Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“How are West and Kambria?” I asked Huntley about their five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter as we settled into oversized leather recliners.
Huntley unstrapped Logan, their one-month-old infant, from his seat and cradled him in his arms. “Too smart for their own good,” he grumbled playfully. “Hopefully, they’ll get all their energy out at the birthday party and will pass out when they get home.”
I laughed as Annalise hopped up from her seat and hurried over with outstretched arms. “My turn!” she demanded with a grin.
Tucker followed her, and I kept a close eye on him since he’d never been around a baby. He was a gentle soul, but we’d been a little worried about whether he’d be jealous of the new baby.
Annalise picked up Logan and returned to her seat, cooing and making funny faces. We were both ecstatic when we realized I’d knocked her up the week we met, which gave me the perfect excuse to get her to the courthouse immediately.
When she sat down, Tucker resumed his post at her feet, but his eyes locked on the infant in her arms. Even though he didn’t look the least bit menacing—if I had sensed anything but curiosity, I would have immediately sent him outside—I observed him closely. After a few minutes, he sat up and laid his head on Annalise’s lap, still focused on Logan.
When he let out a little whine, we all stopped talking and waited to see what he would do next.
“What is it, boy?” Annalise asked softly.
His ears popped up, and he raised his head, then leaned in and licked her arm, the one holding Logan.
Cora smiled and reached out to scratch his head. “Did you find a new friend?”
Tucker licked Annalise’s arm again, then laid his head on her lap once more and closed his eyes. “Aw,” Annalise sighed. “Such a sweet boy.”
We talked for a little longer, then Huntley and I got up to fire up the grill.
When I came back in from the patio a bit later, Logan slept in his carrier on the dining room table with Tucker curled up right underneath him.
Annalise laughed at my look of surprise. Usually, when she cooked, he lay on the bed we’d put in the kitchen so she’d stop tripping over him. “Tucker won’t leave Logan’s side.”
I shook my head with a smile and teased, “I think you may have lost your shadow once the baby comes.”
“If Tucker protects our children the way he’s protected me, I’ll gladly give him up to them,” she said as she looked at the dog with soft eyes.
I moved across the room and pulled my wife into my arms. “Look on the bright side. You’ll only have to deal with one hovering male.”
Annalise giggled and pecked my lips before wiggling out of my arms to check whatever was simmering on the stove.
My cell rang from the other room, and I went to grab it, surprised to see the name Arrow Hamlin on the caller ID. Master Chief Hamlin was one of the OICs over our SEAL troop. He worked in the HQ on base. We knew each other well, and I trusted him as much as any of my other teammates, but because I respected his rank and position, I addressed him formally.
“Chief Hamlin,” I answered. “What can I do for you?”
The chief cleared his throat, then spoke in a low, serious tone. “I need a favor, Truett. To be clear, what I’m asking of you is not an order. It’s…off the books.”
Typically, those words would have me shutting down, especially after hearing about my team’s former CO, who betrayed his country and forced one of their teammates to take the fall. But Arrow—as my friend, not CO—was one of the few exceptions to that rule.
“Go on.”
Arrow sighed. “I need help hunting someone down and a place…to stash someone while I figure out what to do with her.”
My brows rose. “Her?”
“Yeah. Do you know of a place? I need you to round up a few of your teammates and meet me there. I’ll explain everything then.”
“Huntley knows someone who could be very helpful with this,” I mused, thinking of Merrick Ashford, a former SEAL and retired hitman who was now a bounty hunter, husband, and father. “I’ll talk to the boys and text you ASAP.”
“Hooyah,” he mumbled before hanging up.
Well, this will no doubt be interesting.
Still a little stunned, I wandered back into the kitchen and motioned for Huntley to join me. I filled him in, and he went into my office to make some calls.
Annalise popped her head around the corner and announced, “Chow time.”
I didn’t know what the hell was going on with Arrow, but staring at my wife, I couldn’t help but smile and thank my lucky stars she was mine.
Epilogue
Annalise
“Aw, no fair. I wanna dwess up, too!”