“The United States doesn’t negotiate with terrorists. My brother and his team will all be dead by the end of next week. I’m afraid this is going to be my last act as your Lieutenant… as a SEAL.” Ford looked his men in the eye. He struggled not to show his emotions, because at that very moment he knew his brother was being tortured by the Taliban.
Ford and his team had been holed up on a Marine base called Delaram when Ford heard of the ambush in Kandahar. He knew Brian was there with his team, waiting for their General to arrive so they could transport him to Camp Leatherneck. That’s where he and Brian were supposed to meet tomorrow. It wasn’t often they were close enough to each other for a face-to-face. Ford was usually on one side of the desert and Brian on the other. As soon as he heard he’d be in Delaram for three days, he’d emailed Brian, anxious to see his baby brother after another long nine months of deployment.
“We’re going with you, LT.” Master Chief Johnson – Ford’s closest friend – was first to stand and object to Ford going alone.
“I’m with you, King.” Chief Petty Officer Roland stood next. “There’s no way you’re going to that sand trap without me.”
“We fight and die together,” said their Special Demolitions Master.
Ford didn’t try to stop the tears. Some of these men had fought beside him for over fifteen years, some only a few months, but none of them were willing to let him go alone. All of them understood the term “brotherhood.”
Ford’s phone rang, yanking him out of his memory. He hit the Bluetooth on his steering wheel and connected the call.
“What’s your twenty, Ford?”
“Be there in ten,” Ford answered Duke.
His boss was ready to get some much-needed information on the Grossmans’ whereabouts. Ford pulled into the small parking lot in front of Duke’s Bail Bonds and Recovery and hurried inside. Brian was at his desk, doing what he was amazing at. Dana looked dressed and ready to hit the streets, his head lifting up from behind his own computer. Quick was nowhere to be found, but Ford could hear raised voices coming from behind Duke’s closed door.
“What’s going on?” Ford asked both of them, tossing his knee-length leather coat onto the back of his chair.
Brian rolled his eyes and went back to his work. Dana nodded towards the door. “Vaughan’s in there. Duke wants him out of town until he catches the Grossmans, but you know Vaughan’s a badass, so he’s refusing. Duke doesn’t want John to get the upper hand by snagging anyone’s partner. Quick went to take Dr. Chauncey to some doctor’s cabin in east Atlanta. Trust the doc wasn’t happy about having to commute an extra forty-five minutes to work.”
Duke’s door flew open and an immaculately dressed Vaughan stormed out with Duke right behind him.
“This isn’t a request, Vaughan. You’ll go and that’s it,” Duke argued.
Vaughan whirled around to face his lover. His purple and cream designer suit jacket flying open as he did. “Is that an order? Because I don’t take them from you or anybody. I have a job to do too, Duke. You think I can up and leave my clients whenever you take on the city’s most wanted. I won’t run and hide. If they come for me, they better be ready for a fight.”
Duke rubbed his forehead. “It’s only for the weekend, maybe a couple days after that. I need you safe, Vaughan. Can’t you understand that? These men won’t hesitate to exploit my one and only weakness. If they get to you, that’s it. I’d submit to all of their demands if it meant saving you.”
Vaughan sighed. Even Ford felt sorry for him. It wasn’t easy to choose. Your loved one or your career. Hopefully, Vaughan could understand. Ford didn’t turn away when Vaughan enfolded Duke in his arms and kissed his neck, his whiskery jaw, then his firm lips. “I have my watch, I’ll be fine.”
“Vaughan, please baby,” Duke whispered, but his begging was still heard by all of them.
Vaughan pulled back and looked into Duke’s dark eyes, his black and gray hair was sticking up like he’d been pulling at it while he tried to get his boyfriend to see his point.
“Okay,” Vaughan murmured. “I’ll take a few days leave and go see my mom.”
Duke’s breath of relief mimicked all of theirs.
Dana
“It must be nice and frustrating to love someone that much, huh?” Dana said almost to himself while they pulled out of the parking lot heading towards the first address Brian had given them, which was the Grossman brothers’ last known address. It was unlikely anyone would be there, but it was a starting point. They’d sit on it a while and then look inside for a sneak peek.