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One hour later.
I’m still in the dark about what went down last night, but I do know the man who whisked Julian away from the bar was his Colonel.
Poor Mick; I feel bad for the guy. I got sidetracked and started digging into his profile. It happens. Sometimes, when I hack, I’m like a little ant scurrying around, gobbling up all the info I come across.
In my world, information is the most valuable currency.
What I have found about Julian isn’t alarming or red-flag-worthy; therefore, I’ll allow him to continue to call my bestie 'Pumpkin.' He’s been medically discharged after an injury to his shoulder. The exact injury has all been scrubbed and well hidden. Maybe it was an op gone bad?
He’s got three brothers who all work for his family’s company. Sterling Defense is well-known and the top weapons development company the United States works with.
I discovered something that makes me wonder if there is a god. If a deity is upstairs, then maybe he placed Julian and Poppy across the hall for a reason. Julian’s mother died. That fact makes me think Poppy and Julian will be able to relate and connect on a deeper level than most can until they are much older. They both experienced the death of a parent early on, and that changes people's mindsets.
Last night must have been Delta Force business. Nothing seems dangerous on my end. I’ll just keep watch and poke around occasionally. Everything is documented somewhere, which means I’ll eventually find out.
In the meantime, I give Julian my stamp of approval; his fine ass better hope he doesn’t get on my shit list.
Chapter 17
Julian
Edward and Daniel Sterling are two men you don’t want to mess with. It’s hard to believe the stories of my uncle and father’s youth are true. My grandmother used to tell us Uncle Dan and Dad used to love joking around and playing pranks on their parents.
I think that’s where Kent got his playful side, so at least there is hope he will grow up and become as serious as my father.
I was surprised when Mick and my new escort brought me to my dad’s home, a ranch just outside Fort Worth. I thought I’d be taken to a government building. Instead, Gloria, the house manager of the ranch, welcomed me with a huge smile and a prolonged hug before she led us to Dad’s office. My dad and uncle stood with their backs to the door as they looked out over the expanse of the ranch, none of which could be seen at night.
Stern faces and cold exteriors, both dressed in suits that perfectly fit their bodies. Their once-black hair is grayer now but still thick. Behind those hardened masks are two hearts that love fiercely but refuse to show it.
My dad changed drastically after Mom died. He's distant and no longer praises us but criticizes. He stopped our annual holiday gathering and instead likes to go on vacations alone. In fact, Dad likes to spend most of his time alone. The first few years after Mom’s death, we thought it would pass; we all hoped one day, Dad would join us over Christmas.
That day never came. Theo, Kent, and I have lost hope now.
“Dad,” I greet them, “Uncle Dan.” I glance over my shoulder at Mick, but he nods at me and closes the office door.
“What’s going on?”
Uncle Dan strides forward with a wide grin and arms open wide. I hug him as best I can with my arm still in the sling.
“Hey, son,” he breathes a hello in my ear. He pulls away and gently pats my shoulder. “Come have a seat.” He gestures, pulling out the chair for me as if I were still a small child who needed help.
I follow him to my dad’s desk and sit.
“Dad,” I nod a hello. Why can’t you hug me like you used to?
He nods back and sits in the huge leather chair behind his desk. The leather is cracked and aged now. His fingers drum against the arm of the chair as his eyes go distant, looking at the aged rivets.
Mom bought him that chair for his fortieth birthday. I remember the day clearly; she drove Theo, Kent, and me to an old antique shop. It took all four of us to get the chair into the back of the truck. Once we got home, the chair was so wide we couldn’t fit it through the office door. Theo and I convinced Mom we could get it through the window. We always wanted to make Mom happy. We kept tinkering to get that huge chair to fit; eventually, we did; we just hit the window, which broke the entire back wall of windows.
Dad came home to his new chair; he also got an open-air office for the next few days until the windows could be replaced.
“You gonna tell me why I have CIA and CID covering me.”
“Who was the girl?” Uncle Dan asks. He’s not smiling, but his eyes are.
Uncle Dan is like Kent; he was a player until his latest job position. Being the head of the CIA means you can't fuck around so freely. Anyone and everyone could be out to get you.
Uncle Dan never married, but he's got two daughters from a lady he dated for five years. We all hoped he'd marry her, but he's just not the marrying type. Nonetheless, I love my cousins and wish they lived closer.
