Page 14 of Keeping a Warrior

A fledgling circle of trust, and Devon had the feeling they’d all need each other in the coming weeks.

As if reading her mind, Rhys reached out for a fist bump. “Let’s stick together, okay? We got this, guys.”

“Hooyah.”

They tapped knuckles, and then Matt climbed into one driver’s seat, Devon the other. Rhys joined Matt on the passenger side and, gunning their respective engines, they set off. As she drove, one phrase went through Devon’s mind over and over.

I’m not alone.

“Don’t give me that guilt-trip, Darla. You know I’d be there if I could.”

Rhys scooted away from Smudge and did his best not to look like he was eavesdropping. It was kind of hard, though, since they were sharing a bench seat in the van, sitting so close their thighs were almost touching.

“We got a few extra days tacked onto the end. Whaddya want me to say, baby?”

Well, this was awkward. Smudge’s wife was really letting him have it, if the way he was sputtering was any indication. That’s one thing Lani had never done, made Rhys feel like he had to choose between his job and his life with her. She’d accepted every training trip, and the two deployments, with equanimity, while Rhys fervently counted his blessings for having such a supportive, understanding partner.

Now he couldn’t help but wonder: Was it just because she was glad to see him go?

The life of a military spouse wasn’t easy in the best of times, and since he and Lani weren’t married, she hadn’t had access to benefits the Air Force offered that would’ve made her life a little easier. Thank goodness for Sarah. Together, she and Lani had navigated the demands that life in special operations put on them. They’d been each other’s support while trying to break into the close-knit group of women whose friendships were already cemented by years in the teams.

Rhys sighed. And she’d been there for Lani when things started falling apart.

Next to him, Smudge had finished his conversation and was staring up at the ceiling of the van, his jaw tight.

“Everything okay, man?” Rhys ventured, wincing as Smudge let out a bitter snort.

“Does it look like everything’s okay?” Smudge glared at him for several heartbeats, then half turned in his seat. “This white boy’s killing me, y’all.”

Some laughter from the dudes sprawled about the van behind them. “What’s he doin’, Smudgy?”

“Existing. I close my eyes, I can see him glowing. All that white skin, red hair. He’s like a fuckin’ flashlight shining on me.” Smudge sucked in a deep breath, then yelled, “Help me turn him off, boys!”

Before Rhys could react, he was grabbed in a choke hold from behind and wrestled up and over his seat. Gasping for air, he kicked out at Smudge, who sucker punched him in the ribs for his trouble.

Oof! Rhys crashed to the floor of the van and immediately set about defending himself. He didn’t have much range of motion, but he did his best as he was pummeled from all sides.

“Crazy motherfuckers!” He bellowed in fierce satisfaction when his fist connected with someone’s jaw. Cries of exhilaration rang out, along with the sounds of flesh hitting flesh and metal creaking and groaning.

Rhys tangled his fingers in someone’s hair and yanked. The guy howled, head butting Rhys so hard starbursts exploded behind his eyes. Through it all, Devon drove on, her eyes fixed determinedly on the road ahead.

“Only goddamn SEALs,” Rhys gasped as he gouged his fingers in Smudge’s eyes, “would start a brawl in a speeding van.”

“That’s ’cause we got balls, son,” Smudge growled back, his forearm jammed against Rhys’s windpipe.

Rhys attempted to ram his knee up into said balls, but Smudge twisted to one side and avoided the blow.

Oh, shit, I am so gonna pay for that!

His teeth bared, Smudge drew back his fist. Rhys closed his eyes, ready for lights-out, when suddenly the van skidded to a stop and the door was wrenched open.

“For Christ’s sake,” Devon snapped. “That’s enough.”

She stood with her hands on her hips as the guys, like so many chastened little boys, disentangled themselves from each other and climbed out, making sure to step on Rhys’s chest as they did so.

Smudge smacked him upside the head before joining them, and they trooped toward the gas station convenience store, laughter and hoots filling the air. Nearby, Matt’s van had disgorged its passengers, too, and they all headed inside.

With a grunt, Rhys peeled himself off the floor. “I had it under control, you know.”