Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Beauty (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros. Book 5) (9 page)

As the elegant writer in the simple unassuming black dress stepped back, John glanced around the crowd once more. Again, all eyes were on him. It was too much.

“John,” it was Cat speaking again. “I want to thank you like all these others who have spoken before me. My road was not easy. I didn’t find my way right away like some, but I did want you to know that I did eventually find my path. I did not become a doctor, or writer, but I played my part to make life better for people in the only way I knew how. When I found my way, and met my hero, I began to work here in Tampa helping soldiers and heroes who have sacrificed so much for their country. And so, after speaking with your wife yesterday, I know that the biggest award, and the only thing you want is something small. Just to know I am happy. Well, John, I am. I know this was probably too much for you, you didn’t need all this,” she waved her hands around the room, “but you deserved it. This and more. The message for all us present was too important not to be heard. One small kindness goes along way. In your honor, John, Fight the Fallen has been working towards raising funds for a new rehabilitation facility and we have decided to name it the ‘John Keegan Rehabilitation Center.’ It will be open in 2017 and we would love for you to come back here for the ribbon cutting ceremony.” The crowd began to applaud thunderously at this news. When it quieted Cat spoke. “Please stand John and receive our thanks.”

The crowd’s applause rose in volume until it became almost deafening as John stood silently facing the stage party, Akilah by his side, and Melody under his other shoulder. The flag waved across the screen behind them as the star spangled banner played triumphantly. With Akilah’s support, John stood and faced Cat for the first time in over decade. Looking at her, and her husband beside her, and the other women who had been held captive so long, and then the general and the other members of the stage party with the flag still waving behind him, he pulled his right hand up to his forward sharply, and saluted. The stage party all returned the gesture.

Cat wiped away the silent tear that ran down her cheek as she gazed at the man who saved her from hell, and his beautiful family. Her mouth formed the silent words, “Thank-you.”

MOST OF THE guests had left for the evening. The ballroom was nearly clear of guests and it was just their full table who remained along with the cleaning crew. Tex felt prouder than he had ever felt in his entire life. Listening to Lucia, Cat, Susan, and Donna catch up and include his wife and Caroline and daughter in the conversation filled his heart with joy. The women had stayed in touch all these years. Even Geoff and Jani had been included in their email circles and correspondence. All had felt a great loss at Geoff’s passing the year before and had done much for Geoff’s wife and son in Dublin. And the kid’s name was John. That was something. He liked very much that they had stayed on contact with one another. They had bonded together in their shared experiences and were a family. Like he and Wolf and the others. Just different. Yet the same. If he ever traveled to Ireland he would be sure and visit the young man named for him.

After the initial awkwardness had passed, soon all were laughing and talking like old friends. It did his heart wonders to see Cat with her friends and husband. She was happy. Of that there was no doubt and she was expecting a baby. She literally beamed. And then seeing Cat talk to his daughter in her own language moved him even more, especially after he heard her answer to his daughter’s question.

“Why did you want to do this for my father?” His daughter’s Middle Eastern heritage clearly evident in her accent.

Without batting an eyelash, Cat gave Akilah the response that nearly made him buckle once more especially since she spoke it in fluid Arabic. He knew she knew the language, but how she had been forced to learn it was something she probably didn’t want to remember, yet she did it seamlessly to put his daughter at ease. “
Waqaddam walddkk fina al’amal.
”
Your father gave us all hope.

“
Amal
, yes, Hope. He gave that to me too.” When his daughter’s shining eyes looked his way, he couldn’t help the moisture that sprang to his own once more. This night was truly healing. The guilt he had carried in his heart for so long had been lifted.

Cat affectionately hugged the young teenage girl whom Tex had adopted the year before. Like Tex, the girl had suffered a trauma and was missing a limb. Tex’s leg was gone, and this girl her arm. In her own country she would have been treated horrifically for her disfigurement. Not only had Tex saved her from being alone, he had given her the chance at a real life, one with hope. The man was selfless. Cat was so happy she could do this little something tonight to help the man bury the remorse he felt. He was a hero. “A hero does that. Gives you the chance to be happy. You just have to take that chance.”

His daughter nodded in understanding and then began to ask Cat about the baby. Akilah was so good with children. All his friends who had them, well, they tended to be drawn to her. At first it was curiosity about her arm that drew them in, but afterwards it was her warm and nurturing nature that kept them flocking to her whenever they were in the same room.

“A baby brings hope,” Akilah announced brightly.

“And this baby is kicking,” Cat winced but reached for Akilah’s hand so she could feel the unborn child’s movements.

He watched the moment between the two with some envy and chanced a glance at his wife, Melody. He wasn’t surprised to see she was watching the scene play before them as well. The rest of the group chatted around them. It was Akilah’s words that broke the spell the two were under. “I can’t wait to be a big sister.”

At that pronouncement the table got quiet, and Tex’s eyes widened in worry that Melody might become upset, but what he saw in her expression was not pain, but love. And at first it threw him. But when Melody touched her own stomach softly and looked into his eyes, her next words did shock him. Shocked him and made him happier than he ever thought he could be. “Well, my darling daughter. You won’t have to wait long. We are going to have a baby, too.”

It was Caroline who was the first to react to the news. She jumped up out of her seat and engulfed Melody before he could even reach her. Wolf was clapping him on the back thunderously and the others still seated began to chime in their congratulations. By the time he was able to hold Melody in his arms and ask her if it were true, he had to gasp for air. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath.

“Melody?” he asked with his eyes, and at her excited nod, with tears coming down her beautiful cheeks, he breathed for the first time in what seemed like a very long time. He carefully crushed Melody to him until he felt Akilah by his side, and he easily slipped his arm behind her and three of them held on to each other as the congratulations continued around them. But the three were lost in the moment. The evening had ended for them, the tiny family, with the best news of all. Their family was growing. There was hope.

“I’M SO GLAD you all could join us,” Cat stated enthusiastically. She immediately clasped Melody’s hands and then the woman embraced her.

Cat accepted the embrace and when Melody parted her words were sincere. “Thank-you for having us Cat, and thank you for what you did last night. It was more than I could have expected. More than any of us needed.” Those words were for her husband. He had thanked Cat and all of the other women last night, but he hadn’t felt the words were enough. He’d told that to her when they were alone in their hotel room. Akilah had been with them, in the adjoining room on the pull out sofa already fast asleep from the late evening. Caroline and Wolf had stayed just a few doors down in a room of their own. They had left that morning to return to California. But Melody and Tex had another week left of their vacation and decided to keep Akilah with them.

“Not at all. It was the very least I could do. But I am so glad you agreed to come. My family wanted to meet you. And everyone is here. Susan and her husband are here as well. Donna and Lucia left this afternoon though. I’m sad they could not stay longer. It would have been nice to catch up in person.”

“I would have liked that too.” Those words came from Tex. He had loved seeing all the women last night. Hearing more of their stories of recovery. Of Hope. Of full and meaningful lives. Lives he had apparently touched more than he had known.

When Melody finally released Cat, Akilah sidled up next to the woman, and Cat smiled gracefully down upon her, and then welcomed her into her arms for a quick, warm hug. Once again in smooth Arabic, she welcomed the child. “Welcome to my home sweet Akilah.”

His daughter replied smoothly. “Thank-you. It is very lovely.”

“As are you,” Cat murmured and then when the girl stepped towards her mother it was Cat’s turn to reach for Tex’s hands. But instead of the handshake he thought he would receive, she pulled her to him and gave him a quick embrace. “And thank you for coming Tex. I owe this all to you.”

His words were thick. “No, it is your strength that has seen you though your ordeal. That I am sure of. But thank you, like my wife said, you have done more than I deserved.”

Cat’s laugh tinkled in the large room, as she pulled back. “Okay, well enough of thanks. Let’s just enjoy each other’s company tonight.”

“I agree. No formalities tonight,” came the booming voice of Andreas, Cat’s incredibly tall husband. He towered above her at over six feet tall. “My brothers are the most informal bunch of men you’ll ever meet. And they are waiting in the study,” Andreas crossed the entryway and immediately grasped Tex’s hand and shook it firmly. He also greeted his wife and daughter and then led them to his grand study. His old Florida home was built in the southern style and boasted a large study along the left side of the house.

Tex was shocked at first to meet the three other Marino brothers. Not having siblings of his own, the similarities struck him. All men were well over six feet, all had dark, almost jet black hair, and all were extremely muscular. If he didn’t see the differences in their faces that bespoke their ages, he would have sworn that there were two sets of twins in the room.

Introductions were made all around. Gio was the most boisterous of the brothers, and second to Andreas. His wife was a lovely red head, and with them was a young boy Akilah’s age. It was Gio’s son, Johnny, and that was impossible to mistake. Akilah blushed when the young Marino took her hand and said she was pretty. Tex had to stifle the groan that threatened to escape his mouth at the thought of his pre-teen daughter blushing around boys.

He exchanged a look with Melody, and her eyes spoke volumes. They would have to keep their eye on the two of them tonight. Gio burst into laughter, and without thought came out with, “like father, like son,” and his guffaw ended with a sputtering choke when the not so delicate red head elbowed her husband in the gut.

“Yeah right. In your dreams.” The room was immediately filled with laughter from everyone.

A bubbly blond with a pink streak in her hair was next to speak. “I’m Ronnie, and my husband is Nikko,” she introduced herself. “Nikko is the youngest of this bunch, and Gio, well, he thinks he’s the funniest.” She rolled her eyes when mentioning that particular brother-in-law. He was obviously the clown in the family.

“Ouch, Ronnie, that hurt more than my wife’s elbow,” Gio barked at his sister-in-law in mock offense.

“Watch out or you’ll get another one tonight,” Lisa whispered.

“I can think of something else I’d like be—uff!” The room once more was filled to capacity with the sounds of mirth as Gio doubled over.

“May I remind you there are children in the room,” Lisa cautioned although she had amusement in her eyes.

Tex took in the easy, lively banter in the room. It was much like what it was when he was out in California and they had one of their infamous gatherings at Wolf’s and Caroline’s, except that this was an Italian family Sunday dinner. An all-day affair, and he was glad to have been included. It gave him the opportunity to see Catarina surrounded by all this love. She had what he had hoped for her.

Another man came forward with a beautiful brunette holding an infant in her arms. “Hello Tex. I’m Blaze and this is my wife Bella. And our son, Frank James.”

“It’s nice to meet all of you, I’m so glad Cat has this wonderful family,” he replied.

“And we are blessed to have her in it. None of us are crazy enough to host these dinners every week.” That came from the soft spoken Bella. She reminded him of Cheyenne. She had a soft, vulnerable side to her. But there was steel underneath, a subtle underlying strength. He could see it in her eyes. “Our cousin Victor, and his wife Monica, and the twins could not make it today. He is in the Navy and they had an activity planned on base. But they are usually with as well on Sunday’s, and Aunt Mary, Victor’s mom.”

“We love it. We love being surrounded by our friends and family just like this,” Melody put in.

Susan came forward next. And Tex’s smile grew even wider at the sight of the familiar face beside her. It was his former supervisor when he worked with the FBI, Patrick Stoker.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Tex clapped the older man on the shoulder who pulled him in for a manly bear hug.

“You as well. I’m sorry I couldn’t get here last night, but when my schedule cleared I hopped on a flight and came down this morning. Susan was already in town for a book signing in Tampa, and when she told me what Cat was planning, I knew I had to come.”

“Well, I’m glad you did.”

“Listen son, you did good work with us in the FBI, never be ashamed of that. It’s not easy. The process still gets to me at times. But slow and steady does win the race. And that’s all I will say about it.”

Tex nodded. It was good to see the familiar face. “And you married Susan?”

The man smiled proudly. “I sure did. Love of my life. Her silent strength through the trial, appealed to me. She was, is, one heck of a woman.”

“I’d love to hear that story. How you snagged her?” Tex wondered how that had happened.

Patrick’s eyes lit up at the memory. “Well, it’s a good one. She put up quite the chase.” The older man laughed. He was in his mid-forties now.

Susan piped in. “The simple story is the man wouldn’t take no for answer. After my ordeal, and the trial I wanted and needed to be on my own. But this guy, well, let’s just say no does not seem to be in his vocabulary.”

Patrick laughed again. “Well you are the word smith. And frankly, wasn’t it a good thing I wouldn’t take no. You needed me around, if I recall. You got in some trouble.”

Susan rolled her eyes, but she looked amused. “Enough of that, these people don’t want to be bored to death by our story.”

Patrick snorted. “Susan, my dear, your scrape with the law was most definitely not boring.”

“Honey, we are in a room with four former police officers. Need I remind you?” Susan chastised pointedly.

All were laughing. The conversation flowed easily as Patrick was finally allowed to tell the story of how Susan had found herself on the run in a case of mistaken identity. And how he had to hunt her down to prove who she was, but her fear of what she had just been through had made her skittish, so she had bolted.

“That’s an amazing story. You should put that in one of your books, Susan,” Cat teased her.

The well-known romance novelist blushed. She let out a rush of air. “I can’t write my own love story. God, I remember when I published my first book. Patrick thought that was about him. Heck, he thinks every book is about him. Imagine if it was. It would go straight to his already inflated ego. His head is big enough as it is.” Her tone was teasing and light, but held a note of truth meant only for her husband.

“Speaking of inflated . . .” Gio remarked.

“Don’t you dare!” Lisa shrieked from across the room drawing all eyes towards her and Gio.

“But she walked into that one.” Gio feigned innocence.

Ronnie laughed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. But you’ll have to excuse my brother-in-law, if you give him an opening, he’ll take it in a second,” she explained to Patrick and Susan.

“If you give me an opening . . . Come on, these lines are just too easy.” Gio had tears in his eyes. He was holding back though because he saw the fire in Lisa’s eyes. She would gut him for sure.

Cat saw one of the waiters they had hired to cater today’s meal enter the study and stand in the corner of the room. Usually she and the girls cooked, but because of her final stages of pregnancy and their busy summer schedules they had decided to cater a few. He nodded at her to let her know everything was ready. She tilted her head in the waiter’s direction when she caught her husband’s eye.

Andreas cut in. “Well on that note, and before my brother really lets loose, let’s go to dinner. Everything is ready.”

All the guests followed Andreas out of the study and across the entryway. Another waiter opened the doors to the grand dining room. The table was set to seat the fourteen guests, but the long table could easily accommodate twenty. It was an amazing house. And Andreas was proud of it.

When everyone was seated, and Bella handed the baby off to her babysitter for the evening who would take her back to the study, the food was served. Akilah delighted at the
Kubba
. It was a minced rice and meat patty dish.

“I had that made especially for you my dear. I enjoyed that myself when I lived in your country.”

Akilah thanked Cat and then went back to conversing with Johnny, explaining the food and some others from her country she missed.

“That was very thoughtful of you, thank you Cat.” Melody was touched by Cat’s efforts to make Akilah feel so at ease. She would make a great mother.

Bella joined into the conversation. “Cat is remarkable. We love her. We sisters-in-law stick together. We have all been through a lot these past two years, but despite the ups and downs life throws our way, Cat always sees the silver lining.”

“Yes she does. And we are so glad to have her in our lives.” That was Blaze, Bella’s husband.

Susan chimed in. “As am I. When she contacted me on the internet five years ago out of the blue, I was thrilled to know she was okay. We contacted the others and have stayed in touch ever since. Every year we have our reunion weekend together, and since she has joined this family, well, she glows. Even before the pregnancy, I knew she had found the right man for her.” Susan’s warm smile took in Andreas.

“Yes, I have.” Cat smiled lovingly at her husband who sat across from her at the large table. Then she looked along either side of the table at the family and friends she now had. “We all have found the men we were meant to be with. And we have wonderful families and friends. That is all we can ask for, and all we need.”

“Here, here,” Andreas commented and toasted his wife.

The meal resumed and the conversation flowed. Susan was laughing and enjoying hearing all the stories about the Marinos and how each had found their loves. “All of your stories are remarkable. Those are the ones that need to be told. Ronnie, accused of drug smuggling, had to prove her innocence. Bella, you were caught up in that bank robbery by those two mobsters. And Lisa.” Susan was shaking her head. “Framed for attempted murder. Those would make good romance stories.”

Everyone laughed. “Oh my goodness. Please don’t, Susan. We have had our share of notoriety and enough of being in the spotlight to last a lifetime,” Cat replied.

“Oh come on, Cat. I think it would be cool,” Ronnie remarked. “Just think, our kids could read all about it someday.”

“And that’s why it wouldn’t be a good idea,” Lisa remarked looking at the end of the table at her son and Akilah both staring wide eyed at their parents and friends seated.

“But Lisa, we’d make for a great story.” Gio’s eyebrows were speaking volumes. The raised peaks were more than suggestive.

“Your names would be changed to protect your identities,” Susan taunted.

“Heck no,” Ronnie came back. “I’d want my real name used.”

“Um, doesn’t your mom devour those kinds of books?” Nikko reminded her. Ronnie’s mother did. Louisa loved a good romance.

Ronnie sat back in her seat. “Oh, um, yeah, I forgot about that.” Her brows furrowed in consternation. Then she brightened. “Well, Susan could write her story too, and Monica’s and Ana’s too.” Those were her aunts. Not biological, but her mother’s closest friends.