Page 43 of Fighting for Family

Everyone oohed and awed over the lovely gifts, and Tess brought out the handmade blanket they each sewed a patch onto to represent their family.

“It’s beautiful,” Claire exclaimed.

Patch gazed at the women who made today possible. “Thank you,” he said. “This means a lot to us.”

Maddie smiled at the couple. “You’re part of our family. You mean a lot to us.”

Nobody seemed in the mood to play games as they watched the couples lean into one another.

Victoria chuckled. “I believe this party has ended. I suggest we pack up food for them and send them home. Don’t worry about the gifts, my dear. We’ll have them dropped off at your home tomorrow.”

Edie, Maddie, and Carol packed containers of food while Kassie pulled the presents aside. Annabelle took out the trash. Tess made a list of all the gifts and attached it to the pile.

They pressed the food into Patch and Knight’s hands, sending the couples off with their congratulations.

Victoria glanced at Kassie and then at the closed bedroom door.

“Will she be all right?” she asked gently.

“I don’t know,” Kassie said sadly. “Losing Leo left a gigantic hole. We all miss him. I’m worried about her and the baby. She’s underweight and her blood pressure remains high from all the stress. She puts on a good front, but she’s scared.”

“Life goes on whether we want it to or not. All those years I thought Ivan died, and I still found joy in my child, until James corrupted him,” Victoria confessed. “Now, I have two sons not of my blood and a daughter who makes me proud. I know she’ll stand by her friend. Time, love, and laughter will ease her aching heart. It won’t heal it, but she’ll learn to live with it.”

CHAPTER 15

Saint paced the new base, furious with everyone. How did Leo deal with all this? Ragu dropped the computer, shattering the screen. Each of their phones needed charging, and one of the cells they used got misplaced. They needed food and fresh water.

Glaring in Shadow and Sparky’s direction, he called out to Ragu. “We need to get to the stream and replenish the water. Grab the canteens and hydration packs. Taco, you and Shadow stand guard.”

“Yes, sir,” Taco said, glancing in Shadow’s direction.

Shadow rose and grabbed his gun. “We need food. Do you want me to go to the market tomorrow? I can take Sparky, and hopefully we’ll overhear something. It might be a good time for us to double back and check the area where Hollywood got shot.”

“Do you run the team now?” Saint asked angrily. “I gave you one damn order. Put Sparky and Hollywood on the plane. You can’t even do that.”

Shadow approached his teammate and brother, feeling the anger radiate around Saint.

“Listen, we always acted as a team. Leo may have acted as leader, but he always considered our input,” Shadow said slowly. “No one defied you outright. You weren’t there to make the call. Do you not trust us?”

“We’re down two good men,” Saint railed. “No matter how you phrase it, I know you’re not stupid.”

“Sparky made a good point. What if we’re missing a clue? What can it hurt to check it out?” Shadow insisted.

“You want us to risk our lives over a damn rattle, which Hollywood rambled about while shot up with morphine,” Saint said, disbelieving his teammate’s excuses.

“He seemed convinced,” Sparky offered.

Saint pointed his finger in her direction and then realized she couldn’t see it. “You will stay here and do as I say. I will deal with you when we return home. You directly disobeyed my orders.”

Cole groaned. “Here we go again,” he muttered.

Sparky threw the empty canteen on the floor. She faced Saint’s general direction. “Yes, I did. You’re acting like a stubborn asshole, Saint, and no one else has the guts to tell you. I have nothing to lose since you plan on canning my ass as soon as we return to the facility. We’ve stayed holed up here for days, and you’ve sent Cole and Taco to recon Sergeant Ford. We’ve already done this. You’re out of ideas, and the clock keeps ticking. Why can’t we return to the site?”

“Do you all feel this way?” Saint dared his team.

“Yeah, I kinda do,” Shadow admitted. “We realize you’re filling some big shoes. The pressure of us leaving doesn’t help. We’re a team, Saint. You’re our leader. You’ve carried out missions without Leo before and never let us down. I don’t understand the problem.”

“Leo’s not here,” Saint said brokenly. “By now, he’d have us located and planned a rescue. We have run in circles for months and have come up with nothing. I hate seeing the devastating expression on Catherine’s face. Damn, Melody tears my heart to shreds. It’s like she went from nearly ten years old to nearly an adult overnight. I can’t imagine the stress this has put on them. How can I return home and watch them bury an empty casket? They’re crying out for closure, and I have nothing to give them.”