One month later…
This particular Justiss Alliance meeting was being held around a large fire pit near the pool area on Chase’s island. It was not about a mission but about a decision. And everyone was there: Risk and Addy, cuddled together on a lounge chair. Sax and Jennessy, Julian and Mollie, Knox and Vivi.
Rath sat behind Neesa on the chaise lounge, his arm slung over her to hold her close. He couldn’t get enough of her if he was honest. And he was very, very honest these days. With her. Himself.
Pedro let out a scream, and everyone turned toward the pool. Carlton waved. “Sorry! I didn’t know he was gonna scream like that when I tossed him.” He put his finger over his mouth. “Shhh. They’s having a meeting.”
Rath grinned, glad to see that no one was bothered. The two had formed a tight bond, which was great. Someday they’d be family.
But there was no rush, and he focused back on the meeting. Chase sat in one of the wicker chairs, everyone in a big circle. The news had just broken about the real reason El Martillo’s compound had been raided. Dan Federson had made a formal statement to the press, completely exonerating the SEAL team and expressing his genuine remorse for what they’d endured, and especially what the fallen SEAL’s family had lost. They’d just finished watching it on the huge TV mounted at the deck area.
Rath’s phone buzzed, and he looked at the text that came in from his dad:
Glad they exposed that shit for you, son. I’m raising a beer to you right now.
Rath clicked it off, shaking his head just a little. They’d had a few conversations over the last month. Apologies were made. Headway, too. And while Rath didn’t care to spend a lot of time with either him or Sam, he was sure glad they’d come to peace.
Chase’s computer made a ringing sound. “Right on time, as I’d expect.” He clicked some keys, and their former commander came up on the screen. They stood and saluted.
“At ease, gentlemen.” He smirked. “Looks like y’all are having a pool party down there while we’re freezing our asses off here.”
“Yes, sir,” they all murmured without apology, raising their drinks in a toast.
“I’ll get down to business. You all heard the press conference, I presume. On behalf of our fine government, I extend an apology and a thank you both for doing what had to be done…and taking the fall. We’re now ready to move forward, and we’d like to do it with you. We are open to discuss whatever rank you would be interested in, given the special circumstances here. This incident will be expunged from your records, and you’ll receive back pay for lost time, plus keep the checks we gave you. And, Blackwood, we will send you a replacement check that you will cash, even if to donate it.”
“Yes, sir,” he said. He had some ideas on what he’d do with it now.
“We’ll have to think about the offer, sir,” Saxby said.
“Take all the time you need. Thank you again, gentlemen, for service above and beyond.”
They all murmured responses, and the call disconnected.
Chase turned to them. “I’m glad your names are cleared. And I will respect whatever your decision is, though I will fiercely lobby for you to remain here.”
Risk stood. “This is where I belong.” He sank back to the chair, receiving a kiss on his cheek from Addy and a murmured, “Thank the Lord.”
Julian raised his hand. “I loved serving in the SEALs, but this is so much better.”
Saxby chimed in with, “I thought I’d go back in a heartbeat if I was offered the chance. But working with you guys, and you, Chase, has been the best of both worlds. I get to have a family life”—he squeezed Jennessy’s hand—“and I get to sneak around and shoot bad guys. I’m staying right here.”
Knox looked at Vivi, who also worked at TJA. “You think I’d leave this fine woman behind? Not a chance.”
She grinned and bussed his cheek. “As if I’d let him,” she added to the group with a wink.
Yeah, the guys’ ladies played into their decision to stay, but Rath had to admit that this was a pretty sweet gig, just as Sax had said. Plus, he had Carlton to think about, who was thriving away from the family funny farm.
Everyone looked at him now. Chase said, “My offer still stands, Rath. You did a great job on your trial mission, plus the extra one you did. You have a good sense of what it’s like to be part of this team. Are you in?”
Rath twined his fingers with Neesa’s, but he was looking at his brothers. “I’d be proud and honored to join the team.”
They all let out a whoop and then rushed him. Dang, he should have expected that. He was no match for four guys—Chase was too cool to do this kind of shit—grabbing him up and tossing him in the pool. Then they all jumped in with him, and then the women jumped, too. Much splashing ensued, joined by Carlton and Pedro, but Rath looked for Neesa, who’d come to the edge but no farther. She was clearly unsure if she belonged there, too, probably thinking that he was now going to be stationed in the Miami area while she lived in Sedona.
“You okay?” she asked with a chuckle.
He glanced back to make sure the guys weren’t coming for him again. They were now all too busy with their splash fight. “Yeah, get me out of here,” he said, holding out his hand. The moment they clasped, he tugged her right in.
She let out a sweet scream that was quickly extinguished as she went under for a second. He pulled her right up and into his arms and kissed her crazy.
“You rascal!” she said when they finally parted. But she didn’t fight to release herself, only brushed the water from her face.
“That I am.” He grinned. “But in the best possible way.”
“I’m glad you’re not going back to the military. While I’m sure you’ll be pulling dangerous missions for Justiss Alliance, at least you’ll be home a lot. You know, for Carlton.”
“Yeah, I did consider how I was going to be growing that boy up if I was gone all the time. But there was someone else I was thinking about, too.” He met her gaze, seeing so much question in her eyes. “I tore up that first check, considered it blood money. Dumb, I know, but it was a principle thing. But I’ll have another one. And I was thinking how we could scout out some land or maybe an existing building for a second retreat that you could manage. Maybe one that focuses on kids, like you’ve been talking about.” He could see what he was saying was finally sinking in, her eyes widening. “I think it’d be a nice balance, you know, desert and beach locations. Chase put me in touch with this guy who’s closing his monkey sanctuary, integrating it into one in northern Florida. About sixty acres of land, woods and a couple of ponds. He likes the idea of it becoming a sanctuary for damaged people.”
Her hands tightened on his shoulders. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, ma’am. ‘Cause I can’t abide having that much space between us. When I’m home, I want just about this much space separating us.”
Their bodies were glued together.
“If that’s what you want,” he added. He’d gotten much better about expressing what he wanted. And while they’d been dating, they’d each been wanting a lot from each other. Touching, cuddling, and more, but also exploring their traumas and how they affected their lives now. “You don’t have to make a decision right now—”
“Yes!” She wrapped her arms tight around her neck. “Yes!” When she leaned back again, she said, “I would never have thought Miami would feel like home to me…at least the idea of it. But the strangest thing, when I arrived here, I felt like I was leaving Sedona behind forever. And that I was coming home.”
“You were, babe. You were.”
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Wild Lies. If you enjoyed this story, please consider telling your friends and posting a short review on www.BookBub.com, www.Goodreads.com, and/or wherever you buy your books, as word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
Find links to The Justiss Alliance and more books by Tina Wainscott at www.WrittenMusings.com/TinaWainscott and www.TinaWainscott.com.