by Melissa Huie
“I don’t want to think what might have happened if Cole hadn’t found you,” Shane whispered. I clutched his hand tightly.
“Don’t think about it. I’ve seen enough. Let’s get going,” I urged, the bile in my stomach starting to churn. The very sight of the destruction made me sick. I looked over my shoulder at Katie sleeping peacefully in her seat, not knowing the danger we’d been in. If I had my way, she’d never know.
“I told Cole that we’d stop by. I figured you’d want to see Penny,” Shane said, pulling away from the house. I tore my eyes from the burnt out frame and glanced at him.
“That sounds good. I’m sure she misses us. We’ll bring her back to Mom’s with us.”
It never felt right when Penny was away. Ever since I picked her up from the shelter almost two years ago, we’ve never really been apart. We drove the short distance before pulling up to a one-level rambler on the other side of Crofton. The house, small and comfortable, was lacking in what my real estate mother would call “curb appeal,” with minimal bushes and peeling faded blue paint. Kate’s Lexus was parked in the driveway, along with another blue Chevy truck. I braced myself for the chilly weather and quickly zipped up my sweatshirt as Shane hopped out to get Katie. He brought her around, all snug in her fleece blanket. We didn’t have to wait long after ringing the doorbell to hear Penny’s welcome.
“Someone’s happy to see us,” Shane said with a smile.
I grinned. I missed my little mutt. The door swung open, and I stepped back in surprise. The man at the door, tall and built like a tank, was none other than my brown haired, brown-eyed rescuer from my car accident. I quickly gave Shane a questioning look before Cole said, “Hey guys, come on in. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Opening the door farther, he shooed away the two anxious dogs so we could get inside. I let Shane go in front of me and when I walked past Cole, I had to ask. “Weren’t you the one that helped me during my accident?”
Cole shrugged nonchalantly. “We super heroes all look the same. But yeah, it was me.”
I laughed then pulled him into a hug, surprising him.
“You saved my life twice. I don’t know what to say,” I started to say. Tears prickled behind my eyelids. Ugh, damn hormones. Way to go Megan, crying over a stranger.
Cole blushed and mumbled, “It was nothing,” but his words were drowned out by a squeal from behind me.
“You’re here! I wasn’t sure if you were coming! I’m so happy you’re here,” cried Kate excitedly. She threw her arms around me with such enthusiasm, she pushed me back a step. For someone so small and petite, she sure packs a punch.
“Hi. I’m glad to see you too,” I said with a chuckle. “How are you doing? You look great,” I added.
Gone were the dark brown locks with maroon highlights that I remembered from Christmas. Now her chestnut colored locks were cut short, layered with caramel highlights. The colors made her blue eyes pop.
“I’m really great. So glad you made it. How are you? You’re walking slowly. Are you in some pain?” She took the hospital-issued diaper bag from my hands and led me into a comfortable family room, with neutral toned walls, beautiful cherry floors and brown leather couches. The outside of the house definitely did not compete with the interior.
I nodded. “I’m good. Sore, but good.” Penny impatiently snuffed at my hand, begging to say hello. I bent down and vigorously rubbed her ears. “I’m so happy to see you Girl. Have you been good?”
“Yep, her and Jax have been having a grand ol’ time,” Cole said, patting the broad-chested spotted pit bull next to him. Alert and friendly, I gave Jax my hand to sniff before stroking his velvety ears.
“I’m so glad to hear that -” I started to say but was quickly interrupted.
“Can I hold my namesake?” Kate interjected.
Laughing, I nodded and reached for the car seat. Penny stood next to me and gently sniffed her new housemate.
I handed her over to Kate and Penny followed my every move. Once Kate sat down on the brown patchwork chair, Penny laid at her feet, not letting the baby out of her sight. As Kate ooh’d and ahh’d over Katie, Cole and Shane sat down in the pair of chocolate colored recliners in front of the roaring fireplace. We declined Cole’s offer for a drink, anxious to find out what happened since the fire.
“My buddy is the Fire Marshal, and he said that while the fire started in the kitchen, it spread quickly. Too quickly for it to be accidental but he couldn’t find an accelerant,” Cole relayed.
My heart stopped. “Why would he think there was an accelerant?”
“Just because of how quickly it spread. Your house was built in the eighties, sturdy with brick and good materials. Not like the crap they build now. But proving an accelerant was used is difficult. So he’s probably going to rule this accidental. Either way, he should have the final results this week.”
Shane nodded. “How did you know about the fire?”
“I was on my way home and saw the smoke from Route 301. I wasn’t sure if it was your house, but I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. After loading her in the ambulance, I put Penny in my truck and stayed around to talk to the police,” Cole replied, as if rescuing women was an everyday occurrence for him.
“Did you see anyone lingering around the house after the fire?”
“Shane, there were crowds of people and so much going on, I couldn’t see anything unusual. The only thing that had crossed my mind at the time was getting Megan out,” Cole answered.
“I owe you, so much,” I said quietly.
Cole reached over and took my hand. “No, you don’t. Kate asked us to look after you, but it’s more than that. I’m not sure how much Shane has told you, but he’s family.”
I raised my eyebrow at Shane. “What don’t I know?”
“Cole and I grew up together in Essex. We lived next door to each other from the time I was in diapers to when I moved down here after my folks died,” Shane said sheepishly.
Confused, I glanced at Cole then turned back to Shane. “But why haven’t I met him before? Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“I was in a dark place. A real dark place. As much as I loved Cole and his family, I couldn’t stand to be around them. It was too much of what I lost. After my folks died, I moved in with my aunt, and enrolled in school. Then she died two years later. I pretty much lost it then. I was eighteen and on my own. After high school, I got involved with drugs and gangs, and finally ended up working for Jen’s dad. The only thing that saved me from offing myself was the puck and the league. I left everything behind,” Shane said
“I’m so confused. So you’ve known Kate for this long?” I asked.
“Yeah. After they graduated, Cole went into the SEAL program and Kate joined the FBI. It was by sheer coincidence that Tommy had her partner up with me.” Shane shrugged.
“Yeah, it was practically incest,” Kate joked
“Wow, that’s incredible.” I muttered.
“Kate was the girl you saw me with at the restaurant in Annapolis all those years ago,” Shane mumbled. I inhaled sharply, remembering. When I first met Shane, I was sixteen, three years his junior. We met through our mutual best friend Jen, but I was an insecure, jealous twit. One day, I found Shane with a girl (who I now know to be Kate) at a restaurant in Annapolis and flipped out into a jealous rage without letting Shane explain. My jealousy cooled our relationship until last year. My how things come full circle.
“So yeah, we’re family Megan. And we take care of our family,” quipped Kate from her chair.
Chuckling, I asked, “So what else don’t I know?”
“Let’s see, Shane used to wet the bed until—” Cole started, but Shane slugged him in the arm. “Oh come on! I haven’t even told her any of the good ones!”
“You better not,” grumbled Shane, which made me laugh even harder.
“Oh, Mom has her albums and you’re in plenty of pictures. I think we have a few of your baby pictures too,” teased K
ate.
Shane scowled. “You’re lucky you’re holding my kid right now, Kate. I don’t care how old you are, I can still throw your ass in the trash can.”
I smacked his arm in disbelief. “You didn’t!” Kate’s middle finger confirmed it. “Shane, why would you throw her in the trash can?”
“Because she was a brat! Her and Charlie both. We didn’t mind them at first, but they wouldn’t leave us alone. We’d ride our bikes down to Turkey Point Park and they’d follow us and then tell our folks,” Shane said with a huff.
“Well, if you weren’t smoking up with Jimmy Carols and the Baxter boys, I wouldn’t have had to tattle,” retorted Kate, her bright blue eyes gleaming with mischief.
“The girls were the bane of our existence back then. Dad grounded both our asses for that. Made us go to the shipyard and clean up after the dockworkers,” Cole said with a smile.
I leaned back and listened to their banter. It was nice hearing about Shane’s childhood, how much of a troublemaker he was, even back then.
“So what’s the age difference between the three of you?” I asked.
“Cole is twenty nine, I’m twenty six – about to turn twenty seven on February 11th might I add – and Charlie is twenty three. She’s the baby.” Kate responded. She stood up and held Katie out to Shane. “And your baby has a present for you.”
Shane laughed heartily and stood to accept his stinky gift. I handed him a diaper and a package of wipes, and he made his way down the hall, to what I assume were the bedrooms. “I’ll make sure she gets Cole’s bed nice and pretty,” he called over his shoulder. Looking at Cole’s disgusted face made me burst into gut-gripping laughter.
“Hey! I’m planning on having company later. Don’t do that on my bed!” Cole retorted loudly.
“Oh my goodness, I needed that,” I sighed, wiping tears away. Cole snorted while Kate studied her phone. “What’s up Kate?” I asked, noting her furrowed brow.
“What? Oh, nothing. Just a text from someone in Florida,” she replied absentmindedly.
“About that, what brought you up north? I thought you were back to working in Miami,” Shane questioned, coming back into the room. He handed Katie to me and sat down next to me, pulling us into his arms.
Kate’s striking blue eyes were guarded. “I had some time to kill.”
Cole rolled his eyes at his sister. “Kate, just tell them.”
Kate sighed, brushed a tendril of brown hair behind her ear and put her phone down. “I’m on a case.”
I frowned, knowing there had to be more to the story than her following a new lead. “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Work on the Cartel case?”
Kate shook her head. “I was pulled off the Cartel case right after the holidays.”
Shane’s angry outburst startled me and Katie, who started crying. Patting her bottom and gently bouncing her, I gave Shane a look that clearly said, Let the woman talk.
“Go on,” I urged her.
“Right after Christmas I went into FBI Headquarters for a check in. Tommy was on vacation but I knew Rick would be there. So I go in, thinking everything’s hunky-dory, when bam! Special Agent in Charge Rapoles tells me that I’m temporarily ‘reassigned’ to Baltimore. That’s fine, I’m going to miss my sexy cabana boys, but whatever. I can do more up here, right? Then he drops the bomb on me, tells me that I’m removed from the Cartel case entirely and they want to me to investigate some sort of white collar baloney, completely unrelated to anything I’ve ever done before. I raise a big stink, I protest, beg, and plead, basically anything I can do to stay on the case. But Rapoles wasn’t having it. Said it came from someone above his pay-grade. I say bull shit, but what the fuck can I do? So two weeks ago, I packed up my clothes and drove back up here. I’m staying with Cole until I get my housing situation figured out.”
“Yeah, we need to figure out something, you’re cramping my style, Kid” Cole said with a smirk.
“Please, you’re not getting anything from anybody. So I’m not cramping your style, Ass,” she retorted, with a flick of her finger.
I glanced at Shane, who looked beyond pissed at the latest events.
“So, if you’re off the case, how are you still getting leads? And what’s going to happen now?” I asked, worried that everything we’ve done so far, all the leads and tips Shane has helped track down, would be for nothing.
“Oh, I’m not giving this up. There’s no way in hell I’d do that. I’ve been keeping up with everything thanks to Rick. Plus, I still have my contacts in Miami,” she replied with confidence.
“Are you going to need me to do more?” Shane asked, ready for Kate to approve what I knew he’s already planning on doing.
Kate sighed. “Unfortunately, yes. I still need your eyes and ears on the ground. At least until this case I’m working on goes to trial. I’m going to be dark for a while, so you can’t do anything stupid Shane.”
“Dark?” I asked, concern for her, and Shane’s, safety rising.
“Without direct contact. I have to go to Europe for a bit. This thing has huge implications for some prominent congressmen so they want a bunch of people on it.” When I opened my mouth to ask her more, she smiled and said, “Sorry, that’s all I can say.”
“I’d be interested in hearing what Tommy has to say, about you leaving the case.” Shane muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Tommy was surprised, but he doesn’t think he can do anything about it. He’s trying to run the case as best he can and told me that while he hated losing me, he understood. The Cartel case has grown colder and in his mind, if our resources are better used elsewhere, we do what we can. My position on the team hasn’t gone away forever. He’s still convinced that the Cartel is laying low.”
“Yeah, that’s bullshit.”
“Shane!” I said, shocked at his lack of faith. “Why would you say that?”
“Megs, I know he’s your friend, but that’s bullshit. You don’t just express surprise at your teammate getting pulled off a case then go about your day. Not a case this big,” Shane spat out, fury igniting behind his eyes. I pulled the baby closer, unsure of where this was heading.
“He’s right, Megan. Something’s not adding up. You don’t put everything you have on a case, then suddenly say ‘it doesn’t matter.’ It’s bullshit – and there’s something more behind it.” Cole added.
“So what are you saying? Tommy’s keeping you away from the case? Intentionally?” I demanded.
Kate shook her head. “Not necessarily. I know that every piece of evidence or lead we’ve given him is circumstantial at best. The leads are trickling in. And I’m making sure that whatever I get from Miami gets to Rick right away and for them to follow up on. If something big goes down, they’ll call me in.”
“Then why do you need Shane?” I blurted out. I hate the idea of emasculating him, but if there wasn’t a real need to have him go out and about for them, why have him do it?
“Because they are still out there and we want to be one step ahead of them.” Kate said bluntly. “If I can’t be out there, having Shane, who used to be in the actual group, will help gain actual street intel. He won’t be able to get back into the Cartel, but he’ll know who to talk to, who to convince to come forward.”
I looked over at Cole. “And what exactly is your part in this? I mean, aside from providing a house for your sister?”
“I’ll be out on the streets with him, watching Shane’s back. I’m former SEAL. Kate asked me for help last year after I got out of the service. I didn’t want a full-time gig, but I couldn’t say no. Shane’s my brother. When we thought Shane was dead, I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted you to know the truth about Kate and me, but you were dealing with Shane being gone and the pregnancy … ” his voice trailed off as the memories of a few months ago darkened his blue eyes.
Taking a swig of his beer, he went on. “Kate and I – we were in shock. Not only did we fail at keeping both of you safe, but we thought we lost him. L
ike I said before, Shane is our family. But I never stopped looking out for you. Shane would’ve done the same thing if the roles were reversed. I knew that Kate would tell you eventually, but until then, I had your back,” Cole said solemnly. He turned to Shane, “Dude, I have to tell you. When Kate told me you were back, you were alive, I about passed out. It’s like we got a second chance. And I promise you, I ain’t letting either one of you go.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. Who knew that a guy as threatening as Cole could be so sentimental?
“Thanks, Bro. Now can we stop with the pansy shit?” Shane said gruffly but with a grin. Everyone chuckled, the heartwarming moment having passed.
“So what are you doing now that I don’t need back up?” I asked, adjusting Katie.
“Megs, I’m not one hundred percent certain you don’t need back up. Kate and I are still watching over you two. Whatever goes down now, you’re covered. But as for what I’m doing when not watching you; I co-own a Mixed Martial Arts training center in Gambrills, called Tactical Redemption. We train fighters in boxing, Thai boxing, and self-defense. We also teach tactical and weapon combat to local and federal officers.”
“So if I need to learn how to kick ass, I should come to you?” I said lightly, trying to brighten the mood.
Cole chuckled, “Only if you’re kicking Shane’s ass.”
“Yeah, like she could get her leg high enough,” Shane scoffed. I smacked him on the arm. My short legs were nothing to laugh at.
“How did you get involved with that?” I asked, ignoring Shane’s snickering.
“When I got out of the Navy, I had no other career plans. I mean really, what other skills did I have aside from guns and combat? My buddy, Sketch, is an MMA fighter, and when an injury sidelined him, he had this hair-brain idea to build his own center. He trained me, and after I got out, he convinced me to pony up my life savings into his center. We opened two months ago and business is good,” Cole said proudly.
“And the family discount doesn’t hurt either,” Kate piped in.
