Forever Devoted

by Kathleen Brooks

  Walker pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re my life, Layne. I swear I will spend every day showing you how much you mean to me,” Walker said for her ears only.

  “Eat it up, Cade! My future son-in-law is a physical and romantic badass!”

  Layne and Walker laughed as he set her down and placed the ring on her finger. He wanted more time alone with her, but he wasn’t about to tell Miles that as Miles held out his hand to Walker and a tearful Morgan hugged Layne. Walker shook Miles’s hand and was surprised when Miles pulled him in for a hug. “I knew one day she’d find the right man who I couldn’t scare away.”

  “It wasn’t for the lack of trying,” Walker laughed.

  Miles leaned in close. “Remember, Froggy. I’ll take you out and have your body buried before anyone even knows you’re gone if you hurt her.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Walker said with a smile.

  “Oh, no,” Layne muttered, causing Walker and Miles to look at her. She was standing next to her mother and holding hands with his sister.

  “What is it?” Walker asked full of concern.

  “If we have a daughter, she’ll never get married with Walker as her father and my dad as her grandfather.”

  “And would we be experiencing that event in say, nine months?” Morgan asked as Walker threw his head back and laughed.

  29

  Edie slipped away from the crowd after offering her congratulations. The scariest man she’d ever seen had taken Jud away, and she needed to have a word with him. She was happy for her brother and Layne, but right now happiness wasn’t something she could feel with a broken heart.

  The lights were back on, and she followed the road a short way to a building that looked impenetrable. This had to be it. She made her way to the steel door and pressed the buzzer. She looked around and saw a video camera and waved.

  “Yes?” a voice said from the intercom.

  “My name is Edie Wecker. I’m Walker’s sister. I need to see Jud Melville before he’s turned over to the FBI.”

  “One moment.”

  Edie waited as she heard cheers, laughter, and joy from the crowd a short distance away. The minutes ticked by, but after two weeks as a hostage, three minutes of waiting didn’t seem like a lot. Finally, a guard opened the door.

  “This way, please. He’s with Ahmed.”

  Edie followed him into the building. As the steel door closed behind her, so did her heart on what she had to do. She was led underground and down a hall until she reached another steel door. This one had a small envelope-sized window at eye height. Inside, she saw Ahmed alone with Jud.

  “Where are the others?” Edie asked the guard.

  “One in each holding room,” the guard answered as he motioned to the other doors lining the hallway. “Ryan and Matt will take them into custody once we have all the information we need.”

  The guard tapped softly on the door before Ahmed answered it. He stepped out into the hall and the guard went back upstairs on a silent command. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Wecker?”

  “I’d like to see Jud Melville, please.” Edie tried to hide the tremor from her voice, but Ahmed heard it nonetheless.

  “I don’t think that would be wise. If you tell me what you’d like to know, I will be sure to acquire that information from him before I hand him over.” Ahmed was so calm as he talked about Jud.

  “He killed my husband and tried to kill my brother. I will have a word with him. Now.” Edie was shaking, but she wasn’t a coward. She’d survived two weeks with Jud and his men. She wasn’t about to back down now.

  Ahmed observed her, and she forced herself to keep eye contact. With a nod of his head, he opened the door and allowed Edie to walk in. Ahmed followed and silently closed the door. Jud’s bloodied face split into a grin.

  “Couldn’t stay away, love?”

  “Why did you kill my husband? Shane would have followed you to the ends of the earth,” Edie asked, moving in front of Jud.

  “You husband was a sheep. A mindless and expendable means to an end.” Jud spat, sending bloody saliva spraying across her cheek. Ahmed made a move to intervene, but Edie stopped him with a simple raise of her hand.

  “And what was that end? Was it really just a robbery like Walker told me? Where did you possibly put the merchandise you stole before the drone could see through the smoke?”

  “I’m not telling you shit, Edie,” Jud laughed.

  “How much was my husband’s life worth?” Edie asked softly as she flicked her fingers open. The knife she’d been hiding up her sleeve slid out and she tightened her hand around the ornate handle. She had found it in the mansion. The knife was the size of a letter opener and had wicked, sharp point in contrast to the beautiful jeweled handle.

  Jud’s eyes widened. “Aren’t you going to stop her?” Jud demanded of Ahmed.

  Ahmed shook his head. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

  Edie looked at Ahmed leaning against the wall, and with the slightest inclination of his head, she knew he was giving her permission—permission to take her pound of flesh.

  “How much was my husband’s life worth?” Edie asked again, placing the tip of the knife’s blade against Jud’s cheek.

  “You crazy bitch!”

  Edie’s mind wasn’t on the present. It was on the past—the love, the laughter, and the dreams she and Shane shared. A hurricane of emotion raged inside of her. Slowly, she dragged the knife down Jud’s cheek.

  Jud screamed in pain and thrashed against his bindings as Edie made the long cut. “Tell me, Jud. What was my husband’s life worth?”

  “More millions than you can count!”

  “Where is it?” Edie asked sadly. It was true. It was only about money. The love she and Shane had, the future they had planned, all ripped from her over money.

  “I’m not—”

  Edie didn’t let him finish. She moved the knife up and cut across his cheek. She and Shane were trying to have a baby. He’d even bought a onesie before he left on his last mission and swore when he got back they’d make a little baby for it.

  “Where?” Edie whispered through tears of her broken heart.

  “I sunk it!” Jud yelled in pain. “Threw it overboard with a marker to let me know where it is.”

  Edie looked down at the large T on Jud’s cheek. “Now everyone will know you as the traitor you are. I hope you rot in hell.”

  Ahmed moved silently and opened the door for her. Edie walked out as the first tear broke from the dam of her eyelids and poured down her cheeks. In the quiet of the hallway, Edie collapsed into Ahmed’s arms and cried. She cried for her love, cried for their unfulfilled future, cried for Shane, cried for his teammates, for her brother, and finally for herself.

  The man she had thought was so scary never said a word as he held her tight. He pressed her head against his chest and held her safely in his arms until she could cry no more. Exhaustion and grief buckled Edie’s knees, but Ahmed had her in his arms, carrying her from the basement.

  “Call Dr. Emma and my wife. Have them meet us at my house,” Ahmed ordered to someone. “And tell Walker the stolen items were sunk at the site of the attack.”

  Edie gave into the abyss that had been threatening her since two soldiers had come to her house to tell her Shane was dead. Finally, she’d fulfilled the promise she’d made to Shane that night. She’d have made him proud. Letting go, Edie slipped into the darkness.

  * * *

  Edie’s eyes fluttered open at the jab of the needle. Standing over her was a young woman whose eyes were filled with concern. Next to her, an older woman with curly hair pulled messily back into a ponytail was hooking up an IV.

  “Hello, Edie. I’m Ava Miller and this is my mother, Dr. Emma Miller. How are you feeling?” the young woman asked with concern in a calm and soothing voice.

  “I can’t believe I fainted. How long have I been out?”

  “Just ten minutes. I’m more surprised it took you so long to fa
int. You’re severely dehydrated,” Dr. Emma explained as she turned the fluids on full blast.

  Edie heard the cheers off in the distance and the merry laughter. “No, I can’t stay here right now. I need to be celebrating with my brother.”

  Ava put a gentle hand to Edie’s shoulder and smiled down at her. “And you will be. Give us twenty minutes to get you as hydrated as possible while you eat something. The Rose sisters arrived at the impromptu engagement party, and I snagged a sandwich. I want you to eat slowly and drink as much as you can stand. Then you can head off to the party.”

  “Isn’t that a drink for toddlers when they get sick?” Edie asked taking the large bottle and taking a gulp. She almost spit it out. It was disgusting.

  “Yup,” Dr. Emma said, patting Edie’s knee. “But it restores things your body has been missing. It’ll help balance your system out. Try your best to drink it. Dani has a room prepared for you in the main house. Ava and I will see you after the party for a more complete exam and probably some more hydration.”

  “Main house? I’m staying here?”

  “Of course you are, dear.”

  Edie looked past Dr. Emma and saw two women standing there. One she’d been introduced to, Danielle Ali Rahman, Princess of Rahmi. She had insisted on being called Dani. The other she didn’t recognize. Her light red hair was in a ponytail, and she was dressed in all black, but she smiled kindly at her and stepped forward.

  “I’m Bridget Mueez. My husband, Ahmed, brought you here.”

  “He’s awfully nice for someone that looks that scary,” Edie said before taking a bite of the sandwich and moaning with pleasure.

  “That’s why I married him. He’s a nice guy. He also told me what you did. You got the information he was trying to get. Jud’s already been handed over to Ryan, and now it’s time for me to make some calls to help our guys get to the finish line of this mission.”

  Edie nodded. She was too busy eating the sandwich to answer.

  “Good. Then I’m going to answer this phone and get it in motion. I’ll inform Walker you’re eating and receiving treatment for dehydration and will rejoin the party shortly.”

  “Thank you,” Edie said through a mouthful of food.

  “And now it’s my turn to see what I can do for you,” Dani said with a smile as she took a seat on the side of the bed.

  “You’ve done enough. Thank you for letting me spend tonight at your house and for your daughter-in-law’s clothes.”

  “Sydney, Deacon’s wife, will be over tomorrow with a sampling of clothes to get you through the week. She owns a clothing company and said she has plenty stashed in storage that you can have.”

  “The week?” Edie asked, making herself drink the nasty baby drink.

  “Why don’t you stay the week and visit with your brother? You can also get to know Layne and the rest of us. There’s an empty house on the back side of the farm if you wish to stay longer. Or you’re free to stay in the house with us. We love having company.”

  “Thank you,” Edie said as the tears threatened again. “With Walker here and Shane gone, I don’t really know my place in the world right now.”

  “You will always have a place in Keeneston,” Dani said caringly.

  “I wonder if I can get my parents’ house back in Shadows Landing. That has always been home to me and home is where I need to be to start over,” Edie thought out loud. She went to take a bite of the sandwich only to discover it was gone.

  “You’re ready to head back to the party if you want,” Dr. Emma said. “You’re holding down your fluids and food well. Don’t go crazy and eat a bunch of sweet stuff. But you can eat other things if you’d like.”

  “Yes, please. I want to be with Walker and Layne. There’s been so much darkness. We need to celebrate the light.”

  Dani stood up and held out her hand as Dr. Emma removed the IV, leaving the port in, but covering it with Edie’s sleeve.

  “Then why don’t we head over together? You’re right. Good should always be celebrated.” With a lightness Edie hadn’t felt in weeks, she took Dani’s hand and walked to the party. Shane and the future they had planned were gone. But she could start again in Shadows Landing.

  30

  Atlantic Ocean near Nigeria, three days later . . .

  * * *

  It was so different from the last time Walker had been here. The sun shone brightly. The sky was a perfect blue. The water shimmered. He would never have recognized it as the place his life had been turned into a nightmare.

  “So, let me get this straight,” Walker asked his future father-in-law. “I’m supposed to say we’re on a guys’ fishing trip?”

  Nash chuckled next to him. “I guess we’re technically fishing. I mean, we have a reel, and we’re casting it into the ocean. Only we’re fishing for a treasure.”

  “You’re part of the family now, son,” Miles said seriously. “And that means there are certain things you don’t tell your wife.”

  “Like the fact you’re still active duty?” Walker asked. They had landed in Africa only to catch a military helicopter out to a naval vessel. Walker was forced to wear a disguise, but they weren’t on the ship very long. They were given an RIB and were on their way to the location of the sunken treasure within ten minutes. The Navy had simply handed over a boat to Miles, Cade, Marshall, Cy, Nash, and Ahmed with no questions asked.

  “Technically not active duty,” Marshall hedged. “That would imply we are enlisted.”

  “Yeah, we’re more like contract workers,” Cade said with a shrug as he tested the wench. “Okay, Froggy. You’re up.”

  “I don’t think Layne would believe me even if I told her. How are we going to explain coming back with no fish?” Walker asked, pulling his scuba mask into place. He had a small air canister attached to his mouthpiece and tested it out. He wasn’t intending to be down there long.

  “That’s what Pierce is for. He didn’t want to be far from Tammy, so he’s fishing at Cedar Creek catching some bass for our cover.” Cy chuckled.

  “Now hop to it, Froggy,” Miles ordered.

  Walker turned his back to the water, gave the Davies brothers the middle finger, and fell back into the ocean. He surfaced, grabbed the hook from the winch, and dove under. Twenty-five feet down he saw the marker Jud had left. It was a bright yellow buoy with a rope attached. Walker hooked the rope and tied it security to the winch before swimming back to the surface. Nash leaned over and helped haul him onto the boat as Cade turned on the winch.

  “So, rumor has it you were Army Rangers. I must admit, I’m slightly disappointed,” Walker teased as he stripped the wet suit from his arms so it hung at his waist. “I thought you were more than that.”

  “At one point, we were Army Rangers,” Miles grinned. “But would Army Rangers be able to get all this?” Miles pointed to the boat and winch.

  “Shit, Miles. I’m in DEVGRU, and I wouldn’t be able to get this.”

  “Exactly.” Miles and his brothers laughed as the large object broke the surface.

  Walker turned to help haul it in. It was a large rectangular box close to ten feet tall and four feet wide wrapped in plastic. It took four of them to get it on board since it was so heavy. Walker used his knife to tear away the plastic, revealing an airtight trunk made out of thick plastic. It took another ten minutes to open it. When the contents were exposed, Walker gave a low whistle.

  “That’s a lot of drugs,” Cade said, opening one of the plastic-wrapped bricks. “It’s pure opium. I can’t even guess at how much heroin this could make.”

  “And don’t forget these,” Nash said, opening one of the gallon-sized Ziploc bags full of raw diamonds.

  “Jud was right. This trunk on the black market would bring in three hundred million or so,” Ahmed replied.

  “Let’s put it all back in there and get home,” Miles ordered. “Apparently we have a farewell party to plan for Edie.”

  “When’s your sister going back to Virginia?” Cy asked.


  “She’s not. She put her house on the market and had the movers pack and ship everything to Shadows Landing. She’ll leave at the end of next week,” Walker said as Marshall turned the boat toward the Navy ship.

  They were going to have a hell of a time getting the trunk onto the helicopter, but Walker would let them worry about it. He had other things to think about. Like coming back from the dead. Edie wasn’t leaving until Walker was legally alive again and the first frenzy of the press was over. She’d bought their parents’ house, but the deed wouldn’t be filed for at least a month to help give her some privacy. She was healing slowly, but she was going to make it. They had each other, a new family in Keeneston, and their friends back in Shadows Landing.

  * * *

  Layne had just finished with the Thoroughbred professional football players she treated for physical therapy when her phone buzzed. She couldn’t contain the excitement she felt reading the text from Walker. He was home and cooking her some of the fish he’d caught on his guys’ trip.

  Walker had only been gone a couple of days. However, it felt strange after being constantly together for weeks. She missed him. As she drove back to her house, she thought about all she’d gotten done while he was gone. There were long hours at work with a backup of patients to see since she had taken time off. Her cousin Sydney had measured her for a wedding dress and was hard at work designing a one of a kind dress. Nabi and Grace’s daughter, Faith, was all signed on to be a junior bridesmaid in charge of walking Fluffy Puppy down the aisle.

  It was amazing the amount of work her mother and aunts had gotten done in only a few days. And it was equally amazing how much was left to do. Layne was armed with a binder full of venues for the reception, caterers, musicians, photographers, and more. It had also been fun spending time with Edie and getting to know her soon to be sister-in-law.

  Edie had slept most the day after the rescue and then had been bombarded by the Rose sisters, Violet’s chef husband, Anton, Poppy and Zinnia, and what seemed like half the people from Keeneston. Cakes, pies, casseroles, fried chicken, pot roasts, and soups arrived one after another. The first one had surprised Edie. The tenth one sent her into grateful tears. After Walker left for the guys’ trip, Edie and Layne had talked about their lives, their loves, and their futures while eating a whole red velvet cake.