Jeff sat at the table in the back of the familiar bar and sipped his beer, surrounded by his friends.
Chris Cassidy glared at his younger brother, Brody. “How did you get in on the fun, and we missed out? We were supposed to be Jeff’s back up.”
“Just lucky I guess.” He smiled and downed half his beer. “I guess the president and the Department of Homeland Security thought we could better handle a few lil’ ol’ terrorists while you GAPS guys watched his daughters eat blue crabs.”
“A few? How about ninety-eight at last count?” Jul threw at them.
“Thanks, Thom, for taking care of Husam. I really didn’t want to shoot the man in the back.” Stacie smiled. “I owe you one.”
“Looked to me like you had everything under control.” Thom smiled back. “Pretty fancy shooting…for a girl.”
“Hey, watch what you say to my woman.” Jeff pulled Stacie closer and kissed her temple.
Brody chuckled. “Yeah, every man on the team knows she’s yours. We were herding traitors and terrorists, and you two are sucking face.”
“I don’t care who knows that I love this man.” Stacie turned her head and laid a kiss on Jeff that he felt to his toes. Talk about a promise of what’s to come. Him for sure, and he’d see to it she came at least twice before he did.
“So, Nathan, how long are you out of commission?” Zane asked. “Are you going back into the teams, or are they going to medically retire you?”
Nathan gave Jul a one-armed hug. The sling held his other arm tightly to his chest. “The Navy will move us to the west coast next week. They’re afraid staying here places us both in too much danger. I’ll do some more rehab there then join Naval Special Warfare Group One.”
“I can’t wait to wear shorts and be the typical American woman again,” Jul confessed.
“Are you staying in the Navy?” Jon asked Jul. “I know a few of the tactical support staff at Group One. They’d love to get someone with your field experience on their staff.”
“I’m considering getting out of the Navy after the baby is born. My contract is up while I’ll be on maternity leave. We’ll see.” Jul and Nathan exchanged a glance that said that decision had already been made.
“How about you two?” Jon asked.
“Yes, what is the future for you two?” Josh Madden nodded to everyone at the table and grabbed an empty chair. Several people welcomed their former commanding officer and someone poured him a beer.
As he settled in, Jul asked him, “So what has happened to all those followers of Saif?”
“All the American-born men are in a federal jail at the moment awaiting trial for treason. Immigration has offered the foreign-born women who married his young followers the opportunity to declare their marriage licenses fake and be returned to their own countries before the babies are born. Most have taken that deal and will be deported by tomorrow afternoon.” Josh looked at his Alpha Team. “Thanks to your outstanding work, we thwarted a plan to blow up both the Hampton Roads tunnels while the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush passed overhead. The bomb would have taken out that aircraft carrier and blocked the other three carriers along with half the east coast fleet in port for years. Good work.”
When Josh raised his glass, everyone at the table followed suit in toast with congratulations.
“And it couldn’t have happened without a little help from our friends.” Josh tipped his glass toward Brock and Thom. Another round of “Here, here,” filled their corner.
Eventually the conversation worked back around to Jon’s question. “So, Stacie and Jeff, what are you going to do now?”
“After what I saw in Cancun, I wanted to work human trafficking. I’m getting tired of killing terrorists. Although, it’s been great to actually go all tactical and work side–by-side with men.” She turned her attention to Jul. “Wouldn’t it be great if there was a program for women to be trained like SEALs, but the team was all women. I could carry you off a battle field with no problem, but Nathan, not thinking that would happen.”
All the men mumbled, “No way.”
“Not in my fucking Navy.”
“Yeah, right, like that could happen.”
Stacie looked at Jeff and Nathan. “Hey, a woman using her feminine ways saved your ass.”
Jul added, “And she took out three terrorists in the process. I think that’s a great idea.”
Jeff couldn’t take his gaze off Josh as his boss watched the conversation. Then the side of his mouth quirked before he schooled his face. Oh, fuck. He knew that look. Something was already cooking. When Josh’s gaze traveled to Stacie, Jeff began to worry. He’d have to talk to her about it.
Stacie then spoke up, “I think I’ll transfer to the human trafficking team.”
All of a sudden his decision was made. “Me, too. Stacie needs a partner, or at least back up.” He pulled her into his lap. “She’s mine now, and I’m never letting her go.”
The End