Brody Judge

by Ciana Stone

  “I guess it would. But would it matter in how you feel about him and me?”

  “No. I love you both and nothing would ever change that.”

  “Then there’s no point jabbing that bee hive with a sharp stick, is there?”

  “No, we have other hives to jab,” she replied as they pulled up in front of Etta’s office at Sanctuary. “Will you come in with me?”

  “I thought I’d go fetch Brody.”

  “Oh, okay, thank you. But the both of you will come back, right?”

  “Yes, indeed.”

  “Okay.” She scooted over, gave him a kiss on the cheek and then got out of the truck. The door to the office was open and there was no one in the reception area.

  “Etta?” She called out and waited.

  The door to Etta’s private office opened and she walked out. “Hey, I’m surprised to see you.”

  “I need your help.”

  “Sure, what can I do?”

  “See this?” Trina pulled back her hair from the left side of her neck and turned her head. “There was a knock at my door. When I opened it, someone jabbed me in the neck and the next thing I knew was when I woke up on the couch.

  “Wiley found me unconscious and carried me inside. Since there are stitches, whatever was done, was performed by someone with skills and I need to know what exactly was done.”

  “Let’s go over to the main house. The medical wing there has a portable x-ray, so we can at least get a look.”

  “Okay.”

  “So, how are things?” Etta asked as they left the office.

  “Good. Strange. Difficult. Take your pick.”

  “Well, let’s start with good. Things are okay with you and Brody?”

  “That part we can label amazing.” Trina said and fairly danced with the joy of it. “He’s amazing and I’m so crazy about him it should be illegal.”

  “Well, I actually understand that feeling.”

  “You should. JJ is smoking hot and oh God is he a kind person, and strong and uh, I guess you already know all this.”

  “Yes, but it doesn’t bother me to hear someone sing his praises. But back to you. Things are amazing with Brody. So, what about with Deacon and Wiley?”

  “That’s good and a little strange. It’s easier with Wiley, to be honest, but then Wiley was always my friend as well as my protector. I could talk to him easier than I could to my Dad. And—never mind.”

  “No, not never mind. What?”

  “I think what happened affected them differently. My Dad took it as a big fat failure. He was supposed to be a husband and a father, take care of the family, provide for us and make us a functioning unit.”

  Etta laughed. “You make it sound a little military.”

  Trina chuckled as well. “Well, how could it not? You know him better than anyone. And back then he was really buttoned down. Even I could see it and I was a kid. Everything had a place and everything in its place, you know? Order was important to him and my mom was allergic to order.

  “Anyway, I think he saw what happened as his fault and failure doesn’t set well with my Dad. I always wondered what happened to him. Was he alive? Happy? Had he remarried? Did he have other children?”

  “Why didn’t you try to find him?”

  “Sadie wouldn’t allow that.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry. And you’re right. It did affect Deacon. Deeply. I hope you’ll give him the chance to let you see who he really is, Trina. He’s my best friend and a truly remarkable man.”

  “I don’t doubt it. I see and feel the way all of you feel about him. Even Uncle Wiley. His pain comes from the mistake he made of loving my mother. He was with her before Dad, you know. And she had her hooks in him deep. She wouldn’t let go--even when she married my Dad.”

  “How did you feel about that?”

  “Grateful. Wiley was my favorite person in the world, the one person I knew loved me without reservation.”

  “And now?”

  “Now I hate that his life and my Dad’s were so messed up because of what happened with my Mom. And me. They paid too high of a price.”

  “Seems to me that you’re the one who paid the most.”

  Trina shrugged. “At least I had Sadie to protect me.”

  “Speaking of Sadie…”

  “She’s mad and scared and doesn’t like that I’m asking you for help but knows that we’re in danger, so we do what we have to.”

  “That doesn’t sound much like you, Trina.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s me. I’m just telling you how Sadie feels.”

  “And Catherine?”

  “She’s just tired and wants it all to be over.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Trina’s pace slowed a bit and her mood grew somber. “She’s the most tragic of all of us. She was yanked into life, awakened in hell. Pain and fear and suffering were the mainstays of her life. She didn’t understand why she was there or why she was being tortured.

  “She was only allowed out during those times of torture, to protect us. Poor Catherine. She didn’t even know Sadie and I existed until we escaped that institution the CIA locked us up in. She didn’t know anything, so she couldn’t reveal any secrets. All she could do was suffer and scream. It was awful of us to have created her and made her suffer that, but we did.

  “Now, she’s so tired. Nothing in life has made much sense to her and every time she comes close to putting pieces together Sadie screws with her thoughts, locks her away and it starts all over.”

  “Wasn’t it Sadie who insisted that you create Catherine to begin with?”

  Trina stopped walking. “Don’t do that.”

  “What?”

  “Try to absolve me. I’m not that ignorant. Sadie and Catherine aren’t entities separate from me. They are me. I created them from parts of myself. Sadie was endowed with my strength and cunning, my deceit and guile, my passion and my steadfast determination to survive, no matter the cost.

  “I piled the guilt on her. She became responsible for all the dreadful things we did and all the people we hurt, and I did nothing to stop it.”

  “It’s really not that simple, Trina. Psychologically−“

  “I know. I get it. But you must understand. I created them to minimize my own suffering and fear and I hid behind them all these years because it was just easier than facing all that was happening and had happened. I was a coward, Etta and I let Sadie be the bad guy so that I could be the one who deserved to be saved.”

  “That’s—amazing. Most people spend years in therapy before they can see themselves in such a harsh light of reality.”

  “Most people don’t have a father who can bring them back from the edge of death and restore their souls.”

  Etta’s eyes widened. “You—you think Wiley is your father?”

  Trina started walking again. “I know he is. Biologically, anyway. I felt it when he came for me—that connection. I could feel that I was part of him.”

  “Will you tell him? Or Deacon?”

  “What purpose would that serve? They’ve been hurt enough. It’s time for healing.”

  They’d reached the main building. Etta led the way to the medical wing and explained to the Nurse on duty what she wanted. Trina sat and waited, thinking about what she and Etta had talked about and wondered if she even deserved to have the love of a man like Brody.

  Etta returned to the waiting room. “Ready?”

  “As I’ll get.”

  It took longer than Trina anticipated. Etta asked her to wait in the reception area while they viewed the x-rays. She found Brody and Wiley waiting for her.

  “Well?” Brody asked as he stood.

  Trina shrugged. “She said for me to wait out here.”

  They sat in silence, watching the door. When it opened, and Etta walked out, Trina saw the troubled expression on her face.

  “Come in.” she said and turned back the way she’d come.

  Trina looked at Brody and Wiley. “Come
with me.”

  They all followed Etta. She led them to what looked like a small conference room. On one wall was a digital display unit. At present it was blank.

  Once they were all seated, Etta picked up the remote and turned on the display. A slide appeared on the screen.

  “As you can see, something was implanted in Trina’s neck. We can’t be certain, but I sent the images to someone I trust, and he said it looks like one of the new generation of explosives. Remotely, triggered, it has enough force to essentially blow out the side of the neck. The victim would bleed out in under a minute with the damage the explosion would cause.”

  “We have to get it out.” Brody said and looked at Wiley for support.

  “I agree. And immediately.”

  “We can’t.” Etta’s remark had them looking at her in shock.

  “What do you mean, you can’t?” Wiley asked.

  “Just what I said. Again, I consulted an expert I trust and was told that until we have the detonator secured and are certain it cannot be used, we can’t do anything. We could detonate the explosive if we try to remove it.”

  “There has to be something we can do.” Brody argued.

  “There is.” Trina spoke up. “Sadie has the answer.”

  “And what is that?” Etta asked.

  “Call Mason. Maybe we can get him to intervene with the CIA. They have to be the ones responsible for this.”

  “Will she give him what they want?”

  That was a good question. Trina could feel Sadie’s fear and desperation to escape, but also her reluctance to let go of the information.

  “Sadie doesn’t believe they’ll let us go if they get what they want. She doesn’t trust them.”

  “Then she’s signing your execution warrant.” Etta said.

  “I know, but she’s not going to listen to me.”

  “What about Mason?”

  “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t. But you can try.”

  “Well let’s talk to Mason. I think we should go find him at Sanctuary.”

  Everyone followed as she led the way out of the building. Brody took Trina’s hand and slowed her, so they fell behind Etta and Wiley. “Are you sure you’re okay, Red?”

  “I want to be, but to tell you the truth I’m scared, Brody.”

  “We’ll find a way to get that thing out. Without hurting you. I promise.”

  “You really think you can make that promise?”

  “No, I guess not, but I can promise that I’m going to do everything I can to try to make it happen.”

  “That’s good enough for me.”

  His smile wasn’t quite genuine, which she understood. Brody wasn’t stupid and knew all too well that there were no guarantees in life. And she? Well, she was starting to feel like a walking target who was quickly running out of time before someone’s cross-hairs zeroed in on her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Brody groaned and pulled his pillow over his head at the sound of his name being spoken. "Brody, wake up." Then it hit him. His eyes popped open and he sat straight up. "Are you okay?"

  Trina wasn't sleeping well and he understood. Anyone who has a potential explosive implanted in their neck would be afraid. He felt she was handling it remarkably well, but could tell the strain it was placing on her.

  "Yes, I'm fine."

  He let out a breath and fell back on the bed. "I know it can’t be time to get up.”

  “Oh yes it can.” Trina climbed on top of him to pluck the phone from the nightstand and turn off the alarm.

  Brody moved the pillow covering his face. “It’s still dark.”

  “Yes and no. The moonlight coming in the window is really pretty.”

  "You sure you want—"

  Her hands landed on his chest. "I'll tell you a secret. I've got this thing in my neck – a thing that someone has a detonator for, and any moment they could decide to press the button. I'm scared and I don't want to die, but I can't just curl up in a ball and cry, so if these are my last moments, I want them all to matter and nothing matters more than being with you."

  He smiled and ran his hands up the sides of her body to cup her breasts. “You’re gorgeous in moonlight.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere.” She leaned down to kiss him. “I can’t get enough of you.”

  Those words and the feel of her body pressing down on him was like a drug, one he was pretty sure he was already addicted to. She ended the kiss and slid lower, kissing his chin, his neck, his chest and working her way lower.

  “Red, ahh.” She might not have a world of experience but damn if she didn’t catch onto the art of lovemaking fast. Her hands and mouth sent him rocketing into a realm of pleasure he didn’t want to leave.

  But he didn’t want to cut thing short either. He pulled her up, capturing her lips with his as he rolled her over beneath him. “My turn.”

  Brody had seen and heard a lot of sexy things in his life, but the small, breathy moans and the way she writhed against his mouth and hands were the absolute biggest turn-ons he’d ever experienced in his life.

  Life narrowed down to just them, in this moment. He was shocked when he realized the light in the room was brightening. A new day was dawning just as they reached the climax of their lovemaking.

  He might have lasted longer had she not quaked against him and cried his name. That unhinged him, and he let himself fall into that well of pleasure. When at last reality returned, he lay on his back and pulled her to his side.

  Brody was a breath away from falling asleep when Trina sat straight up. “Do you smell that?”

  He hadn’t. Until now. The smell of burning wood and rubber filtered into the room. Brody got up and stepped into the hallway. One look had him turning back into the bedroom. “Get dressed,” he said as he closed the door.

  Trina didn’t ask questions, she just followed his orders and within seconds they were dressed. Brody crammed his phone into the thigh pocket of his fatigues, opened the bedroom window and knocked the screen out.

  “You first.” He helped Trina up and through the window then climbed out himself, took her hand and ran to the front where his car was parked in the driveway.

  “Oh, God.” Trina put her hand to her mouth as she looked at the house. Brody pulled her to the truck and opened the door.

  “Get in.”

  He climbed in after her, dialing as he did. Within seconds he’d reported the fire, backed the car to the end of the driveway and taken her hand.

  “Oh, Brody, your house.” Trina had tears streaming down her face.

  “It’s just a building, babe. It can be rebuilt.”

  “It’s more than just a building. It’s our first home.”

  Until she said it, he hadn’t realized, but she was right. “Home is the people who live in a place, Red and that’s what matters. We’re safe and we can build a home that’s better.”

  “Do you always see the sunny side of life?”

  He looked at her, surprised to find her smiling. “I try.”

  “Good.”

  He hugged her to him and together they watched the place burn as they waited for the firetrucks.

  Hours passed before the fire was out. Brody spoke with the Fire Marshall who said it appeared the cause was old wiring that should have been replaced. Brody thanked the man then placed a call to Deacon.

  “Morning, Sir. I need to ask for the day off. We had a fire here--yes sir, she’s fine. Yes, sir, I am. No, sir. Yes, I will. Thank you, sir.”

  He pocketed his phone. “Your father wants you to know that you’re welcome to stay with him and Mica.”

  “That’s kind.”

  “You don’t sound especially thrilled.”

  “I haven’t spent an entire day around my father in over thirty years. I’m not sure I’m ready to move in with him.”

  “I hear ya.”

  “What about you? Where will you stay?”

  “Where do you want me to stay?”

  “With me.”r />
  “Then that’s where I’ll be.”

  “We could camp,” she suggested, and he laughed. From the looks of things, they wouldn’t be staying in the house any time soon.

  He and Trina waited for everyone to leave then started sifting through things to see what could be salvaged. Two hours later they were dirty, tired and sitting in the front yard looking at the husk of the house.

  A truck pulled up and Brody looked around. “Hey, Grady. What’re you doing here?”

  “Came to see how I can help.”

  “Afraid it’s gonna take more than a friendly hand to get her back in shape.”

  Grady walked up as Brody pulled Trina to her feet. “Red, this is Grady Judd. Legendary SEAL team leader and co-owner of Sanctuary. Grady, this is Katrina Rose Johns.”

  “Trina and It’s an honor, sir.” Trina wiped her hand on her pants, looked at it and grimaced. “I’d offer my hand in thanks but it’s nasty so please forgive me. Thank you for your service, sir. I’m in your debt.”

  “Brody was right. You really are something. And I agree with you, Brody. It’s going to take some work to get this place to right again. Luckily, I have an empty cabin at Sanctuary in the ranch area. If you’re interested.”

  Brody looked at Trina who was bobbing with excitement. “Oh yes, please and thank you!” She threw her arms around Grady and hugged him. “Thank you so much and—oh damn, sorry.”

  Grady laughed. “No problem and I’m happy to help.”

  “Do you have animals? Like cows and horses?”

  “We do. And the farm has pigs and chickens as well, and there’s an animal rehab center.”

  “Wow.” She beamed at Brody before turning her attention back to Grady. “Do you think I could help with the animals? I don’t really have experience, but I’d work really hard.”

  “Yeah, I think we can find you something to do.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Judd.”

  “Call me Grady.”

  “Thank you. For everything.”

  “You’re family and you know what they say about SEALs”

  “You take care of your own.” she replied. “Still, thank you.”

  “My pleasure. Stop by the office on the way in and I’ll give you the key.”