Defenseless (Salvation, #5)(7)

The loss of my father did a number on her, no matter what she shows. She loved him more than anything. He left a void in all our lives, but my mother—I can only imagine. I’m still amazed by the fact my father had it all. A wife, children, plus the job he lived for. I, on the other hand, can’t seem to manage any of it.

My phone pings. It’s one of my most favorite people in the world, my brother Dominic.

Dom: You’re going to this stupid thing. I’m not going to keep pulling your weight.

Me: Or what?

Dom: Mom is killing me! She’s up my ass, asking when I’m going to marry. She knows you’re a lost cause.

I roll my eyes. I’m not a lost cause, I just haven’t found anyone worth my time.

Me: I’ll think about going.

Dom: I’ll tell her you want to go shopping for a dress.

Me: I’ll tell her you’re running for senate.

I can imagine his face. The fact he’s taken a few minutes to reply tells me he’s staring at the phone with his jaw slack. Of course, there are only three people who know about his plans, and I’m not supposed to be one of them. I toss the phone and head into my home office.

This room gives me peace.

Once I’m inside, I close and lock the door, unstrap the gun from around my thigh, and pull the laptop from its hiding place. To the normal person, this is simply an office. It has light-blue walls, white eyelet curtains, and a huge white desk. It’s clean, neat, and deadly. This room is wired so I can see and hear anything in the entire apartment.

There are also more trap doors than anyone can imagine. Slowly, I pull the file that sits hidden between two others—the one that haunts my dreams; the only case I can’t solve—and hesitate to open it. I know every detail. Each word is ingrained in my mind, but I can’t stop myself. I look every single day, hoping that maybe I’ll find something I missed, and I can finally put a bullet in the * responsible for killing my father.





Mark

What a day. I key in the alarm code and grab a beer from the fridge. My house is quiet, exactly the way I like it. This place is my only retreat from the crazy. I don’t take work home. I don’t even have an office. Just one giant man cave that all my friends hate me for.

I bought my bungalow in Sandbridge on the outskirts of Virginia Beach when I was stationed here years ago. It’s small, but it’s only me. This area is a hike to work, but it’s like living on my own private island.

With my beer in hand, I head off to the beach. Once I get to my favorite spot, I sit watching a few surfers and the sea stretched out in front of me.

The conversation with Aaron replays like a loop. So many things don’t add up, which makes me skeptical about his hunch. What the hell does Al Mazir have to do with any of us? He wasn’t a target on our missions. I don’t even think that terrorist ring was active back when I was a SEAL, or if it was, it didn’t have the same leaders. The region we were in during our time was more Iraq or Libya based, although I don’t know that it matters. Each time I think I have a handle on it something else throws me off.

Then, there’s the fact he wants to keep it from Muff, which I’d never do. There are some lines you don’t cross. Jackson would never get over being betrayed by one of us.

“Hey, Mark!” my neighbor Tiffany yells from the surf.

I should’ve brought my board. I always think better in the water.

I stand to greet her and push my hair back. “Hey, Tiff.” I smile. “How’re the waves?”

Her wetsuit clings to her body like a glove. She’s beautiful with her long dark hair, brown eyes, and killer curves. But we’ve already had that dance, and I’ve learned not to put your dick in places it can get slapped again. Luckily, Tiffany is cool and never wanted more than one night. According to her, I was a conquest, which works just fine for me.

“It’s good surfing! Go grab your board, there’s still time before the sun sets.”

I look at the sky and I could get in maybe an hour. “Let me—” My phone cuts me off.

Charlie. This woman is one I’d give my left nut to tame—or try to.

“I’ll catch you later. I need to take this,” I call off to Tiffany as I trudge up the beach.

I double-time it over a dune where the wind isn’t so bad. “I knew you couldn’t resist me.” I grin. She’s probably already wishing she didn’t call.

“Oh, yes.” The sarcasm is clear in her phone sex operator voice. “You’re always on my mind, Dixon.”

“I’d be happy to make you the next Mrs. Dixon.”

She scoffs, “I’m good.”

I smile at the opening she leaves. “That’s still to be determined.”

“You’ll never know.”

“I’ll take that bet.”

Charlie is the type of girl I would never imagine hooking up with. She’s definitely not my usual flavor. I like them tall; she’s tiny with an attitude the size of Texas. I like them blonde; her hair is practically black. Then there’s her body. I’ve always gone for the more Twinkie-type girls, but Charlie has curves. Her body is a weapon, one I’d like to take apart and get to know.

“Are you done now?” she asks. “I called for a reason.”

“Of course you did, Charlotte,” I joke.