Dominant Deception [Black Ops Brotherhood 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (41 page)

“On behalf of the president of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for Commander Wilson’s service to this country and a grateful Navy,” Jack said stoically.

Rafe’s mother had been holding up very well, until Jack placed the flag in her lap. Anna closed her eyes as she heard the sobs that Rafe’s mother released. He took Kathy Wilson in his arms and held her for a moment.

“I’m so sorry, Kathy,” Jack said as he held Mrs. Wilson.

Anna could no longer contain her own tears. Liz, who was sitting next to Anna, was crying silently.

“Thank you, Captain,” Rafe’s mother choked as Jack released her to Rafe’s sister.

All the military members in uniform rendered one final salute. The honor guard, who’d carried Rafe in, took off their SEAL badges, the trident pin, and pounded them into the coffin. As Jack and his men walked by for one final good-bye they did the same. When they had all passed, Rafe’s coffin was covered in SEAL badges. Anna turned away to avoid the sob that threatened to escape her at the sight of Rafe’s gold-encrusted casket. These men were amazing human beings.

Anna looked at Jack and realized with pride that he was truly a selfless warrior who was dedicated to a much higher purpose. No ordinary woman could be married to men like those who had just left the emblem of the most significant achievement in their lives on the coffin of one of their own. Anna also realized she needed to step up and be the kind of wife Jack needed. Not some moody, spoiled brat who made his life miserable just for kicks.

In the distance Anna heard the gathered SEALs yell one last
hoorah
for Rafe. She took a deep breath and felt a firm hand on her shoulder. She didn’t have to move because she knew her husband even if she didn’t see him. She stood and Jack gathered her in his arms. When she’d boarded the plane to come here, she thought it was to comfort him. Instead, he was comforting her. It had been such a sad day.

“Anna, baby, are you okay? You look so sad,” Jack said.

“Yes,” Anna whispered. “I’m supposed to be here for you.”

“You
are
here for me, Anna, and I’m so glad you’re here.” Jack hugged her again. “Let’s go, we have one more stop to make and then all official business is done.”

“I thought you two weren’t dating?” Lt. Gamez said, coming up behind Jack.

“I guarantee you they’re doing more than that!” Master Chief Jones grunted.

Despite herself Anna giggled. Lieutenant Gamez gave Anna a hug and a peck on the cheek. She hadn’t really seen any of the men she used to work with since she stopped working at the base. The couple of months with Jack had evaporated. She briefly saw some of the men here and there but was too busy with Jack to really talk to them.

“Are you putting up with that shit, Rock? Some lieutenant slobbering all over your wife?” JJ asked, winking at Anna.

JJ seated himself in one of the seats that had been emptied by an Army general. He looked so distinguished in civilian clothes. Anna found him extremely attractive for an elderly man. He looked as if he’d just stepped out of a top-floor executive office. He certainly carried himself like a CEO. Dan took her hand and gave a low whistle as he checked out Anna’s wedding ring.

“Looks like the skipper has been planning this for a while…” Dan said.

Alex and Shaq joined the small group that was gathering around them as well. Shaq scooped up Anna in a big bear hug. She was promptly passed to Alex.

“Get your damn hands off my wife,” Jack warned.

“Sorry, angel, I’d eventually like to have kids,” Alex said as he handed Anna over to Jack.

Jack pulled Anna close and shot Alex a deadly look. Alex broke out in laughter with Shaq and Dan. They broke up their little gathering and went to make their way to a church hall in Alexandria where Rafe’s family was having a reception. Anna hadn’t spoken to Rafe’s family other than a brief introduction by Jack when she’d first arrived at the visitation. They’d been too busy receiving other guests. Anna was surprised when Rafe’s mother took her arm and asked to speak with her.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Wilson. Rafe was a good man and a good SEAL,” Anna said.

“Thank you, Mrs. O’Malley. I would like to ask you something…” Mrs. Wilson trailed off.

“Of course, what can I do for you?” Anna asked.

“I hope I’m not being presumptuous, but I need to know,” Mrs. Wilson said.

“What’s that?” Anna asked.

“I understand you’ve lost a child. Tell me, does the pain ever go away?” Mrs. Wilson asked, trying to keep her composure. “He was still my baby,” she choked.

Anna looked away for a moment. The question was so unexpected and so painful she paused to think about her words. Anna’s heart broke in an instant as she stared at Rafe’s mother.

“I wish I could tell you it does,” Anna said as she took Kathy Wilson’s hands. “But it doesn’t. I can tell you, you finally get to a place where you have more good days than you do bad. I’m so sorry. Believe me when I say I’m sorry,” she choked.

The women embraced for a moment, comforting each other.

* * * *

Jack watched Anna and Mrs. Wilson embrace. He could tell by Anna’s expression something was terribly wrong. He was trying to maintain a conversation with Dixie and Congressman Wilson as he watched the two women. He excused himself from the conversation as soon as he saw Mrs. Wilson walk away from Anna. As he approached, he saw the look of despair on Anna’s face.

“What happened?” Jack asked as he pulled Anna outside.

“She asked me about my daughter,” Anna said in a faraway voice. “Jack. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever had to say to anyone,” she said as tears started to flow.

“What did you say?” Jack asked as he held Anna close.

“She asked me if the pain of losing a child ever goes away…” Anna paused in between heart-wrenching sobs. “I had to tell her the truth. It doesn’t,” she cried. “Seeing her like that today, when you handed her the flag…”

“Shush,” Jack said.

Jack led Anna to the car and helped her into the passenger’s seat. He drove off and found his way to a small bistro in Old Town Alexandria. He took off his service dress jacket and untied his tie, tossing it in the backseat. For late October it was a warm day. Anna had managed to calm down enough to fix her makeup and go inside to sit down. She looked out the big picture window where they were seated.

“Where are we?” Anna asked.

“Old Town Alexandria. I used to spend a lot of time out here,” Jack answered, rolling up the sleeves to his white shirt.

“This is a really cool place. What’s that place outside?” Anna asked, taking a closer look. “Torpedo Factory Art Center?” Anna read.

“It’s kind of neat. It’s an old Navy torpedo factory that was converted to an art center when they closed the factory. There’s a bunch of art galleries and studios inside.”

“Which one’s your favorite?”

“I like the Groesbeck Studio and I really like the Target…Gallery…” Jack said, trailing off.

Jack had slipped. A slow, wicked smile spread over Anna’s face. He looked across the street and shook his head. He’d brought Anna because he felt safe here. This was one of the few places he could be himself and indulge in a passion almost no one knew about. She got up and slipped into the booth seat next to him.

“There’s so much I don’t know about you,” Anna said as she kissed the curved scar next to his left eye.

“Like?”

“Like how you know there’s a Groesbeck Studio and Target Gallery inside a
Torpedo Factory
? Like how you got that scar? Like why some people call you a jarhead when you’re in the Navy? Like so many other things I’d
like
to know but don’t have a little database I can consult,” Anna said, rubbing Jack’s thigh.

“Careful, baby, I’ve got to concentrate to answer your questions,” Jack said, trying to redirect the conversation.

“Why don’t we go and walk through the Torpedo Factory so you can answer all my questions?” Anna asked seductively.

“Nah…You’d be bored,” Jack said as a smile played around the corners of his mouth.

“Regale me.” Anna kissed the scar again.

“I don’t know…”

“You’ll answer my questions sooner or later. Besides, I was informed very
clearly
the other night that I’m not going anywhere,” Anna said, stroking his inner thigh.

“Well, I’m not sure I’ll answer
all
your questions,” Jack said, moving her hand to the table. Anna raised an eyebrow at his gesture. “If you want me to walk, you’ll need to quit doing that…for now. Otherwise I won’t be able to answer any of your questions.”

The waiter came and set their drinks on the table.

“Spill, Jack,” Anna demanded seductively.

“What do you want to know, my queen?” Jack asked just as seductively.

“You mistreat your queen,” Anna shot back with a kiss.

“When the royalty acts up there has to be a
revolution
…” Jack said nibbling her lower lip.

“How did you get that scar?”

“Which one?” Jack asked, puzzled.

“The one in between your legs,” Anna quipped as she picked up the steak knife on the table.

“I told you during that
revolution
not to threaten me…my queen,” Jack said with a treacherous smile.

“If you don’t answer my questions it’ll be reality,
Mr. Bobbitt
,” Anna said evenly.

Jack burst out laughing and couldn’t stop. Anna continued to play with the steak knife on the table. It was good to see the spark was still there. She’d been subdued after that night, and the funeral had seemed to send her in a tailspin this afternoon. He took the knife away from her and placed it on the other side of him, telling her little queens should not bother with manly weapons. As she started to reach for the other knife, he caught her hand and lifted it to his face. Jack gently touched Anna’s fingertips to the scar near his eye.

“This one?” Jack asked. Anna nodded. He looked deeply into her eyes before answering. “BUD/S.”

“BUD/S?”

“Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. SEAL Basic Training. I didn’t follow instructions. And in BUD/S, that could get you hurt,” Jack said.

Jack leaned his cheek into Anna’s warm hand. He felt so far away from his responsibilities. He wasn’t making life-or-death decisions, nor was he the commanding officer of a group of sailors that looked to him at times for their very existence. Right now, he was just a guy out with a girl.

“What happened?” Anna whispered.

“There’s a live-fire exercise that took us under a barbed-wire pit. The idea is to keep low. One of my guys got stuck and yelled out. I lifted my head and got caught. I wasn’t following instructions and paid for it.”

“Ouch,” Anna said, stoking the scar gently. “Did you need stitches?” She kissed it.

“It probably would have healed better had I gotten stitches. But, I moved on. I didn’t want to take the time.”

“Was that so hard? Why do you make me threaten you?”

Jack leaned in very close to Anna and touched the tip of his nose to hers. He kissed her lightly and saw that little mischievous glint in her brown eyes.

“You know something,
my queen,
I think you like a little
revolution
,” Jack whispered.

“Let them eat cake…” Anna said.

* * * *

They walked through the Torpedo Factory and Jack entertained Anna by educating her in art appreciation. She was amazed that he was such an art aficionado. His favorite form of art was paintings, modern art paintings. They walked into one of the galleries and he seemed to fall in love with a piece that was hanging in an obscure corner. It was a surrealist painting. Anna wasn’t feeling it, but Jack loved it.

Anna watched Jack’s fascination with the colors and line strokes of the brushes. He explained the symbolism he saw in the painting. She decided he should have it on the wall in his office. While he was studying the painting, she quietly went to the front desk and purchased it. She left Tammy’s address so that she could surprise him when it arrived.

“What were you doing at the desk?” Jack asked.

“Asking a question,” Anna said.

Anna was glad Jack let the conversation drop with her answer. She didn’t want him to complain about her little splurge on him. It was the perfect gift and something he would never do for himself. They walked out to a sitting area that faced the Potomac River. “Okay, Jack, I have another question,” Anna said.

“Ask away…” Jack said, looking out over the river.

“Tell me about your childhood. What made you love art so much and what made you go into the military?” Anna asked.

“That’s a long question and a complicated answer. Some of it you might not want to hear,” Jack said in a distant voice.

“You sound as if you’re afraid I’ll be judgmental.”

“I am,” Jack said, looking at Anna.