still hard for the old man to reconcile Lieutenant McCoy was the cute baby he’d rocked. She’d grown from a beautiful, smiling little girl to a competent, strong, beautiful woman. An officer in the U.S. Army. She was one of the best soldiers he’d ever commanded, save Brady Hewitt. No one, not even Jasper, Lenox, Clark, or Levi, could compare to Hewitt’s superior skills. Battlefield tactics came naturally, his rifle an extension of him, his focus laser-sharp.
It had been one of the best days of Wick’s life when Hewitt told him he wasn’t re-enlisting. There comes a time in a man’s life when he needs to stop running and start healing, and Wick knew exactly who could help the man heal.
There was no better family than the one his former teammates had created. They loved ferociously, they were rabid about loyalty and love. If anyone could help Hewitt face what that motherfucker of a father did, they could.
And when Liberty had told him Hewitt had finally stepped up and admitted he was in love with Hadley Walker, that was the second-best day of his life. Even better than the day he had the honor of witnessing Liberty McCoy realize her dream and become a Ranger. Even better than the day she’d become a Special Forces soldier. Better in the sense that Hewitt might’ve thought he was claiming Hadley, but one does not claim a Walker. They claim you. And when they did, that is forever.
So, finally, Hewitt would heal and move on.
“I’ll be on my way to the hotel soon,” Wick answered Liberty. “But there’s been a change. You sit tight. No doubt Drake will be home in the next fifteen minutes.”
“What?” she snapped.
Pure McCoy. Just like her father, she didn’t like last-minute changes.
“They know you know more than you’ve let on. Drake’s not feeling too happy about that. He’ll be leaving here and coming straight to you.”
“That’s impossible. I was careful and fed them just enough for them to think I was helping but walking the line of OSPEC.”
“Know that, girl. I told them. Now, you’re out. You sit your behind at home with your fiancé and let me finish this.”
“I cannot believe you,” she hissed. “You still need backup. I’m meeting you there.”
“No need. Hewitt will have men on me.”
“You can’t know that unless you told them everything.”
“Trust me. I know Hewitt.”
“General—”
“Trust me, girl. You’ve done your part. Now you let me do this.”
“If he doesn’t—”
“Then I’m dead and you’ll have everything you need to take down Davidson and his company. Stay home and that’s an order.”
“Not an official one, Stewart,” Liberty balked.
“You’re right. But it’s a request from an uncle to his beloved niece so I’m begging you, sweetheart, stay home, stay safe. And let me finish this. You’ve done good. You’ve set everything in motion. Thank you for that. I gotta hit the road so Logan and Matt can follow me and do that thinking I don’t know they’re doing it.”
“Fine. But only because I trust Logan and Matt. But if you get to the motel and they didn’t tail you, call me and I’ll come back you up.”
“Sure,” he lied.
“I know you’re lying,” she sighed. “Love you, Uncle Stewart. Please be safe.”
“I haven’t spent over half my life in the Army to be taken out in a dirty motel room by a piece of shit with zero combat training. I’ll be fine.”
He hoped that wasn’t a lie.
“Call me when it’s over.”
“Will do.”
Wick disconnected and started his rental. Then he drove to a shitty motel with Logan and Matt trailing him four car lengths back. They were good, he wouldn’t have noticed them if he hadn’t been the one to train Hewitt.
Now all that was left was to wait.
28
I was in the lobby checking my phone to see whose house I was heading to when I heard Levi call my name.
“Need a minute,” he told me when I turned my attention his way.
“Only have a few of those. Hadley’s waiting on me.”
“Then we’ll make this quick.”
Without waiting for my answer, Levi headed down the hall that led to his office. I followed wondering when the semi would leave semi-retirement and the men would actually retire. That was supposed to happen months ago.
I stopped in front of Levi’s empty office, heard voices coming from the one next door, and continued down the hall. My chest started to get tight.
I entered Jasper’s office, took in the space, and bit back a grin. Not a single item had been