Finding Me (The Music Within Book 3)
Page 29
When they broke apart, Suzette was right there to take Andy’s place. “I’m sorry, Suzette,” Bryan choked out.
“Oh, my sweet boy, you have nothing to be sorry for. And how many times do I have to ask you to call me Mom?”
“Mom…” Bryan tried it out. He’d not wanted to take anything away from Andy and Suzette, but the way Andy beamed at them both let Bryan know there was enough love to go around. When there was a commotion behind them, Bryan turned to see Toby with this phone in his hand. Everyone was watching the huge bodyguard pacing back and forth, his free hand raking through his hair.
“You’re completely sure?” Toby asked whoever he was talking to. Cole was standing close by his best friend as he usually was. Bryan had never seen the two men look at each other in a way that would indicate they were a couple. They fussed and carried on like two brothers instead. When Toby disconnected his phone, he looked at Cole and nodded. One side of Cole’s mouth turned up in an almost smile.
“Mal, I need to talk to you and your mom.”
Suzette’s knees almost buckled, but Bryan was still holding on to her. She shook her head and said, “No.”
“Suzette, please,” Toby pled.
“No, Toby. We’re all family here. Whatever you have to say, just say it. If you don’t, I’ll turn around and tell everyone anyway.” Mal and Walt had made their way to where Suzette was. Bryan backed away giving the two men room to surround her.
Toby looked at Cole again. When he nodded, Toby said, “When we first found out about Curtis, I made a few phone calls. I have some contacts in pretty high places, and… they’ve located Curtis. Suzette, your son is alive.”
Suzette’s knees did give way, but Mal and Walt caught her. Andy placed a chair behind her and sat her down. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” she fussed. Toby closed the distance between them, and everyone gathered around. “When can I go see him? When can I bring my boy home?”
“That’s the thing… We know where he is, we just have to go rescue him first.”
“We?” Mal asked.
“Yes. Cole and I are going to join a team of men who were Special Forces before they opted out. I’m not sure how long it will take, but we won’t stop until we have Curtis. Suzette, I probably shouldn’t have told you yet, but since today was a day for celebrating, I wanted to give you my own wedding present.”
“This is the best news I’ve had in a long time, Toby. Thank you. Just knowing Curtis is alive gives me hope, and I know you’ll do your best.”
“Yes ma’am, I will.”
“We will,” Cole added. He knelt down in front of Suzette and pulled her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “You are such a special woman, making all of us feel like your family. Many of us don’t have mothers of our own, and you’ve shown us the love we’ve been missing. We want to give something back to you. We promise to do our best to bring Curtis home alive.”
Suzette wiped her eyes beneath her glasses. “Thank you. Thank you both,” she whispered.
“We need to go,” Toby said. “We’ll be radio silent for a while, but as soon as we have word for you, I’ll call.” Toby and Cole strode down the deck toward their car. Bryan, Andy, and Kason met them before they could leave. The five of them stood in a circle, arms wrapped over the shoulders of the Marine next to him. “Semper Fi,” Bryan said. Four deep voices responded with, “Semper Fi.”
The rest of the day was less of a party and more of a quiet celebration of love. Of family. And now, of hope. Toby and Cole would find Curtis. They would bring him home, and, surrounded by his family, Curtis would be showered with love and begin the healing process. Bryan had no doubt things would be okay in the end. Theirs was a family who had to go through hell to find their heaven.
When Bryan went to bed that night with Andy tucked safely at his side, he knew he’d found his own little slice of heaven in a little country town in Arlo, Kentucky.
Coming Soon
Julian – Stone Society Book 9
About the Author
Faith Gibson lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with the love of her life, and her four-legged best friends. She began writing in high school and over the years, penned many stories and poems. When her dreams continued to get crazier than the one before, she decided to keep a dream journal. Many of these night-time escapades have led to a line, a chapter, and even a complete story.
When asked what her purpose in life is, she will say to entertain the masses. Even if it’s one person at a time. When Faith isn’t hard at work on her next story, she can be found having her own concert in the shower (or car, or wherever music is playing), playing trivia while enjoying craft beer, reading, or riding her Harley.
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Other Works by Faith Gibson
The Music Within Series
Deliver Me
Release Me
The Stone Society Series - Paranormal
Rafael
Gregor
Dante
Frey
Nikolas
Jasper
Sixx
Sin
Jonas – A Stone Society Novella
The Samuel Dexter Stories
The Ghost in the Desert – Novella
The Ghost in the Mirror
The Sweet Things Series
Candy Hearts – A MM Short Story
Troubled Hearts – Contemporary Romance