by Kariss Lynch
Kaylan slipped her hand in his in the doorway. “Kim and Logan are telling the kids now.” She leaned into his arm. “I can’t imagine what that would feel like.”
He studied her face. “What would you do, Kaylan? If I got shot and lost a limb like Logan, how would you handle that?”
He watched fear flash across her face before resolve settled in. “We won’t play the ‘what-if ’ game, Nick. If it happens, we’ll handle it.”
A sob and scream echoed down the hall, and Nick bolted to Logan’s door. Molly lay curled on Logan’s chest, sobbing. Nick noticed the strain in Logan’s face as he masked the pain from his little girl. Tears filled all their eyes.
Nick couldn’t handle it. He broke through the guys who had gathered behind him and charged back down the hallway, stopping short when it ended with a window. His anger blinded his vision. Nick framed the window with his hands, his knuckles turning white on the wall. He jerked at the gentle contact of a hand on his back.
“Don’t touch me right now, Kayles.”
“Nick . . . ” She reached out again.
“I’m serious, Kaylan.” He stared out the window but could only see his reflection staring back, his eyes blazing and jaw set. He smacked the wall with his hand, his palm stinging as he channeled all of his anger into the motion. And once he started, he couldn’t stop.
“Nick Carmichael.” Kaylan’s voice cut through the red. He gripped the window ledge to still his hands. His eyes stung with tears.
“It should have been me. God, why wasn’t it me?” Kaylan’s face reflected in the window, and he saw fear and concern. She’d never seen him lose it like this before. Normally he maintained control.
“Where’s God’s justice in this? Where’s His mercy? This isn’t fair.” He rested his forehead on the window. “I wish it’d been me.”
A tentative hand came to rest on his shoulder, and he fought to control his anger.
“Babe, please don’t say that again.” Her gentle tone cracked through, and he hung his head. Unfortunately he knew this feeling all too well. He’d felt it when his buddies died in the desert, when his parents died. But it had never stung so bad as it did with Logan.
“Hawk.” The voice echoed down the hallway, and Nick spun his head so hard his neck popped. Logan stood just outside his door, leaning on Kim, his face white but determined. “In here. Now.” The kids filed down the hall as the guys entered Logan’s room.
Kim helped him settle back onto the bed as he winced. A shock-wave of pain shot through Nick at his buddy’s pain. Rage filled him once again toward Janus and those selfish enough for power and money that they would hurt others who stood in their way.
The room fell silent as a tomb, and a sickening feeling filled Nick’s gut. This conversation shouldn’t be necessary.
Logan made eye contact with every one of them. “You all need to cut it out. No pity for me, you got it? I wouldn’t want any of you in this bed or in this situation.” He gripped Kim’s hand. “I need you all to do me a favor.”
“Name it,” Colt spoke up.
“I need you to help Kim and the kids, especially with the baby on the way. Until I figure out how to get a prosthetic so I can get on my feet again, I need to know that we won’t be flying solo.”
“Logan, is that even a question in your mind?” Micah chimed in. “We swore at that hospital in Germany that no matter what happens, you and your family will not go through this alone.” He shook his head. “You don’t even need to ask that.”
Nick glanced around at the guys in the room—jaws set, arms crossed, determination and loyalty written in every facial expression, every movement. The Carpenters wouldn’t be alone at all. He imagined they would have to ask the team to back off at some point.
“We’re here, Logan, every step of this,” Nick reassured. The guys moved to file out of the room but halted at Kim’s voice.
“One more thing.” Kim let go of Logan’s hand and approached them, making eye contact with every Frogman. She squared her shoulders despite the tears, and Nick knew why Logan had trusted this woman to walk by his side in the SEALs. She was a SEAL in her own right.
“I don’t know what happened out there, but I know you are chasing someone big.” Anger filled her voice. “I don’t care what you have to do. Just finish it. Get ’em.”
Nick allowed a grin to slip through the rage he held at bay. “Count on it.”
They would catch Janus. It was only a matter of time.
Assuming the role of “the steady one” in the relationship felt unfamiliar to Kaylan, but over the weekend she and Nick had subtly switched roles. As she processed their relationship and a future with him, she realized there would be times when she would need to be strong for him. Now seemed to be one of those times. Even the threat from a stranger paled in comparison to her concern for Nick.
To keep her mind off her mysterious stalker and Logan’s condition, she’d channeled all her energy into caring for the kids and Nick and Micah, just as she had found a project to keep her sane in the weeks following the earthquake. Now Nick had grudgingly consented to let her fulfill her promise to Cathryn to clean and unpack her house.
No sooner did she ring the doorbell than Cathryn pulled the door open. Kaylan entered the house, her eyes catching a glimpse of a car parked down the street, the same one that had parked there when she had gone to stay with Nick and Micah. The FBI. At least Nick could rest easy. She couldn’t be alone even if she wanted to be.
“Kaylan, thank you for coming over. I hope you are hungry. I made dinner.”
“Thanks, that sounds great.” Kaylan stepped through the doorway into a homey and elegant world. Original floral paintings hung from the walls. Soft, pastel pillows graced an ivory suede couch. White walls and sheer curtains created a bright atmosphere that drew Kaylan in.
She followed Cathryn through to the kitchen. Two plates filled with salad sat on the table. Cathryn gestured to a seat, and Kaylan sank into a cushioned chair. “I know you are from the South, so I made some tea. Would you like some?”
“That sounds perfect, thank you.” In truth, Kaylan rarely loved anyone else’s tea as much as her gran’s. No one else made it quite right. She took a sip and forced herself to swallow. Not enough sugar. Not enough lemon. But it was the thought that counted. She picked up her fork.
“I hope you like salad.”
“This looks delicious. My mom makes salad all the time back home, but every time I buy produce for one it goes bad. Nick usually wants something more substantial than salad, and I gave up trying to bribe Micah to eat it ages ago.”
“Micah . . . ”
“Micah’s one of my older brothers.”
“Two brothers. You must have been lonely.”
“Three actually. David, Micah, and a younger brother, Seth. And I was anything but lonely. I loved having brothers, and my best friend was around all the time.”
“And where is she now?”
Kaylan set her fork down and took a sip of her tea, immediately regretting the decision. She worked to temper the sinking feeling in her chest at the thought of Sarah Beth. “She’s not around anymore. Do you have any kids?” Kaylan glanced ar
ound, looking for any family photos.
Cathryn’s laugh sounded more like a bark. “I never married. My job is my baby.”
“Any other family?”
Cathryn’s mouth flattened. “No. My parents have been gone for quite some time.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I meet interesting people all the time. And I like being on my own. It is nice to have neighbors, though.”
They ate the rest of their meal making small talk. Afterward Kaylan placed her napkin on the table and stood, grabbing both of their plates and taking them to the sink. “Well, what would you like me to do?”
Cathryn stood. “Leave those in the sink and follow me. I will show you.”
Kaylan slipped the plates in the sink and turned to follow, almost hitting her head on an open cabinet above the sink. She reached to push it closed and stopped. Lines of pills and vitamin bottles lined the shelf with several natural remedies packed in the tight space. Cathryn was either a health nut, fighting off a really bad cold, or sick. Either way, Kaylan didn’t feel like she could ask, not yet anyway.
Kaylan wound her way back to the one spare bedroom. The house was small, like most on the block, small but high in price. Kaylan hated that about California. A double bed stood in one corner and a desk rested against another wall. Four boxes sat in the center of the floor waiting to be unpacked.
“I need to unpack these and a few boxes in the kitchen. I will ask that you avoid reading through any files you come across. Some of my clients prefer absolute privacy. Just stack any paperwork in the drawers, and I will go through it.”
“No problem.” Kaylan glanced at her watch, anxious to get back to the guys. “I’ll unpack these tonight and just organize, and come back another time to finish it up.”
Cathryn smiled. “Thank you. That will help. Maybe come by and clean once a week? I will give you a key in case I am not at home.”
“I can manage that. Thank you for helping me out with this job.”
“It isn’t much, but I appreciate a clean house, so this works for both of us. Let me know if you have questions.” She turned and left the room, leaving Kaylan to dive in.
Kaylan unpacked the boxes, arranging office supplies, paper work, and décor in piles. She quickly made the bed with sheets and a quilt she found. The quilt appeared to be old, in fact the only thing in the house not in pristine condition. Kaylan guessed it was probably a family heirloom.
Within an hour she was waving good-bye to Cathryn. She paused at her car and glanced at Jenna’s home a few doors down. She might as well suggest her help cleaning while she was out of town too.
Jenna opened the door in running clothes, her phone and ear buds in her hand. “Kaylan, what a surprise. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yes. Sorry to bother you. Actually . . . ” she turned and looked back the way she had come. “I’m helping Cathryn unpack some of her stuff and clean about once a week and wondered if you could use the same since you are out of town so much.”
“How thoughtful. Actually I could use a hand. Maybe Saturday or Sunday afternoons. It wouldn’t take you long. My housekeeper just got married and moved out of town. You have perfect timing.”
“Great!”
“Come in and I’ll get you a key.”
Kaylan walked into the living room and noticed a series of tribal masks hanging on the wall. Jenna waved her hand around. “My brother is a photographer and travels all over the world. He likes to spoil me with interesting finds. Makes it feel exotic in here, don’t you agree?”
“I love it,” Kaylan replied, approaching the wall and studying the pictures hanging with the masks. “If you both travel, do you see one another often?”
“Not as much as I would like. You have brothers, correct?” she called from the kitchen.
“Yes, three. I’m actually thinking about going home to see two of them this weekend.”
Jenna reentered the room, carrying a key. “Oh, how lovely. Where do they live?”
“Alabama. That’s where my family’s from.”
“Does your boyfriend go with you when you go home? Nick, isn’t it?”
Kaylan took the key from Jenna. “When he can. He works with one of my brothers. My family kind of adopted him a few years back.”
“How wonderful. That must make it easier on your relationship.”
Kaylan smiled. “It does.” She took another look around, noting the clean and modern look mixed in with the exotic. “Do you want to show me around or just let me figure it out when I come?”
Jenna’s black pony tail swished as she talked. “Just make yourself at home when you come. Cleaning supplies are under the sink in the bathrooms. Vacuum and mops in the hall closet. I’ll be gone the next two weekends, so just do what works best for you. You are a lifesaver. I’m so glad you thought of it.”
“No, thank you. Every little bit helps since my internship takes most of my time.” Kaylan opened the front door and stepped onto the porch.
“I’ll write you a check and leave it on the bar.”
Kaylan smiled and waved. “Enjoy the rest of your workout,” she said as Jenna closed the door. Kaylan jogged to her car, thankful that a few things were panning out, and headed to the guy’s small house in Imperial Beach. Anticipation built as she drove.
They all needed a break, a way to clear their heads, unwind, and laugh. She had only one solution. It was time to go home.
She’d looked up flights on her lunch break at work. They could hop a plane to Alabama on Thursday after work and spend a long weekend. Now to convince the guys. Since they wouldn’t let her return to her house yet, they were stuck with her presence at their place.
She entered the house and found both guys in the living room watching Sports Center and Monday night football. Settling into an armchair, she enjoyed the sound of their jeering and laughter until halftime.
“I have a suggestion.” She muted the TV. “I think we should all go back to Alabama this weekend. What if we flew in Thursday night, spend time with the family, get out on the lake, and go to Seth’s game on Saturday? They’re playing the Florida Gators.” Kaylan couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face at the thought of home and Bama football. “Please?”
“Sis, I’m not sure if we can get the time off.”
“You won’t know until you ask, Micah. Please, I think it would be good for both of you. Logan’s surgery is scheduled for Monday morning. We’ll be back in time. Mom said she already has tickets for the game. Some of their friends who were going canceled. Please?” She batted her eyelashes, drawing a laugh from the guys.
“I’ll ask, babe.” Nick stood and reached for his phone.
“Whipped.” Micah coughed and Nick dropped his arm around Micah’s neck in a headlock.
“She’s right, Bulldog. It will be good for us both to clear our heads and have some fun out of town this weekend.”
Kaylan silently cheered. She’d make sure they both relaxed and enjoyed the weekend. She remembered their effort to make her smile after Haiti. They hadn’t lost a brother to death, but they had lost a teammate they trusted in combat. She w
ould help them unwind so they would be better prepared for the next steps in their assignment.
Fear and anger battled for dominance in her heart as she thought of this enemy the team chased. Her new home had been violated, her new family wounded, and the man she cared for felt trapped. She felt the bond between her and the SEAL family strengthen as her heart fused with their cause.
Nick reentered the room from making phone calls. “Looks like we are good to take Friday off. But we both fly out for training on Tuesday, so we need to make sure we get back Sunday night to give us a day to get ready.”
She jumped from the chair and kissed him. “I’ll purchase the tickets.” She practically skipped to her room. Sweet home, Alabama called her name, and she was responding to its inevitable tug.
Janus smiled. She’d rattled them enough to move Kaylan. More surprises would follow. Perhaps if she rattled Nick enough, he would quit chasing her. She took a long drag on her cigarette. Probably not. She would have to strike out at everything he loved. Even then, that might not be enough. If the United States government had her in its sights, she might need to go into hiding.
From her vantage point Janus had watched Nick with Kaylan. Every time he left the house, he scanned the neighborhood casually, always alert for trouble or subtle nuances. Janus knew that look. Determined. Protective. Concealed rage that he kept tame in Kaylan’s presence. He might be a formidable opponent after all. She knew the character of SEALs all too well. They were relentless and loyal to their own. They believed in what they fought for—their country, their families, and their brotherhood—whether or not they agreed with political decisions or direction.