelor party.”

  Taking a seat on the couch, Mason nodded. “Yeah, he planned to attend some conference with his dad. So, where did you figure on going tonight?”

  “Loki is helping to decide the final location.” Dan unwrapped the lights from the tree. It would be a little sad to have his tree gone, but with the pine needles falling at an increasing rate it became a fire hazard. He wound the string of lights up in a neat circle and put them in the box too.

  Lifting his beer, Mason asked, “You want me to carry your tree to the trash so you can shower?”

  “Nah, I got it.” Dan picked up the little tree. “Blaze, Winds, and Jim won’t be here until six, so I have time.”

  “Glad Blaze rented a limo. None of us needs to be driving. And going out in style for Patch’s … Jim’s last night as a bachelor sounds like fun.”

  Dan nodded. “Yeah, I offered to drive, but now I’m glad I won’t be. I never found a chance to tell the team about Brody’s gift. Now I’m looking forward to surprising them with my new mode of transportation. Ever since I ended up with bronchitis, they’ve been on me to buy a car or truck.”

  “Toronto isn’t Kandahar … you need something for winter.”

  “Et tu, Brute? I already have too many mother hens.”

  Mason’s deep bass laughter rumbled as he remembered his Shakespeare. “Well, Julius Caesar, I did promise Brody to keep an eye on you.”

  Dan shook his head but couldn’t stop grinning as he headed out to put the dead tree in the recycling dumpster behind his apartment complex.

  Lexa’s Home – 3:00 p.m.

  Lexa un-decorated her tree, wrapping her new treasured ornaments with care and boxing them. For once her Christmas held meaning. She enjoyed spending time with her chosen family … Boss, Loki, Jon, and Bram. She also visited with her girlfriends over the holidays. They had a grand time at a wine tasting event yesterday.

  Picking up the tree, Lexa carried it to the curb for pick up tomorrow. She didn’t want to take it down today, but it saved her a trip. She didn’t want to lug the shedding tree to a recycling center herself. Plus, getting the pine needles out of her Jeep would be a chore, which she could avoid by doing this today.

  When she returned inside, she ran the vacuum to suck up all the fallen needles. As she trudged up the stairs from her basement, after taking the ornament boxes down, Lexa began thinking about how she might renovate the unfinished basement. She created a workspace down there, but most of the area was a mess and could be improved. Though the room would be at the bottom of her list, she still had too much to do on the main level.

  Lexa went to the kitchen and poured the last of the coffee into a mug. Returning to the family room, she sat on the couch and tucked her feet under her. After sipping her coffee, she set the cup on the table and picked up a book on the latest profiling techniques. She planned to brush up on her skills until time to dress for Heather’s bachelorette party. However, her thoughts wandered as she read the same paragraph three times. She closed her book, set it down, and pulled the blanket over her.

  Maybe a quiet afternoon daydreaming or napping was on tap instead. Her eyes landed on the turtle dove picture of Dan and her. “I should put that away.” Their passionate kiss in Tourterelle Boutique was one she would always cherish. Her mind wandered to another one she would never forget … their first kiss at the Grand Citadel hotel. Her hand came to her lips, recalling the tenderness as their lips met for the first time. No one has ever kissed me quite like Dan. He can be soft and tender, hard with passion, or anywhere in between. He always recognizes what I need.

  Brushing her hand against her breast, she imagined his tongue tracing circles on them. Her nipples peaked at the mere thought. Lexa sucked in a breath and blew it out shakily as her body reacted to reflections of intimacy with Dan.

  He is a consummate lover. He drives me to the crest and keeps me in exquisite anticipation of my release. He takes me to heights I never thought possible before cascading down in a glorious climax.

  Lexa’s core tensed and heated as she recalled the lust in his eyes as his hands and mouth stoked the fire within her, caressing and teasing her essence to perfection. Her hand slipped into her pants wanting and needing. She bucked in a familiar rhythm wishing her fingers were Dan’s. When her release came, she breathed out, “Dan, oh Dan.”

  As her breathing and heart rate began to steady from their frantic pace, Lexa sighed. God, she tortured herself. She really should not do this, but Dan was the best she ever had, and if she was truthful, she missed him. Six days without seeing him left her in a sorry state, and the last time they were intimate was nearly a month ago … the day he returned from Ottawa after his interview for the court-martials of Plouffe and others.

  Her phone ringing shelved her thoughts. She answered without looking at the caller id, “Hello,” came out slightly breathless.

  Dan smiled hearing the breathless hello. He couldn’t wait to drive her to that point again. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks, and he sank against the recycling bin in the alley as his world spun. Lexa is with someone. I thought we are exclusive … she said so on the TFR roof.

  Jealousy reared its ugly head, and he found it exceedingly difficult to speak, but managed a nonchalant, “Hi, Lexa. I’m
not disturbing you, am I?”

  Not disturbing me? Well, I don’t know about that. Thoughts of you certainly distracted me quite enough a few moments ago. Composing herself and trying to sound normal, Lexa answered, “No just rushed up from the basement after putting my ornaments away.”

  Dan frowned. She told a bald face lie. Lexa would never be breathless running up a couple of steps. Attempting to be a gentleman he accepted her lie as truth. “You took down your tree too. I just took mine to the recycle bin.”

  Lexa took a sip of coffee, “What’s up?”

  “Wanted to ask how your holiday was,” Dan said as he tried to stem the tightness in his chest. His real reason for calling had been he needed to hear her voice. It had been too many days without talking to her.

  “It was terrific.” Lexa shared the activities of her past days with him. He chuckled as she described Leslie’s, Emilie’s, and Allie’s antics on Christmas day, but something seemed off with him, and she couldn’t place what. “How was yours?”

  She listened and laughed as Dan told her all about surprising his parents, his snowball wars, and how the unit guys surprised him. Lexa brightened at the description of his holiday, recalling all too well the sad shell of a man Dan was last Christmas.

  Happy for him, she smiled when Dan related how he spent time with his mom watching his cousins, buddies, and father play hockey. But all his words sounded flattened, holding a note of emotion which contradicted the joy. Needing to understand, Lexa asked, “Dan, what’s wrong?”

  His head bowed, struggling with his emotions, trying to fake it with her by telling her about his visit, Dan said, “Nothing.”

  “Don’t lie to me. Your voice tells a different story. If we are going to be together, you can’t hide or misdirect the truth.”

  Her accusing him of lying stung when she was the one doing so. “Sorry, I should let you go.”

  “Dan, wait!”

  “I gotta go … the bachelor party.”

  “Wait. Please, tell me what’s the matter.” Lexa got the distinct impression something was screwed up but remained at a loss.

  Dan sighed. “If you don’t want to be exclusive or if being with me is too much risk for you, tell me.” Hurt caused him to dig, “I’m sure whoever you are with now is pissed off you are talking to me right after … well, you know.”

  Lexa burst out laughing. She couldn’t help herself.

  Dan’s jaw dropped, unable to comprehend why she found the situation humorous.

  “Wait, don’t hang up. Dan, please.” Lexa controlled her laughter and prayed he didn’t end the call. “You thought … no. No. I’m alone. Completely and utterly alone.” She turned a shade of pink as she added, “Though, I wished you were here. Self-service isn’t quite the same.”

  The sun reappeared in Dan’s life as he listened. A wow smile covered his face. “Alone?”

  Another piece of Lexa’s protective wall crumbled with his one word as his behavior during their conversation became clear to her … he had been hurt and tried to cover his feelings. “Yeah, alone. Wish we didn’t have the parties, rather spend tonight with you, but I’ll see you at their wedding.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Save me a dance?” Lexa quipped trying to lighten the mood.

  Dan chuckled. “You’ll be the only one … a waltz.”

  Lexa beamed. “Sounds like a plan, my feet will be safe from yours while waltzing.”

  “Told you I didn’t dance.”

  “True, but I didn’t believe it. Someone who moves with cat-like grace should be able to dance.”

  The two spent the next half hour bantering back and forth. Both happy and anticipating tomorrow when they could see each other again.

  Dan’s Apartment – 4:00 p.m.

  Mason let out a long sigh as the door opened. “Hey, what took you so long? I was about to send out the search hounds.”

  Dan dropped into his black swivel chair. He raked his fingers through his hair as he stared past Mason out his window.

  “Sunshine?” Mason said noting the faraway expression.

  Shifting in his chair, Dan leaned forward placing his elbows on his thighs and rubbed his face before looking up at Mason and blowing out a breath. “Days like this … emotional rollercoasters. I wonder if my life will ever be easy. I want to live …”

  Mason listened but didn’t have a clear understanding what Blondie meant, so he remained quiet, hoping he would expound.

  “We drove down this morning. Blue skies and laughing as we remembered Brody. Then at his grave.” Dan teared up. “He should be here viewing the beautiful, clear sky and going with us to Jim’s party. I want him here, and I’m the reason he isn’t.”

  Dan rose and strode to the window. “But if he were, I wouldn’t be here. I think about all those I care about … those who care for me. I only joined TRF because I had nowhere else to go. But I found a purpose and another family. And Lexa … all I want to do is wake up with her next to me. And none of this would’ve occurred if not for Brody’s death. How can I … why do I … how come he can’t be with me when things are finally good?”

  Mason stood and put a hand on Blondie’s shoulder. “Days like this … Brody is with you. He will never leave you. He is here in spirit, and he would want you to enjoy your life. That is how you honor our brother. Enjoy days like this and set free any regrets. Now, go take your shower. We are celebrating tonight.”

  As Dan nodded and ambled to his room, Brody smiled and lay a hand on Danny’s shoulder as he whispered, “Days like this are the beauty of life.”

  Letting Loose

  72

  December 31

  Dan’s Apartment – 6:10 p.m.

  Hanging up the phone, Dan turned and grinned at Jim. “Everything is set. Loki made arrangements for us on the Midnight Party Boat at seven.”

  Blaze, Mason, and Winds stared at Blondie in disbelief as Jim groaned and said, “Never stepping on a boat again. We need to go someplace else.”

  “But he worked hard to make the three-hour tour reservation.” Dan attempted to stifle his laugh witnessing Jim’s disapproval.

  Staring at Dan, Jim put a hand over his stomach. “I puked enough for a lifetime on the Minnow. I’d rather do anything else. Hell, even karaoke.”

  Winds snickered along with Blaze as they caught on to Blondie’s prank. Mason’s attention, however, was drawn to his buzzing phone. He pulled it from his pocket and answered, “Srònaich O’Naoimhín.”

  The others halted their conversation.

  “Toronto, sir.” Mason turned and walked to the window as he listened. “Yes. I can be at the airport in twenty.” He nodded as he received a quick briefing, his mind switching back to military mode. “Yes, sir.” Ending the call and turning back to his brothers, he said, “Sorry, Jim. I have to go. My unit is upped for rapid deployment. I need to meet them at Toronto International.”

  Saddened Mason would miss tonight’s revelry and the wedding tomorrow, Jim understood duty came first. “How about we give you a ride in style?”

  Mason smiled. “Never ridden in a limo to a deployment.” Peering at Blondie, he requested, “Mind if I leave my bags here?”

  “You have to ask?” Dan cocked his head and rolled his eyes.

  “Guess not,” Mason replied.

  Blaze strode to the door. “Let’s go.”

  Muerte por Chiles – 7:15 p.m.

  Jim laughed as they entered the Mexican bar. “You had me going with the damned boat thing. I was about to bail on my bachelor bash. Though Death by Chiles is an ominous name for a bar.”

  As a patron attempted to sing a song out of his range, Winds cringed and quipped, “A better name would be Death by Tinnitus. Is this the real location or another prank?”

  Dan laughed. “Yeah. Loki and Ray swear this place has excellent food and drinks.” He led them to the back where Loki secured tables for everyone, noting Jon and Bram arrived as well as Jim’s paramedic buddies. Tonight would be an interesting mix of guys,
military, police, and medics.

  Arriving at the table Jim made introductions of Trey, his partner, and the other medics Brad, Dave, Drew, Zander, Mack, and Roy.

  Zander stared, recalling Dan. “Wow, you survived! In the church, I didn’t believe with the amount of blood …” He shut his mouth as several eyes pierced him. “Sorry, always sticking my foot in my mouth. Glad you recovered.”

  Roy didn’t make the same faux pas as Zander, but he remembered treating Dan for respiratory distress when Jon and Nick found him in his freezing apartment. Carrying him down ten flights of stairs and worrying if the officer would survive with the way he gasped for breath.

  Brad and Dave, partners for years, shared a silent conversation as they wondered how long before Dan would surpass Bram in the number of injuries. The running bet among the paramedics was it wouldn’t be long. The TRF officer’s jobs were inherently dangerous.

  An eager expression on his face, Loki asked, “So, how did the prank go over?”

  Dan chuckled as he took a seat. “Worked like a charm. Jim said anywhere else, even karaoke.”

  Finding an open spot, Winds plugged one ear as the next singer murdered the song. “We need Brody here to save our ears from bleeding.”

  Grinning, Jim patted Dan on the back. “Hey, I hadn’t thought of that. Perfect location … will be like having Brody along tonight with all the music. But no row, row, row, your boat.”

  Dan flashed a wow smile. Jim is right, a fitting place. Brody is here in spirit.

  “Wasn’t your buddy Mason going to be here?” Jon queried.

  “Got called away.” Blaze settled on a barstool.

  Jim leaned over to talk to Bram. “Hey, last minute, but you’re the only person who is built like Mason and would fit in his tux. Would you consider standing in for him as one of my groomsmen?”

  “I would be honored.” Bram lifted his beer and nodded.

  Three and a half hours later, the guys all loosened up by copious amounts of alcohol, they began signing each other up for sing-along slots, picking the worst songs they could find. Blaze and Winds stumbled back to the table to a round of applause after doing a hammed-up version of ‘I Will Always Love You’ as they massacred the high notes.