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“She might not sleep much, but when she does, she’ll sleep through a bomb going off.” Aria smiles at me warmly. “And that was crap terminology considering what you’re facing.”
“No harm done, honey.”
Caleb comes back and places the first aid box on the table. He bends down on his knees and inspects my hand. “Nothing looks broken, but maybe you want to go to the gym the next time instead of punching walls.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
“What happened? I take it you two didn’t get the answers you were looking for.” Caleb stands up and addresses me and Carrick, who is now sitting with his hands in his hair, head down, looking at the floor.
“I spoke with Michael. He’s some bigshot Sargant Major now. More like a fucking goon!”
Aria sets to cleaning my hand, wrapping it in gauze and a bandage. She has gentle hands. Not once has she hurt me, not that I’d mind. It’s all I deserve.
“What do you two plan on achieving here? What did you expect to get from calling the army?” Caleb asks.
“I expected to call in a few favors. Ya know, since I worked my ass off for them. I put my life on the line every goddamn day! But that counts for nothing.” I shake my head and let the anger course through my veins.
“And achieve what?” Caleb asks again.
“What?” I snap my head up to my brother, as does Carrick.
“I’m being serious. What’s the end game?” Caleb folds his arms over his chest and Aria places a hand on each of my knees.
“You just want her home, right?” She swallows deeply and I can see the tears in her eyes. “Dead or alive. You need to know.”
I nod. I do want her home. I either want to feel her beating heart under my hands, or I want a resting place to visit her. I can’t do either under the circumstances. Shay’s family church held a service for her, but it doesn’t seem real since there’s no body to mourn.
“Can you remember when Caleb wanted to fight Chicago Police Department on my behalf?”
I snigger, because as much as I thought my brother was being ridiculous, I admired him for sticking by his woman. He would have fought any amount of battles to bring her justice.
“Well, I say you do the same for Shay. Does the Mayor of Chicago know what life is like for our heroes? Does he know what happens when one of their top trauma medics goes M.I.A? I say you bring it to the public’s attention. The Mayor, the president, anyone who will listen.”
“What? Like a campaign?”
“Like whatever it takes. You want the public to know what you guys go through out there. What families go through back here when their loved ones disappear.” Aria points over at Carrick. “I bet no one from the army has been near your parents to offer help or support in this time. I bet your parents have been left, just waiting for that knock on the door. Am I right?” Aria stands and addresses Carrick.
“They’ve had no help or support. They’ve had to make all the phone calls, trying to find out what happens next. And, like Clay, they had no joy. Brick walls all the way.”
“Right. Well, now you’re both coming over to our house for dinner. We’ll order Chinese takeout and just have a night to reflect. Tomorrow, you use all the resources you’ve got here on your own doorstep. Get the media involved, contact the mayor and any other governing body you can think of. He who shouts the loudest is heard, right?” Aria shrugs. “Well, you scream the loudest. This is a fight you need to face head on. And let’s face it, Shawland Security has made a name for itself over the years. You don’t give in. It’s one of your best qualities.”
I stand up and wrap my arms around Aria’s waist. She rests her tiny hands on my chest and I just stand taking in everything she said. It amazes me how strong and courageous she is after everything she’s been through. She’s been my sounding board on many occasions while she fought her own demons. She listened to me reminisce about Shay. That’s how she knows so much about Shay already.
“I fucking love this woman, bro.”
“Yeah, you and me both.” Caleb smiles warmly and walks over to pick up Sharlynn’s baby chair. “Come by the house for dinner when you’re ready. I’ll get Chris to come over.”
I lean down and place a kiss on Aria’s forehead. She links Caleb’s arm and pats Carrick’s shoulder on the way out.
I was at breaking point less than a half hour ago, but because of that woman, we might just have a plan of action.
Not a pretty plan of action, but a plan all the same.
