by Ronie Kendig
Hawk had flown out last night with Takkar to debrief and now hobbled with his leg in a cast to hold the helo’s door against the slapping wind. He leaned heavily on the cane. Resplendent in a simple white dress, Zahrah alighted from the chopper with her cousin Fekiria and, of course, her father—the infamous General Z-Day Zarrick.
They disappeared into the sun again, and Dean waited on the lower deck with his brothers. Men he’d fought and suffered with. He shifted on his feet as General Zarrick walked Zahrah toward him at the makeshift wedding altar.
As captain of the ship and since they were more than two miles offshore, Eamon officiated the wedding.
Their words were simple, their vows profound and deep. He prayed the others who had not taken the plunge of committing to the women who’d supported and loved them would follow suit.
Sealed with a kiss, Dean took Zahrah as his wife with all the promises to protect and love her. They celebrated with a feast and more relaxation.
“Hold up.” Hawk propped on a cane. “I’m not letting the captain show me up.”
Laughter trickled around the boat.
“Fekiria, FlyGirl,” Hawk said as he tugged something from his pocket. “Will you marry me?”
“Hold up!” Schmidt laughed. “That’s an O ring!”
“Shut up!” Hawk waved his cane at the SEAL. “It’s all I have. I’ve been trapped on this fish tank with smelly squids.” He turned and held out his hands. “Well? Will you have me?”
Fekiria laughed. “You’re not putting a gasket on me. I want a real ring! A big one!”
“Well, crap.” Hawk looked to Titanis. “Got any cash I can borrow?”
They were brothers. Warriors. Friends. Men who fought when others couldn’t. When others wouldn’t. Soldiers braving the face of evil, standing up when others cowered. And while it might seem they’d gotten off easy with no immediate loss of life among their number, Dean knew the toll would leave indelible scars and the men would warrior on. The next mission. The next enemy. The next victory!
“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
—Douglas MacArthur
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-plus years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with four children, a Maltese Menace, and a retired military working dog in Northern Virginia. Author and speaker, Ronie loves engaging readers through her Rapid-Fire Fiction. Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction), Twitter (@roniekendig), and Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/RonieK).
THE QUIET PROFESSIONALS
Other books by Ronie Kendig
DISCARDED HEROES SERIES
Nightshade
Digitalis
Wolfsbane
Firethorn
A BREED APART SERIES
Trinity
Talon
Beowulf
Operation Zulu: Redemption