by Zoe Dawson
He pulled his duffel from the overhead bin and went through the gate and into the busy, chaotic airport. Pitbull was waiting for him just outside of security. Dragon took one look at him and got concerned.
He looked like he’d lost weight, hadn’t been sleeping, and had been drinking. His jaw was unshaven and grimly set, and even from this distance Dragon could feel the tension in him.
Dragon stopped in front of him and stared. “What the hell happened to you?”
“Well, hello to you, too.”
He turned and started toward the parking lot and Dragon followed. “We’re sorry sons of bitches,” Dragon said. “Got my ass handed to me by Jo.”
Pitbull stopped and turned to Dragon. He rubbed at his face. “I need a drink.”
“Man, you’re on duty, aren’t you?”
Pitbull sighed. “All right, goody-two-shoes calm down. I took a half-day leave.”
“How about some chow? I’m starving.”
Pitbull jammed his hands in his pockets and nodded. “All right. We’ll eat.”
“You been doing much of that lately?”
Pitbull’s eyes shuttered and he shrugged.
They got to his car, and Pitbull opened the trunk for Dragon to stash his duffel. Then they headed out.
“How are the guys?”
“The same.”
“You been down range?”
“Nope. It’s been quiet. Been training mostly and fucking up my life.”
Dragon went to ask, and Pitbull held up his hand. He pulled into a diner, and they got out. Inside they sat down, and the waitress brought them menus. Dragon knew he wanted a burger and fries.
“What’ll you have to drink?” she asked.
“Coffee, black,” Dragon said.
“Same,” Pitbull growled.
The waitress left, and Dragon eyed him, waiting for his closest friend on the team to spill his guts.
Pitbull started talking, and with each halting word, Dragon’s jaw dropped open one more notch. The words were like quick jabs to his face. He’d had an affair with Helen Myerson, Speed’s wife, when they’d been separated. He’d gotten her pregnant—fuck—Samantha was his daughter. He’d slept with her when she was engaged, and now she wanted him to keep his mouth closed and let Samantha believe Speed was her dad.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“What can you say? It’s so fucked up. She’s getting married in like two weeks. I can’t believe I slept with her again.”
“Yeah, that’s crazy.”
Pitbull was silent as the waitress took their orders.
“That’s what happened to the team. That rift was between you and him.”
“Yes.” He never forgave me for siding with Helen and trying to convince her to get a divorce. I could never forgive him for battering a woman who didn’t deserve it. It’s a good thing he never touched those kids, or I don’t know what I would have done.”
Dragon sat back and rubbed his hands over his face, his palms rasping over his stubble.
“What happened in New York?”
He took out his camera and pulled up the pictures of Ceri. He handed the device to Pitbull.
“Damn, she’s cuter than hell,” he drawled. He flipped through the pictures.
“I’m a dad, and I love it. I wanted them to move here along with my mom. I fell in love with that kid…and I…love Jo. I didn’t want to leave, but I have to report to duty tomorrow.”
“The tutu’s a nice touch.”
“Yeah, she wanted to see every damn tutu in the store. I swear I’m still seeing pink.”
Pitbull handed the phone back, his expression sympathetic. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“It’s not over until it’s over. When I left Jo, I got the feeling she was coming around.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. Women can be stubborn, especially mommies. Believe me, I know.”
Dragon tucked his phone away as the waitress brought the food and refilled their cups. They ate steadily for five minutes. After his initial hunger was satisfied, he asked, “What are you going to do about Samantha? Are you going to give up your rights to her?”
“No. That I’m sure about.” He threw his napkin down after wiping his face and sat back, the half-eaten meal on his plate once again worrying Dragon.
“I’ve already talked to a shrink and a lawyer. I have rights to Samantha, but the shrink advised me to use caution in revealing to Samantha that I’m her biological dad.” His voice got hoarse. “All she knows is Speed, and her loss is fresh. Her mom’s remarrying, and she’s being uprooted from her home. How can I add to that?”
“None of that changes the fact that you’re her father. Maybe give it some time, then when it’s right, tell her. Does Helen object?”
“Vehemently. She’s more worried about how people will think about her. That she had an affair, her husband was abusive. She’s kept everything secret.” His voice rose, the anger in his eyes mixed with something else. “She wouldn’t even leave the son of bitch!”
Dragon leaned forward and said, “Easy, man.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just been a bitch. Thanks for listening.” He drained his coffee cup. “You don’t think less of me, do you?”
“Less of you?” Dragon shook his head. “No. You’re human, and you trusted her.”
“Yeah, twice. She burned me twice.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t pull this all together and come to some agreement with her.”
“No, it will be difficult with Samantha in LA, but I guess we’re both in the same boat.”
Dragon toyed with his fork. “So what else is riding you?”
“Nothing.”
Dragon was sure that was a lie, but he wasn’t going to push Pitbull. He was already agitated, and that wasn’t a good thing.
When the check came, Pitbull snatched it up. “I made you listen to my sob story. I got this.” He pulled out his wallet and set cash on the table with a generous tip. “Let’s get you back to the barracks so you can get settled in.” He tucked his wallet into his back pocket. “Want to run the obstacle course tomorrow or lift?”
“How about lifting and the obstacle course?” Dragon asked with a grin.
“Hoo-yah!” Pitbull said.
After work, as Dragon was eating in the galley, he thought about how easy it had been to go to Speed’s house, drop off the Christmas presents Speed had left behind and seriously feel closure about his teammate. They hadn’t exactly been friends, but that didn’t matter. They were all brothers. Dragon’s regret was genuine, even if his relationship with Speed hadn’t been close. He could live with that.
His phone vibrated, and when he answered, Ceri’s face filled the screen. “Hi, Daddy!” He turned down the volume so as to not disturb his tablemates.
“Ceri. Hi, cutie. You getting ready for bed?”
“Yes.” Her lower lip puffed out and quivered. “Mommy’s mean.”
“No she’s not, honey. She’s doing what she thinks is best for you.”
“I miss you. When can you come back?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to do my best to come to the recital.” She smiled, and his heart hurt. He wanted to be there, close to her. His little girl. God, his life had changed so much for the better. Even with her so far away, he felt her love.
She told him about her practice and how she was going to get private lessons after she finished out the class. Sleeping Beauty was so fun to dance, and she loved being a part of it.
“Daddy, you know how to speak Japanese?”
“Yes, I do.”
She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Would you teach me?”
“Sure. Do you want to learn more about our Japanese culture?”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, I do, but I want to be able to talk to Baa-baa in Japanese as a show of respect for her. That’s important in our culture…respect for our elders.”
“It’s important in any culture, Ceri, but Baa-baa will love it t
hat you took the initiative to learn. She can help you too.”
“I want to surprise her first.”
“All right.” He winked. “It’ll be our secret for now.”
“Ceri?” That was Jo’s voice, and his heart lurched in his chest. “It’s time to go to bed. Who is that?”
“Daddy.”
“Oh.” Her face appeared, and she looked tired. “Hi, Dragon. I’m glad you got home safely.” Her brown eyes were warmer, more open. Maybe she felt better with all this distance between them.
“Hi, Jo. I’ll let you both go. I love you, Ceri. Goodnight, ladies.”
“Night,” Jo said.
“Good night, Daddy. Sweetest dreams.” She blew him a kiss.
She disconnected the call and the screen went dark.
Later on, Dragon woke up to the sound of his cell chiming. He was out of bed before the summons to command ended.
As they filed in, their CIA liaison, Carter Duncan, was talking to Fast Lane.
“Hey, welcome back,” Saint said, the other guys all murmuring their hellos.
They sat down in their chairs, Juggernaut at Max’s feet. Dragon crouched down and rubbed the dog’s head. “Hey buddy.”
“We have a hostage situation in Venezuela. An American businessman with holdings there was divesting his assets. Their economy is in freefall with a devastating social impact. Poverty and malnutrition are rampant. He was taken outside the bank where he was doing business. The hostage-takers are demanding five million from the family. With the mismanagement of the economy, the president and the militia are hard-pressed to keep control. There is nothing but desperation there,” Carter said.
“He’s being held on the outskirts of Puerto Ayacucho, one of the largest cities in the State of Amazonas. It’s located across the Orinoco River from the Colombian village of Casuarito. They use the river to transport goods,” Fast Lane said.
“Drugs,” Saint drawled.
“Coke,” 2-Stoke murmured.
“That place is crawling with all kinds of factions, including Hezbollah and FARC and the ELN,” Dragon said.
“This is planned as a surgical strike. Air delivery with the assistance of the Colombians. We’ll drop you near that village, and you’ll have to cross the river. Mr. Douglas Sweeney is located here.” He pulled up a map. “This is his captor.” A dark-haired man with a long face and cold black eyes filled the screen. “He’s part of a civilian militia armed and funded by the government who decided to do a side job,” Carter said.
“When do we go?” Max asked.
“Wheels up at 1730. Insertion oh-dark-thirty,” Fast Lane responded.
“Hoo-yah!” They rose and filed out, heading toward their cages to pack up their gear. Max threw a ball for Jugs, who took off down the hall to retrieve it and bring it back.
“Good to have you back, kid,” Max said. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s fine. Healthy and happy,” Dragon replied.
His cell phone rang, and he checked the number. It was NCIS. “Hey, Saxon. You have news?”
“This is Special Agent Thomas Lang. I’ll be handling your case, Petty Officer Shannon. Special Agent Michael Saxon was murdered last night.”
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry. Who?” Dragon stopped moving, and his teammates exchanged glances, listening to the one-side conversation.
“We don’t know. He was following a lead.”
“Where was he killed?” Dragon’s sixth sense was shooting off alarms.
“SoHo, in an alleyway.”
His gut clenched and his heart dropped. “Jo Moretti’s shop is in SoHo. Soho Ink.”
Concern filled the man’s voice. “What is she to you?”
“The mother of my daughter.”
“Her shop is about a block away. There’s no reason to believe she’s involved at all. There were no witnesses.”
“Please keep me posted.”
“I will.”
When he got voicemail on Jo’s cell, he immediately called the shop. Morgan answered. “Soho Ink. How can I help you?”
“Is Jo there? This is Dragon.”
“Hold on.”
“Dragon?”
“Thank God, Jo. Are you all right?”
“Yes, fine. I’m sure you’re calling because of the murder.” She sounded shaken.
“The victim was the NCIS agent looking into my brother’s death. I don’t like it that it was so close to your shop.”
“All right.”
“I’m going to be unreachable for the next twenty-four hours, but I’ll check in as soon as I’m back.”
“All right.” There was a pause. “Dragon?”
“Yeah.”
The pause felt like she was going to say something important. “Be careful too. Take care of yourself.”
“Copy that,” he said, then disconnected the call.
“What was that about, Dragon?” Fast Lane set his hands on his hips.
He had no choice but to spill to his team about his brother and everything that had happened in New York City. There were sympathetic faces.
“That’s concerning. You should definitely keep tabs on the situation, but I need your head in the game. You good?” Fast Lane asked.
“Yes, sir. I’m good.”
He couldn’t stop thinking about Jo and Ceri. Fast Lane was right. He had to get his head in the game. He was going into extremely dangerous territory. He’d flip his switch when they got closer to Colombia, but right now, he was thinking like a man who cared for an amazing woman, like a son, and like a father who wanted to protect the women and little girl he loved thousands of miles away.
After the phone call, Jo couldn’t seem to sit still, a terrible ache swelling up inside her. Ceri’s tearful words kept going around and around in Jo’s head. I need my daddy now. What good was Ceri’s future if she didn’t have one of the most fundamental people in her life? Her father.
Jo had survived fine without her own father, but she’d never had a choice, and if given that choice, would she have taken it?
The answer was a resounding yes!
Dragon could only enhance Ceri’s life, not take away from it. As a driven mother and entrepreneur, Jo could set up shop anywhere, and she would always have Dragon’s support.
She closed her eyes tightly and eased out a shaky breath. Unable to handle the overwhelming unhappiness gripping her, a dam broke and she no longer had control over the awful feelings twisting around in her.
Leaning her back against the wall, desperate for the support as her legs went weak, Jo faced another reality she had been skirting for a long time. She loved Ryuu Shannon. She wasn’t sure when it had happened. If it had happened all those years ago when she’d given herself to that beautiful man in black leather. Or when she’d looked out a window and watched him be a father to the daughter they had conceived together. She had no doubt that night six years ago they had been together, as one.
There was no doubt in her heart right this minute that even though he was thousands of miles away fighting for their country, they were still one. His depth of commitment after he’d found out about Ceri was a testament to the type of man he was.
Strong, true, and he was hers. He always had been hers.
But now he was Ceri’s father, Gen’s son, and together they made a family.
She pushed off the wall and grabbed her purse. She had to see a man about a building. Instead of expanding her business in New York City, she had an amazing idea that was going to be great for all of them, especially setting her money worries to rest and getting more time with her daughter. The start of a new life with the man she loved in San Diego.
Besides, she simply loved the beach.
After she concluded her business with Sam Johnson, she went back to the shop. Morgan came into her office.
“Those gangbangers were no-shows. Deadbeats.”
“That’s no problem, Morgan.” She felt as light as air. “Can I talk to you for a minute before you leave?”
&nbs
p; “Sure.”
“How would you feel about relocating?” Jo was trembling with anticipation.
Morgan squealed and ran to Jo and threw her arms around her. “You’re going after your hunky SEAL! Ceri and Gen are going to be so happy! I would love to move with you.”
“I’ll chip in the moving fees, breaking your lease penalty, airfare—first class, of course—and the first month’s rent for your new place. How does that sound?”
“Like you’re the best boss-friend ever. Oh my God. I’m going to be a California girl. Yes. When are we leaving?”
“As soon as possible. Probably a couple weeks. I have a lot of things to do.”
“Okay. I’ll make a list for this place. We need to clear it out, get it cleaned and painted, then lease it. I’ll be ready. This is so exciting. I’ll start canceling those artist interviews.”
With a grateful smile, Morgan left, and Jo called Gen. “Why don’t you and Ceri meet me at Gino’s Pizza, and we’ll go out for dinner. I have something I want to discuss with you both.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Gen said. “You sound good.”
“I am. I’ll see you in a few.”
Jo called her car service, and Jack took her over to Gino’s. She got a table, put in their order, and settled in. A few minutes later, Gen and Ceri came in, and Ceri ran to her. “Pizza, Mommy!”
“Oh, now I’m the best Mommy on the planet, huh?”
“Sorta,” Ceri said. “Pizza is a big deal.”
“Agreed.” They sat down just as the pizza was delivered to their table. Gen and Ceri got their drink orders. As Jo was reaching for her daughter’s slice, she said, “I have another big deal I wanted to talk to you about.” She dropped the hot, cheesy slice onto Ceri’s plate. She glanced at Gen, who was beaming. She already knew what was coming.
“So, Ceri. Remember when I talked to you about expanding my business, and we would have to spend less time together?”
“Yeah, that sounded dumb, and I didn’t like it.” She picked at some hot cheese and ate it.
“I know. That’s why I’ve made a decision. Instead of killing myself here by expanding, I’m going to lease the building I own, and I’m going to open up a smaller shop. I can pick and choose my clients and be there for you in the mornings and in the afternoons when you get home from school.”
