the closet and dug through my belongings. My special black gear that I wore while on our missions to Mexico was right where I left it.
I felt all around the top of the suit until I found it and pulled back the fabric over my left chest. I dug two fingers in and fingered the tiny business card and tugged it free. The three little letters above his name popped out from the fibers on the card.
I quickly dialed the number and waited for him to answer.
“FBI, Cooper Collins.” His voice was all business.
“This is Recon John Black. We met in Mexico in a diner—”
“That’s right.” He cut me off. “How’s your friend?”
“He’s well, thanks. Look,” I rubbed my head and looked out the window at the Tin House that blended with the trees, “you said if I ever needed some help, I could call you. Well, it turns out I need some help, if the offer still stands.”
“It does.”
“I have a problem with some members of the mafia in Washington.”
There was a long pause, and I heard a door shut.
“The mafia?” He seemed confused. “How did a member of the US Army get tangled with a member of the mafia?” He chuckled like he was more entertained than shocked.
“My girlfriend is a lawyer, and she got stuck with a case she didn’t want for some guy named Henry. Seems his son was found guilty, and now this Henry guy refuses to accept his son’s fate. He’s been roughing her up over it, and the last time things got a little out of control. I was hoping maybe you knew someone at the agency who could put an end to all of this.”
“Mm,” he mumbled, “I think I know someone who could make some calls.”
I filled him in on the details, and to my surprise, he had gotten wind of that case several months ago. I guessed the news of Henry’s son spread quickly and rattled some higher up family members. That was the mob for you; everyone seemed to know everything.
“I would really appreciate that.”
“Give me a few days, and I’ll be in touch.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“Of course.” He paused. “It’s always good to have a soldier of your caliber in my debt.” He chuckled once more.
I felt uneasy with his choice of words, but this needed to end now. “Talk to you soon.”
I tucked his card away and headed for the shower.
By the time I was finished and was headed downstairs, the living room was in full-out party mode.
Mike and Keith were hugging their wives, and all the kids were playing together. Abby and June were gushing over Lexi’s surprise, that she was very much pregnant. I had no clue how far along she was, but she seemed pretty big. Laughter and love filled the room and immediately lifted my mood.
“About time, hey?” Mark handed me a beer and smiled.
I searched the crowd and spotted Sloane with Savi and Mia. She was smiling and telling a story about something. A tightness formed in my chest with the realization that I could have lost her last week without even knowing it. The urge to call Trigger and have him handle it was on my mind, but I’d let the FBI agent give it a go first.
Cole joined my side and called over Mike and Keith. We stood in a horseshoe shape and admired the people and the lives we had made for ourselves. Whoever said it was impossible for an elite team to find love and have children had never met Blackstone.
We defied the odds.
“Welcome home, boys.” Cole held his beer mug up and clinked his glass with Mike and then Keith. “I appreciate the two-year sacrifice it took to build Dusk. You did a hell of a job, but man, I’m glad you’re back!”
“It’s good to be home.” Mike grinned at Keith, who happily agreed.
The plan always was for the guys to return to Shadows once the new house was up and running effectively, with the new team trained. Cole told me he was beyond impressed with how Mike and Keith had shaped the boys at Dusk into a younger version of ourselves.
Truth be told, we needed the help. The cartel were getting stronger, and they outnumbered us by the thousands. North Rock and Eagle Rock felt the same way and stepped up to train whenever they could. Whether it was Chamness over video phone or Waters in person, we trained those men to be the best