Unbeatable Love

by KaLyn Cooper

  “Mommy, I tired.” Simon’s little toddler hand patted Nita’s leg.

  She smiled indulgently at Daniel’s son who she recently adopted. “I am tired.” She emphasized the word am.

  The three-year-old smiled. “You too? Good. Go home. Go to bed.” He started to pull her off his father’s lap.

  Nita looked over at Tori who lifted the baby onto her shoulder and patted her tiny back. Quickly rewarded with a large burp, the baby laid her head on Tori’s shoulder and snuggled in, sound asleep.

  “We need to get these two little ones home,” Daniel announced as he stood. “Delicious as always, sis.”

  Standing, Katlin moved to hug her brother goodbye. “You know you’re welcome anytime.”

  Alex moved in beside Katlin and threw an arm around her shoulder. “Let us know when we can take the kids for a night sometime soon.” He hugged Katlin to him. “We really enjoy having them.” Watching those two practically beg to take care of Katlin’s niece and nephew was heartbreaking. Because of an incident early in her military career, she could never have children. Alex, on the other hand, had a nine-year-old daughter who lived with her mother in Miami. Thanks to the war, he wasn’t around much when his child was an infant and toddler. It was as though they were trying to experience those lost years together with replacement children.

  Nita crossed to Tori and gently lifted her daughter into her arms, but spoke to Alex and Katlin. “You offer now that she’s sleeping through the night. Where were you six months ago when we were getting up every four hours for diaper changes and feeding?”

  Katlin giggled. “Hey, we took them so you could have a honeymoon, but you couldn’t stand to be away from the kids that long.” She shrugged. “Either we’ve been out of town, or you have. It just hasn’t worked out lately. The offer’s on the table now.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Tori watched Rafe and Harper stand nervously. “Before anyone leaves, we have an announcement to make.” Rafe stepped behind his fiancée and wrapped his arms around her middle.

  Harper dragged in a slow, deep breath as she looked at each woman, her gaze landing on Katlin. “We’re getting married on Saturday,” she blurted out.

  “You set a date!” Lei Lu stood to hug their friend. “Which Saturday? We want to all put in for leave so we’re sure we’re home.”

  Harper and Rafe exchanged a glance before Harper clarified, “This Saturday. Day after tomorrow.” Before anyone could say anything else, she broke from Rafe’s arms, grabbed his hand and walked to Alex and Katlin. “Would you two stand with us?” She looked apologetically at all the other women in the room. “It’s going to be a very small wedding.”

  Alex shot out his hand to Rafe. “Congratulations, man. We’d be honored to.”

  “I’d love to be your maid of honor.” Katlin threw her arms around Harper’s neck and gave her a hug. “You didn’t give us much time to plan a bachelorette party, least of all a wedding.”

  “Dodged that bullet.” Nita grinned wide and threw her hand up in the air for Grace to high-five. “We don’t have to buy some fugly pink, frilly dress that we’ll never wear again so we match flowers. I can’t tell you how many bridesmaid dresses I’ve donated to charities. Thank you, Harper. A thousand times, thank you.” She swung her gaze back to Grace. “You’re going to make us dress up like some kind of fucking southern belles, aren’t you?”

  Grace shrugged. “I should, just to torture you.” Then she smiled.

  Harper grimaced. “I’d really like the men to wear a coat and tie, if you would please. We are getting married in a church, but we don’t need tuxedos.” Her gaze swept the room. “You ladies know what to wear.”

  “Did you already buy a wedding gown?” Grace asked pensively.

  Harper smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I bought one off the rack from that bridal store over near the mall yesterday on my way home from work. They had to hem it, but I can pick it up tomorrow. It’s just a very simple dress with a little bit of lace. Nothing fancy.”

  “Do you have a favorite color that you’d like me to wear?” Katlin asked.

  “Feel free to wear any color you want.” Harper threw a glance toward Nita. “You don’t have to match any fucking flowers.”

  “Speaking of flowers, do you have some ordered?” Katlin took Alex’s hand.

  “I’m off tomorrow, and thought I would stop in that little flower shop down around the corner.” Harper smiled at Alex. “I know that’s where you buy Katlin the yellow roses.”

  Everyone seemed to look at the huge bouquet that arrived shortly after Katlin got home, every time. Tori wasn’t sure what the deal was with yellow roses, but it meant something to the two of them. Personally, she had always preferred the big colorful Gerber daisies.

  “Please, let us handle the flowers.” Alex looked a little sheepish. “They know me there.” He raised their clasped hands and kissed the back of Katlin’s.

  “So much for a destination wedding in Costa Rica at the Callahan compound and a wedding on the beach,” Lei Lu said with barely veiled disappointment. “If you hold off another couple weeks we can probably make that happen.” She looked anxiously at Rafe and Harper. “What’s the big rush?”

  Rafe smiled down at Harper then possessively laid his large hand over her lower abdomen. “We’re pregnant.” He didn’t even try to hide his huge smile. “I’m not sure why we were waiting to get married. I knew I’d love this woman forever after we ran through hell together, being chased through Columbia by two cartels.” He kissed Harper without a care for his surroundings. The room was so quiet that when he whispered his love for her, everyone heard it.

  When they finally broke away from each other, Harper announced, “We want to be surrounded by friends and family. You’re home this weekend and Rafe’s family is available. That in itself is a miracle.”

  She looked at Katlin apologetically. “I’ve already asked your uncle Francis, I mean Monsignor Callahan, to perform the ceremony and he agreed.” As though she just remembered something special, she turned to Rafe smiling ear to ear. “He found us a small chapel a few blocks from here and they’ll let him perform the ceremony right after five o’clock Mass. The Knights of Columbus have a small facility behind the church and they’re willing to host the reception there. One of the members owns that cute little Italian restaurant, the one we always get takeout from, and they cater at the hall on a regular basis. It’s as though everything fell into place to make this happen on Saturday.”

  “I’d offer to bake you a cake, but I suck at decorating.” At Katlin’s offer, everyone looked her way. “I’m one hell of a cook, and vain enough to admit that, but I have no artistic talent whatsoever. Wedding cakes need to be pretty.”

  “No need. Mama Carlucci, from the restaurant, offered to bake us an Italian wedding cake as part of the catering deal.” Harper looked around the room as though counting. “Grace, can Griffin make it up here by Saturday afternoon?”

  Alex jumped in and smiled at Grace. “He’ll be here by tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Tori, Lei Lu, Marcus, each of you are welcome to bring a guest.” Turning her attention to Nita, she asked, “I’ll put you down for four. Well, let’s make that two-and-a-half.”

  “Hell, no. Put us down for two.” Daniel pulled his wife to him and laid a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’ll see if the nanny is available so we can have some adult fun. I haven’t seen my wife in days and I’m going to take advantage of this opportunity for a meal without children.” He looked down at the sleeping boy in his arms. “Speaking of children, we need to get these two into bed.”

  “Okay, then, I guess we’re all set for six o’clock Saturday night.” Rafe looked relieved as he shook Daniel’s hand.

  As everyone started saying their goodbyes, Marcus shifted beside Tori. He seemed a little nervous. Maybe it was the crowd. With so many people milling around the living room, it did feel smaller than usual. Or, maybe the wedding had heightened his anxiety. She didn’t think he had dated much
since he’d been kidnapped. She wasn’t sure if that was his choice or if other women couldn’t see past the healing scars to the wonderful man underneath.

  She mentally ran through her list of friends, willing to come up with a date for him. No one seemed right for Marcus. None of those women were good enough for him.

  She didn’t have a date either. She’d been in a self-imposed dry spell for several months. No. It was closer to a year since she had actually been on what she considered a real date. She hadn’t been serious about anyone in a long time.

  Marcus held his half-empty bottle of beer, sipping occasionally as he watched the couples around them. Restlessness radiated from every one of his pores.

  They both had to go to this wedding, and she didn’t want to see him there with another woman.

  Her mind made up, she touched his solid bicep to get his attention. When he turned, his face was only inches from hers. She’d never noticed how beautiful his eyes were before. They weren’t just brown, they had pretty flecks of green in them. The outer ring was almost gold.

  “Tori? Are you all right?” Marcus reached up as though to touch her face then quickly moved his hand back to his side.

  She smiled warmly and gave his bicep a squeeze. “I’m fine. But I’ll be even better if you will agree to go to the wedding with me…as my date.”

  Chapter 4

  Friday morning Marcus sat in the briefing trying desperately to listen to his boss, Senior Special Agent Mike Estes, but all he could think about was his date with Tori tomorrow. And yes, it was a date. Sure, they had both been invited to the wedding, but she had made a point of saying the word ‘date.’ He would be with her, by her side, all evening. He wondered if there would be dancing. Would he be able to hold her in his arms as they swayed to slow sultry music? He could practically smell her perfume—

  Harper shifted in the seat next to him and covertly whacked his knee under the table. When she glared at him then toward the front, he got the message.

  “It looks as though the Salvadoran Vipers were able to stop the semi, killed the driver and guard, then stole the trailer.” SSA Estes clicked from the route map to the next picture. Everyone stared in silence at the driver who had been shoved into the middle of the bench seat and slumped forward, half his face missing. Click. The photograph was taken from the opposite side of the tractor. The guard, who had been shot multiple times, lay sprawled against the driver, black blood pooled at his feet and on the seat. The site was gruesome but most of the men and women in that room had seen worse, up close and personal. The memory of the smell of death hung in the room.

  The back of the tractor appeared on the large screen. “Obviously the thieves knew what they were doing. They disconnected everything as though they were experts.” A photograph of tire tracks appeared. “According to the report, they dropped the trailer ninety-seven feet from where they left the tractor, still running. Whoever moved the tractor might have left fingerprints but since these tractors are used by multiple drivers and guards,” Estes chuckled. “And rarely cleaned, the lab is having nightmares with all the fingerprints. Although we normally don’t like to share investigations, the Department of Homeland Security is taking the lead on this one. I can assure you, though, ATF is taking an active role.”

  One of the new guys at the opposite end of the table raised his hand. Marcus wanted to roll his eyes. This was a high-level briefing, not a classroom. After working with SSA Estes on several missions, both on U.S. soil and abroad, he knew his boss preferred agents who used their minds and spoke up to ask intelligent questions. Maybe the new guy was trying to brown nose.

  “Sir, doesn’t the Department of Energy normally handle their own security? Why are we getting involved?” The question was one Marcus had asked his boss before being ordered to take the uncomfortable ride in the semi.

  Without missing a beat, SSA Estes explained, “There are several reasons, but not everyone in this room has the clearance to hear all of them. I will share this with you all. The DOE has extremely good contracted security for all phases of production of fissionable materials and transport.” He clicked back to the pictures of the cab of the truck. “They weren’t prepared for this.”

  SSA Estes took a deep breath and put the map back on the screen. “The contractor doesn’t have the intelligence connections that we do. We had been warned something like this might happen. The Department of Energy had also been warned, but there was obviously a disconnect between those who had been briefed and the contractor.”

  After a long drink of water, their boss continued. “As you all know, since 9/11 our role has continued to grow. When they added explosives to our title, they also added the term international. There would be those who would argue which department nuclear materials belong under, but our current administration believes that the rods that go into missiles transforming a tube of steel into a bomb should be considered an explosive.”

  Marcus grinned deep inside but schooled his face. The president himself had called upon the ATFE after being briefed by several other alphabet agencies who used the words SV-16 and nuclear bombs in the same sentences. Too bad no one had paid attention earlier. The driver and DOE man might still be alive. He was thankful once again for the protection provided by Katlin and her team. They, too, would have ended up as casualties.

  “Do we know where they took the trailer?” Harper asked a good question.

  “Matter of fact, just before walking in here I was informed that the trailer was found parked next to hundreds of others at the shipping docks in Miami.” Estes grin was sardonic. “Empty, of course.”

  “Are they tracking the shipment?” The eager new guy sounded hopeful.

  Estes grinned indulgently. “Seven and a half million tons of cargo pass through that port every year. I looked it up. There are more than 175,000 employees, so I’m pretty sure more than a few could be bought off. They work round the clock, and given the hijackers would have arrived in the middle of the night, I’d bet money that those rods were on a ship heading to Central America by sunrise.”

  “Do we know what they plan to do with the rods?” Robert Finch asked. He was one of the good guys. They had been on several missions together including one in Columbia where Harper had been kidnapped. He had visited Marcus several times while in the hospital and during physical rehabilitation.

  Their boss looked his way. “Agent Tambini, will you inform the team of the interrogation findings please.”

  Marcus was surprised as he looked at Harper. He had no idea they had moved her into an analyst position. He wondered if she had told someone at work that she was pregnant and they had moved her from the field to a desk job.

  After a brief glance at her notes, Harper looked up and swept her gaze over the table. “Throughout the takedown and the interrogation, the hijackers kept saying Salvador libre which means ‘free Salvador.’ Which is not a person in this case, but they are referring to the entire country of El Salvador.” She shrugged. “In case you’re not up on your Central American history, El Salvador became a Democratic Republic in 1990 after twelve years of civil war. Before that it had been a military dictatorship. Although it actually has multiple parties, the two biggest ones are the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). In 2014, Salvador Sanchez Ceren of the FMLN party won the presidency. He had served the previous five years as vice president.”

  The man’s face appeared on the screen with his name underneath.

  Harper continued, “Since his name is Salvador, the interrogators were at first concerned that someone had kidnapped the president. It took a while to figure out that they were talking about the entire country.” She nodded at SSA Estes who clicked to the next screen, a map of Central America.

  “I want you all to take a good look at this area. To give you a point of reference, El Salvador is about the size of New Jersey but its population is just over six million, versus New Jersey with around nine million people.” She s
ipped her water before she continued. “Piecing together the intelligence gathered during the interrogations, the CIA has concluded that the Salvadorian Vipers are trying to unite El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala into one country. They couldn’t get anyone to commit as to what they were going to do with Belize but many people in that area don’t recognize Belize as a separate government. One man, in fact, talked about taking over the entire Yucatán Peninsula from Mexico all the way back to Veracruz.”

  Robert let out a long whistle. “What makes them think they can turn over their own government, say nothing about uniting all the others?”

  SSA Estes spoke up. “Many people throughout Central America had been carefully watching what’s been happening in Nicaragua. The U.S.-backed coup in that country has made all the other countries stand up and pay attention. Most celebrated when the United States ended its control of the Panama Canal. Now that Nicaragua is building its own transcontinental canal, bringing with it billions of international dollars, the other countries want a piece of that action.” He chuckled. “Unfortunately, they are not interested in friendly relationships with the United States which is financially supporting the rebuilding of Nicaragua.”

  Robert leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “Let me get this straight, and I’m just trying to wrap my head around what SV-16 is thinking. They stole what could be made into nuclear weapons from the United States in an attempt to become a player in Central America? They don’t want our money interfering with their government, but they do want our weapons. Then they want our tourists. Is that about right?”

  Harper looked at her boss. “I can answer that question.”

  When SSA Estes motioned with his hand, she explained, “Yes. But they don’t want to stop there. Currently millions of dollars in drugs, human trafficking, and more illegal activities pass through their country every day.” She smiled then. “According to the leader of the hijacking, their intent is to charge a toll to the cartel. They aren’t interested in producing, distributing, or working in any way with the Colombian cartels, but they are confident that they could create a roadblock and charge for passage through their newly created country.”