FIRE (Elite Forces #2)(34)
How I wish I had time to call my superior right now. I still have a few weeks left of my extended leave. Maybe I should schedule a meeting and talk to him about my request to be assigned to work with Kaleb on all of his missions. This way, there wouldn’t be a damn thing Kaleb could do or hide from me.
I may need to reconsider that thought, if this is how he’s going to treat me. Did he forget that quickly that I was the one who saved his ass in Afghanistan? I tried like hell to save him in Mexico and forced his team to rush his rescue. Why would he even consider keeping me away from any of his missions?
With those so-called clicking noises in my head, I start to think about what I’m going to do about this. I’ve fought my entire career to be treated equal, and he seemed to be the first man to give me that respect right off the bat. Now, he’s retracting all of that and acting like I’m a piece of f*cking glass that can’t handle any real pressure. What he doesn’t realize is I now have this need to protect him, when I’m sure he thinks he’s doing the same for me. I’ll be damned if he’s going to treat me like a fragile woman.
The plane ride was irritably quiet after our brief disagreement. He dozed for a bit, while I watched his handsome features. He looks so peaceful with his eyes closed, and yet I know there is a major storm brewing in his head. The eye of it is about to hit. I can feel it. That’s the only reason why I backed down from the real shit I’m feeling inside.
Kaleb may have gotten the impression I receded because he told me to, but I’m just calculating how to go about this. He’s a complicated man, who is as stubborn as anyone I’ve ever met. He knows I’m his real challenge, but I refuse to let it darken the day I meet his mom and sister. I’ll talk to him as soon as we leave their house.
I try really hard to set it all to the back of my mind, but I’m still fuming by the time we walk through the terminal and even down the stairs toward baggage claim, where we meet Kaleb’s mom and sister. It all temporarily subsides the moment I see the female with a mile-wide smile on her face once she spots her son.
“Kaleb.” She wraps both her arms around his waist in a hug one can only get from their mother. It’s a sight to behold, seeing this big, bearded man covered in tats with muscles bulging in his shirt sleeves squeeze his mom while she rests her head on his chest.
“I missed you, old lady.” I haven’t given a whole lot of thought on what to expect when I met his family, but surely not this. I feel like a damn intruder as I watch her pull away from him only long enough to look at his face through her tears, then go in for another tight hug.
“You must be Jade.” I turn to a woman I assume is his sister when I hear my name called. They look nothing alike, except those same deep, penetrating eyes. She’s free and clear of makeup and absolutely stunning.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Amelie,” I express truthfully as my hand goes out to shake hers.
“A true soldier, I see.” She takes my hand in hers. She seems very warm and friendly, and that’s something I’m not accustomed to.
“You have no idea how happy we are to finally meet the woman who has captured Mr. Grouchy Pants here.” She punches her brother in his arm, obviously to get his attention. I love reconnecting moments like this, especially now with everything this tender-hearted yet struggling man has been through.
I feel the love pouring out of his mom when the two switch positions, allowing Amelie and Kaleb to embrace. He keeps his arm around her neck and pulls me into the other side of his body.
“Mom. This is Jade. Jade, my mom, Evie.” No handshake from her. I’m brought into her embrace as well and have no choice but to encircle her in my own arms. She reminds me of my mom.
“This is a great day. Finally, he has found someone. I hope he treats you right.” Evie teases her son as she steps back from me. Her gaze goes back and forth between the two of us, and I know she’s observing us and probably picking up on a little tension even though we’re both trying to hide it.
“Of course, I do. I had to live with the two of you, didn’t I? Specifically, this one.” He jeers his head toward his sister.
“Ha. Come on, Jade. Let me fill you in on the younger days of the badass, pain in the ass Kaleb Maverick.” Amelie hooks her arms through mine. Her loud voice carries us all the way through the airport until we’re outside and in the car. Her laughter and stories continue until we’re about halfway to his mom’s house. I love hearing her insight and smile even wider when Kaleb corrects her story to his view of how it went.
We pull into the long drive, and I can’t take my eyes off the house in front of me. Its historical beauty takes my breath away. “This is gorgeous,” I tell them as Kaleb grabs ours bags and leads me through the black rod iron fence. There’s a swinging gate to the white picket fence and green painted stairs that match the color of the house.
“Wait until you see the inside.” Amelie opens the big, wooden door, and as we step through it, I let out an unfamiliar gasp. I don’t gasp when it comes to material things. I don’t get all tied up in knots over homes, but this…. Seeing where Kaleb grew up, pictures of him and his sister and Ty in every stage of their lives all over the walls and along the mantel of the fireplace, brings tears to my eyes.
How could Ty turn his back on this? How could he walk away from a family who’s full of support and unconditional love? I could ask myself the same question about the few years I became detached from my family. Although, I lost my true self when I lost my brother. My heart bleeds for his mom, his sister, and for him. Because, as of now, Ty is very much alive in this family.