Building Ties (Military Romantic Suspense) (SEAL Team Heartbreakers Book 4) (28 page)

“No. Zoe dropped him off with your mom this morning while I did the yard work, then Clara brought him by after I picked her up. I’ll have him the rest of the afternoon. We’ll hang together and take a nap.” Hawk flipped the burgers over and closed the lid on the gas grill. He pointed a finger at the water bottle. “You’re guzzling that water like you wished it was something stronger.”

His brother-in-law knew him well. “Before I left—places south to go CONUS, Senior Chief told me I was up for a promotion. Captain Jackson called me in today and told me things have been put on hold until the investigation into the car bomb is completed.”

“Why Captain Jackson and not Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey?”

“Jeffrey had to go out of the country. And maybe they thought I’d take the news better from someone I’d had more contact with.”

Hawk hiked a hip up on the picnic table situated close by the grill. “Wish I could say I’m surprised about the stall, but I’m not.”

“Neither was I, not really, but I’m still fucked up about it. I was mad as hell at first. Still am. I was counting on the extra money so Tess and I could get a bigger place.”

Hawk frowned and nodded.

“It hits you in the gut,” Brett muttered. “That feeling of betrayal.”

“Don’t rush to judgment, Brett, I know you think I got a raw deal when they deployed the team back to Iraq, but it kept me and the others involved with Derrick’s take-down from doing time, and losing our careers. It wasn’t the perfect solution, but it worked. I’m here with Zoe and A.J. where I want to be, need to be. It was worth the six months.”

“At the time you didn’t feel that way.”

“No, I was mad as hell, felt just like you. But I learned something from it. When we’re in combat we’re focused on following a plan and getting a series of things to go the way we want them to, one at a time. It’s all right up front. But behind the scenes at HQ nothing is as it seems. Sometimes there’s other maneuvers going on in the background, things we’re not aware of, and we have to let them play out before the whole picture comes to light.”

Hawk was right. Even in the SEAL community, despite the good press and a supportive nation, there was still politics involved in every mission. “Had you not returned to Iraq, the kid I was accused of killing might never have been found, and Tess’s dad might not have survived to cover the story and clear me. So, I know good came out of it. And I’m grateful for it.”

“The mandate came down from on high for us to find the kid, Brett. HQ wanted your name cleared as much as we did. So they did have your back. They may still have it right now, they’re just not showing their hand.”

Brett nodded. For a moment he was tempted to share Tess’s job offer and his thoughts about a transfer. But it was her news to share, and the transfer wouldn’t become a reality unless she decided to give the Times a shot. And it might not even then. It depended on a lot of different variables whether he’d qualify for a transfer to an east coast team. The Navy’s needs came first.

Brett’s gaze shifted to A.J. and Tess again. “Tess and I are going to take off for a few days. She has some research she wants to do in Washington for a story, as soon as this grocery store robbery thing winds up.”

“It might do you both good to get out of town and away from things.”

“Yeah, it might.”

Hawk flipped the burgers and closed the grill again. “How are the two watch dogs working out?”

“Actually pretty good. We did background checks on them and got references from their last jobs. Alonzo’s real quiet but stays on the ball. Armando packs some serious muscle. He could probably take us both on with one arm behind his back. I talked to him a little about what special ops might have to offer him. He seemed interested, but he’s gearing up to do some amateur boxing.”

“If we weren’t so tight for time right now—” Hawk said.

“Hey, you don’t have to say anything, bro. I know you’d be there if you could be. But you’re doing what needs to be done right here. Zoe and A.J. come first. That’s the way it should be.”

When they sat down to eat at the kitchen table a few minutes later, Brett’s attention was snagged by the relationship Tess had developed with A.J. The kid wanted to sit beside her in his high chair, wanted to share his food with her. She pretended to eat the tiny bite of hot dog he offered her and nibbled at his hand instead, the kid roared with laughter. Brett realized he had no relationship with his nephew. He’d been gone most of the little man’s twenty-month-old life on training missions and deployment, and had never had any one-on-one with him at all after he was about six months old.

When Hawk started to clean up, Brett wandered over to the high chair and released the tray. A.J. seemed okay with him picking him up, but his eyes went to Tess for reassurance. His nephew was sturdy and tall for his age. He frowned at Brett, and eyed him, sizing him up, his features and his expression such a miniature of Hawk’s, Brett had to grin.

A.J. laughed, then pointed at Tess. “Tiss,” he said.

“Yeah, that’s Aunt Tess. I’m Uncle Brett. You want to try and say Brett?”

A.J. shook his head and pointed toward the living room.

“He wants to go to the picture wall Zoe made for him down the hall,” Hawk said.

While Tess loaded the dishwasher, Brett wandered out of the kitchen and was immediately confronted by clusters of candid photos of friends and family stretching along the entire wall. He’d noticed it the other night during his welcome home barbeque, but hadn’t thought to ask about it.

“Where’s Momma?” Brett asked.

A.J. pointed to Zoe’s photo.

“Where’s Daddy?”

A.J. twisted around to look back toward the kitchen and pointed. Brett laughed. “Yeah, he’s right here, isn’t he?’

Tess leaned against the kitchen doorjamb.

Brett spoke to her though his attention was on his nephew. “Where’s Hawk? He needs to see this.”

“He’s bringing up some toys from the weight room. And he’s done this more than once with A.J.”

“Where’s Brett?” Brett asked.

A.J. pointed at his picture.

“I’m Brett, little man.” Brett pointed to himself. “Brett.”

A.J. frowned, his gray gaze so much like Hawk’s focused in on him as if he was working through a problem. He poked a stubby finger into Brett’s chest. “Bet.”

Brett grinned. “All right! You know how to do high-five?” He held up his hand. A.J. slapped his palm.

Tess laughed. “I hate to break up this party, Brett, but I have an interview scheduled with one of the building inspectors investigating the Brittain accident. Alonzo will be here any minute.”

“Okay.”

Hawk stepped into the hall from the kitchen, a box of toys in his arms. They followed him into the living room.

“Smart kid,” Brett said as he passed A.J. off to Hawk.

“Damn straight,” Hawk replied.

“Damn!” A.J. said with feeling.

Hawk’s head whipped in his son’s direction, his eyes wide.

“You are
so
in trouble if that ends up being the new word of the day,” Tess said with a smile. She brushed her lips across A.J.’s cheek and then Hawk’s. “Thank you for lunch and for picking me up.” She patted Hawk’s arm.

“You’re welcome.” Hawk’s concerned frown hadn’t abated.

“Dude, they’re like sponges,” Brett said with a laugh. “Katie Beth used to repeat things we didn’t even know she’d heard.”

Hawk shot him a steely-eyed look. “I’ll remind you of that when you have some of your own.”

As soon as the door closed behind them, Tess laughed. “Hawk’s expression was priceless.”

Brett shook his head. “If you’d told me two years ago he’d be so—” he searched for an appropriate word, “—domesticated, I’d have said, no way.”

“Marriage changes you. It takes over your life, more than your work does. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

All the technical training he’d done as a SEAL, the harsh physical conditions he’d worked in, even the stuff he’d done to overcome his speech issues when he was recovering from his head injury, didn’t compare to this. He understood that. This was long term, together—forever.

“I’m used to working as part of a team, doing my part, sharing the load. You and I, we pull together even when we’re apart. I know we’re going to do just as well after the ‘I do’s.’”

Alonzo pulled up in his white Altima. Tess wandered over to say hello while Brett went over the rental car, looking under the hood, under the chassis and along both bumpers. Satisfied everything was okay, he joined Tess.

In his early sixties, Alonzo Garcia looked younger. His dark eyes had a steady regard, Brett had liked from the first. Though he’d only spent four years in the Marines, he still had the military bearing and walk. He was licensed to carry his firearm and did. Brett filled the man in on where they were going.

Once Brett and Tess were in the car, his thoughts returned to their earlier conversation. They’d talked about kids in the abstract, but not specifics. “Think you might want a little guy like A.J. someday?” he asked after he got in and fastened his seat belt.

Tess smiled. “Someday. Maybe even a couple.”

He started to make an offhand comment like, ‘Let me know when you’re ready, I’m up for it.’ But knowing the bulk of responsibility would rest on Tess’s shoulders, he wasn’t sure either of them was ready for that kind of stress in their relationship. Their marriage needed to be well established before they brought another person into it.

“You’re not in any rush, are you?” Brett asked.

Tess remained silent for a moment. “To have a baby?”

“Yeah.”

“No. Why?” Her answer carried a thread of adamancy.

He relaxed. “Just checking.” He smiled. “I wouldn’t mind practicing some before it counts. They say practice makes perfect.”

Tess chuckled. “We may have to do that later.”

“Good idea.”

‡

T
he office building
of Hamilton Construction was only a couple of blocks from the Café Curiosité, where she had met Mary Stubben. They parked in a parking structure, left the car under Alonzo’s careful observation, and took the stairs down to street level to catch the trolley.

Every time Tess thought about Mary, a sick ache hollowed out her insides. She’d played the voice mail over and over, and it sounded like someone had happened upon her while she was on the phone.

“After this meeting with Hamilton I’d like to make a quick stop at the café down the street.”

“Okay. I’ll call Alonzo and let him know.”

Having help with her security must have taken some stress off of Brett, because he seemed more relaxed. Saving the time it took him to check the car each time they left it was well worth the money they were paying Alonzo and Armando. The two men did it in shifts, so they had a flexible schedule.

If they were reporting back to Miguel Delgado, so be it. They were following her from one appointment to another, but weren’t privy to any of her interviews.

Brett’s hand rested against the small of her back as they crossed the street. The gesture was so natural to him and inspired a feeling of being cared for each time he did it.

“When are you going to shop for another wedding dress?” he asked.

The anger over the defacement of her dress had passed, leaving her with a sick pain in her stomach and the urge to cry every time she thought about it. She turned her thoughts to dealing with the situation. “I called the shop where I bought the first one and explained what happened. They’re pulling several dresses my size from their stores so I can try them on tomorrow. I probably won’t go with the same dress. It just feels like bad karma to me.”

“I agree.” His hand tightened at her waist in a gesture of comfort, then slid away as they reached the entrance to the building.

Hamilton Construction was housed on the seventh floor of a high-rise home to several other businesses. The lobby held none of the special design elements the Brittain Development Corporation displayed, though there was a hip, modern feel to the space. Tess and Brett stepped onto the elevator with a small group coming back from lunch and got off with three of them. In the elevator her phone rang and she scooped it out of the pocket inside her bag and glanced down at the screen. It was Clarence Niles.

“Daniel was released early this morning. And the police put out a BOLO on Jay Gordon yesterday.”

“Yes! That’s wonderful news, Clarence. Thanks so much for calling.” She hoped she’d done the right thing. She wanted to feel excited and relieved for Daniel, but having Miguel involved, and the uneasiness she felt about him, leached some of it away.

“I thought I’d better give you a heads up. I don’t know how he knew about your involvement, but Miguel Delgado knows you had a hand in Daniel’s release.”

She’d expected it. “Well, I guess it’s better to have a gang leader owe you than for him to be pissed.”

“I guess so.” Niles didn’t sound too certain. “Be careful Tess.”

“I’m staying as far away from Miguel Delgado as possible. Once I release my story, it will be the end of it.”

“That would be wise.”

“How many bridges did I burn?” If the cops felt like she had crossed the line, it might make it more difficult in future to get information. But sitting on the knowledge they had arrested the wrong boy in order to get to his brother might have backfired.