Going back into the kitchen, he took out two beers, opened them, and handled one to her. “Here.”
She shook her head. She didn’t want anything clouding her brain, at least until Dan was home and the whole Mark issue was settled. Her phone buzzed again. She gazed at it, unwilling to answer it herself…knowing whose buzzer pattern that was.
“Do you want me to get that?” asked Miller, who was watching the video game that Jimmy and Hayes were playing. “No sweat off my back.”
“No. Let it ring.” She walked over to the couch. “If it’s Dan, the phone dances a different rhythm and plays ‘Does Your Mother Know’ by ABBA. We love that song. It makes us laugh.”
“Aw, man, I can’t wait to tease him about that.” said Hayes, who blew up a zombie. “Does he do the Johnny English dance to it? Man, just thinking about it makes me split a gut.”
“Uh, I don’t think we’ve seen that movie, but we’ll check it out.” Aria felt distracted, and though the guys meant well, she was on sensory overload. She checked the clock. “Jimmy, five more minutes. You played for eight hours today, two of which were on that gaming console with Judy and Duckie’s boys, and it’s almost time to get ready for bed.”
“Twenty more minutes. Please, Aria, I can play less tomorrow.” Jimmy’s voice whined higher, but she didn’t care. She’d give anything to keep seeing that smile on his face and the peacefulness in his eyes. Besides, she could be a soft touch…upon occasion.
“Five. That’s final.”
“Yes!” squealed Jimmy as he blasted a door and shot into the horde of ghouls. “Got ’em. Got ’em. Got them all! I am the conqueror!”
“Pup pile,” said Hayes as he dropped the controller and turned to Jimmy and started tickling him. Harvey joined in until tears were running down Jimmy’s face and he had squirmed away.
“I laughed so hard, I’m going to pee,” he shouted as he ran to the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. The fan snapped on, so Aria knew she could talk freely for a minute or two.
She turned to Dan’s friends. “It’s been great having you here. But I need some space. I’m fine. We’re fine. We can handle it tonight…on our own.”
Harvey finished his beer and placed the bottle on the table. “We can stay. The couch will do fine. We don’t mind spending another night.”
“Really, it’s sweet of you, but I need breathing room. You’ve given up a lot of your free time, all of it probably, and nothing has happened. Maybe Dan overreacted. Nothing’s going to happen. We’ll be okay without babysitters. Promise you won’t stick around.” Aria was adamant. “Promise me.”
The men looked at each other as if they were exchanging silent messages. Finally Miller said, “We get it. You have our numbers. But if you change your mind, day or night, we’re around. And, uh, don’t be surprised if we stop by unannounced.”
“Thanks.” She hugged them each briefly. “You promised you wouldn’t hang around, so don’t. I take that kind of agreement seriously.”
“Understood,” said Miller.
“I’m ready for round two,” announced Jimmy, returning from the bathroom and displaying his freshly brushed pearly white teeth.
“They look clean, but you were hardly in there for a minute. But if you’re ready for bed…”
“I don’t want to go to bed now.” Jimmy frowned at her.
“Listen to your sister, man. Talking back is very uncool,” Miller pointed out.
“Fine. Then I’m ready,” said Jimmy petulantly. “But can I talk to them privately before they go?”
“Yes,” said Aria, going into the kitchen and loading the dishes into the dishwasher. She wiped the counters, keeping one eye on the men as they talked to her brother. Seeing Hayes enter her brother’s bedroom, she gathered the empty beer bottles into her arms and could see that Hayes tucked him in and said something.
Then the men waved at her and left. They’d been super, but she was seriously craving quiet.
Throwing the bolt into place, she had only one more thing to do. Call Dan’s sister.
Picking up the phone, she hit Ignore to the long line of texts without even looking at the ones from Mark and accessed her address book, tapping the box with Caty’s number in it.
She picked up on the first ring. “Hello.”
“Hi, Caty. It’s Aria. Your…sister-in-law.” That sounded weird, even to Aria. In theory, if she wanted to embrace it, she had a sister to do things with. “I just called to thank you for being a part of the wedding.”
“My pleasure.” Her sister-in-law’s answer was definitely on the short-and-sweet side.
“What’s new with you?”
There was a long pause.
“Well, if you really want to know…”
“I do,” said Aria, slipping into her patient voice. Maybe she shouldn’t have called.
“I just finished learning to shoot a shotgun. Did Dan ever tell you about our grandfather’s collection? Well, my hubby and I went to Louisiana and visited the old house. The caretaker, Doc Franks, took us on an old-fashioned hunt, and I shot a feral pig. He took it back to the house and showed us how to skin it, slice it, and cook it. Isn’t that amazing?” Caty’s excitement was evident. “Best meal I ever ate. Do you like to hunt? Being married to Dan…oh, you must! We’ll need to plan a trip…maybe at Christmas, if Dan is free. He loves that old house. What do you think?”
Aria swallowed the acrid bile that had risen in her throat and went to the kitchen. She took out a cold bottle of water and rinsed her mouth. She’d been able to eat game and had for most of her young life, but the one bird she shot had been impossible to palate. “Sounds interesting. I’d enjoy going on a trip with you. We’d have to bring my brother. My uncle passed away, and he’s my responsibility now. He’s a terrific kid!”
“Sorry to hear that. If you need me for any anything, please let me know. You and Jimmy are welcome at our home anytime.” Caty’s voice was sincere—the strident quality was gone—and the sentiment was so genuine, it made Aria feel good about being totally honest.
“What?” Caty called out. When she got back on the line, she said, “Aria, that’s my husband. I have to go. Bye-bye.”
“Thanks, Caty. Good night.” Aria rang off. She laid her phone on the counter and propped her head up with her elbows. It had been a long few days. Getting a good night’s rest would make a tremendous difference. Even when Dan’s SEAL buddies were here, she couldn’t completely let go for very long because she always remembered why they were here. It could be the extra energy in the house buzzing about, too, or her upbringing…her need to be polite and entertain guests. Life was so different when it was just Dan, Jimmy, and her. She wondered how long it would be until Dan was home again. If she didn’t get some real “sleep through the night” rest very soon, she was going to lose her mind.
“Hello, Aria.” Two wet shoes dropped onto the floor. “So convenient that you’re close to the bay. I just rowed right over from the San Diego side.”
Aria’s head snapped up. Standing in the door was Mark. Her breath froze in her lungs.
“No!” she said, racing around the counter, out of the kitchen, and heading for the front door. No, no, no! Why did I send the SEALs home? She moved, but her body was working in slow motion as he caught her around the waist and yanked her down on the floor, bringing his weight down on top of her.
“You’re not going anywhere, Aria, my angel.” He petted her hair with his long fingers, and when his nails scraped her scalp, she couldn’t stop the shivers from racing up and down her spine.
Oh, God, help me, please! She opened her mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand around it, and when she struggled, he cut off her air. When she relaxed, he let her breathe through his fingers.
“All I’m asking…is that you to listen to my argument. Don’t convict me until you have a chance to hear my side.” He moved his fingers, stroking her cheek.
Revulsion swept her. She didn’t want him anywhere near her or her brother. �
��Did you ask Jimmy to spy on me and threaten him to stay silent?”
“Yes.” His grin was evil, and so delighted with himself.
Why didn’t I see this side of him…before?
“Bastard! Go to hell, Mark!” She spat.
His hands gripped her shoulders and slammed her down hard. “Don’t say that to me.”
Her head hit into the floor. Pain split her skull as the world slowly faded to nothing…but darkness.
Chapter 19
Touching down on the NAS tarmac would be a relief. Dan looked forward to heading home.
With their verbal reports given, the official situation report was put off until they were home. So Hammer, Dirks, JC, and Danny headed for chow. Piling their plates with food, they ate until their bellies couldn’t hold anymore.
Arriving back at the barracks, their lovely Quonset hut, which had probably been there since the war, the XO told JC word had come down that his wife had gone into labor. “Get on the next hop out of here.”
JC looked so overwhelmed, Dan said, “Ox, I’m going to catch it with him. Can our gear ride out with the Team?”
“Like the fucking Bobbsey Twins,” said the XO. “Fine, get out of here.”
Dan escorted JC away before the XO changed his mind. “Nice job looking pathetic back there.”
“Who’s acting? I want to puke!” said JC as he pointed to a C-130 being loaded with gear. “Do you think they’re heading home?”
They jogged to the edge of the tarmac and got the loadmaster’s attention. Dan asked, “Is that plane heading to San Diego? Are there any empty seats?”
“Going to be mostly equipment, but the pilot might squeeze you in. His name is Lyons. Don’t tell him I sent you.” He nodded in the direction of a taller, thinner man who was walking around the plane, inspecting it. They thanked him and headed over.
“What do you want?” The pilot was studying the tires. His voice was terse.
“Could you give a couple of frogs a hop?”
“Maybe.” He ran his fingers along the underbelly of the plane. “No seats. Equipment only! With a stopover in Oahu.” He looked them up and down. “It’s a weight thing.”
“I just lost five pounds,” said JC, rubbing his stomach. “Listen, it’s an emergency. My wife’s having a baby.”
The pilot rolled his eyes. “Seriously! Labor—like I haven’t heard that one before.”
JC withdrew a picture from his pocket and showed it to the pilot. “There’s even a date stamp. C’mon, see…it’s twins. Help me out here. Please…”
The pilot rolled his eyes. “For the record, I didn’t see a thing. And if you piss all over the back of my plane, I’ll have your heads.”
“Understood,” said Dan.
They shook the pilot’s hand and ran into the terminal for a couple bottles of water and provisions. Then they double-timed it back onto the tarmac, waiting for the right opportunity. When it came—when no one was watching—they walked calmly to the plane, up the ramp, and into the back of a truck, closing the flap behind them.
“I swear I’m lying on stinky cheese,” complained JC.
“Fine, I’ll take the odorous duffel and you can lie on the lumpy one. This guy had to have bricks in here.”
“Ah, this sucks! It’s like Army-green hell,” said JC, who made Dan get up and rearrange the duffels. They were still stuck with a ton of luggage and a bunch of extra machine parts, plus equipment and boxes poking them in the wrong places, but Dan didn’t give a shit. He was almost home.
Tuning out JC’s stream of constant complaining, Dan put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. To him this was an excellent heavenly respite. It beat trying to get shut-eye in a lake. But the piece of him that had been in pain over the death of Sandra found closure…and wherever her spirit was, he hoped she knew that he had done his best.
The plane’s engines fired up. The cabin shook and the vibrations worked through his tired body like a welcome massage. The sound, the drone, was familiar…lulling even. His mind turned off as his body lifted away. Dan didn’t feel the plane take off. He’d already fallen asleep, exhausted and ready to be home…to wrap his arms around his beautiful, feisty, and often-ornery wife.
***
Dan had a bounce in his step. He could hardly wait to surprise her—to show up and see that expression of pure happiness on her face. After he put JC in a cab pointed in the direction of the hospital, he caught a bus heading down Orange Avenue.
Getting off in front of his neighborhood, he ran into his buddies from SEAL Team FIVE. “Hey, Miller, what’s up?”
“Your wife kicked us out. We just got something to eat and were on our way back to your house. We thought we’d hide in the bushes and keep vigil.” Miller took a long draw on his drink.
“We wouldn’t have left in the first place, but I’m pretty sure she would have kicked our asses if we didn’t.” Hayes put up both hands.
Dan shook hands with Miller. “Thanks for the help. I’ve got it from here.”
“Roger that,” Miller acknowledged as he sat down on a bench.
Dan grinned and left the two men to their banter. He took off for home, jogging through the streets and feeling good. He spied his house. Going past it, he circled around to the back and wondered if this plan would work. Would the patio door be open? He was a little concerned it might not be. He’d cautioned Aria on locking it up each night, and he wasn’t sure she would unlock it at all during the day.
Spying the door open wide, he hurdled the fence and walked across the yard.
The hairs at the back of his neck rose, signaling trouble. Dan moved into the shadows, the ones cast by the neighbor’s fence, and stretched his senses. Someone male was talking.
Dan inched closer. The words became audible, and his blood turned to ice in his veins.
“You bitch! You don’t know how great you had it!”
He knew that voice… Mark.
Resisting the urge to charge in to the rescue, he pulled out his phone and texted the police his address and that an assailant—and former friend of the family—by the name of Mark Anders had prisoners and a weapon inside. Making sure it was set to silent, he pocketed it and hugged the shadows as he drew closer to identify where everyone was.
He looked through the back window. Aria was in a chair near the television and tied up, while Jimmy was huddled on the floor, grasping his stomach, in front of his bedroom. The best place to lure this psycho was…lined up with the front door. His mind played over the possibilities and strategies.
Shit! Why, the hell didn’t he have his gun?
“Don’t you see, Aria Angel, we can travel the world?”
“Mark, that’s not going to happen.” Aria lifted her chin a few centimeters higher.
Dan could tell Aria was trying to keep calm, but he could hear the tremor in her voice.
Hang in there, baby.
“You love me!” Mark shouted. “And we’re meant to be together!” Dan heard the slap as Mark backhanded her.
Son of a bitch! Dan’s temper flared and he had to tamp it down. High emotion is the fastest way to fuck a fight, his buddy Gich used to say. Quite frankly, Dan agreed.
Dan peered through the window to assess the situation. He caught the flash of a knife in Mark’s hand. Jimmy was on the floor, bleeding. Aria had recovered from the blow and was pulling at her bonds. “Mark, please, let me help him,” she said. “I’ll do anything you want.”
“Really?” Mark drew out the word into three syllables and stalked closer to Aria. The tip of his knife slipped across the collar of her blouse.
It was enough of a distraction for Dan to silently slip inside the house. He had Mark disarmed and his own knife at the man’s throat before Aria could blink. In that moment, Dan knew he could do it…take Mark’s life without a single hesitation. But, he wouldn’t go to jail for this scum, so he slid his own knife away and turned the man to face him.
“This is my family. Not yours. No one fucking hurts them.
” Dan punched Mark in the ribs feeling the bones give way with each hit. Then he moved to the man’s kidneys and back, aiming for maximum damage.
A loudspeaker sounded from outside. “This is the police. Come out with your hands up and no one gets hurt.”
“You’re done,” said Dan, his fingers flexing. The satisfaction was sweet, but too short-lived. He ached to hurt this man so much more. No one fucks with a SEAL or his family. “Never come back, or it will be your last act.”
“Nooooooo!” shouted Mark as he reached into his waistband.
“We’re coming in!” shouted the police. “Throw down your weapons!”
Needing to add a little punctuation to the moment, Dan egged Mark on. “Come and get me, loser boy.”
Mark charged him.
Dan stopped him, putting a lock on Mark’s arm and sending the gun skittering across the floor. He kicked Mark in the gut, listening to the air explode out of his mouth.
Mark reached around and pulled the knife from Dan’s waistband, waving it blindly in Dan’s direction.
The front door burst open.
Four officers with guns drawn came barreling through and aimed their guns at the two men.
“This man has attacked me and my family,” Dan said.
Mark panted, trying to catch him breath, but his gaze was full of meaning.
The cops grabbed the knife and pulled Mark out of Dan’s grasp. In no time, the police had Mark handcuffed and were leading him to the squad car. The monologue finally coming from his mouth was a litany of crazy speak.
In truth Dan seriously wanted a different kind of closure, but he was practicing restraint. Wasn’t his XO always saying, it’s better to let life take care of things? So the cops were dealing with the justice end, though if Mark ever came back, Dan knew he could easily make this man and his body disappear for good.
Dan turned away from the drama and wasted no time getting to his family. He untied Aria and they both went to Jimmy. Placing a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, he waited for Aria to speak first.
“Are you okay?” Aria asked, frantically checking the cut on her brother’s arm.
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