Page 75 of Fighting for Family

Whiskey rubbed his forehead. “No wonder Leo went insane. Dealing with you bunch drove him there. Get your ass in the seat before the Serenity women all show up and demand to go. We’re trying to keep things peaceful, and since Victoria has trained them, I don’t doubt they’d try.”

Knight helped Hollywood with his bag, and they settled into their seats.

The pilot turned the plane around and taxied down the runway again. The team grabbed coffee, and Whiskey pulled out a map, updating them on what happened since their last debriefing.

“How long will we keep this under wraps?” Doc asked. “She’s working within our military. Who knows who else might be helping her with sensitive information?”

“Ivan’s men have penetrated the villages. They have their ears to the ground, and we have someone on the inside. Cora returned to the K-9 base. She agreed to act as our eyes and ears in exchange for an early discharge. Her commander believes they coerced her into leaving. She’s reporting to Saint. Tonight, they expect Maryam Alizai to visit the K-9 unit. The team plans to nab her,” Saint informed them.

“Do they have enough people to pull it off?” Doc asked worriedly.

“They’ve got it figured out,” Whiskey replied. “They’re determined to make the people responsible for Leo’s death pay.”

“Hooyah,” Knight agreed.

“Maybe she’ll give up where they buried him,” Patch said hopefully.

Whiskey uncomfortably rubbed his chin. “I think they’re planning to send her home with Ivan. They want answers. If she doesn’t provide them, she’ll go missing and head to Russia. Ivan promised to extract the information from her and report back to the team. We can’t be accountable for anything when we’re not there.”

“She’s killed too many of our brothers and sisters in arms for me to give a shit,” Doc said. “Leo attempted to stop her. She killed him even if she didn’t do it by her own hand.”

Clearing his throat, Whiskey gazed at his men. “We’ve informed Michael. It’s time to tell you. This mission will never be over until Leo comes home. We will send a team over monthly to maintain the search. Catherine and Kassie will not be privy to this information. Catherine needs closure for her family. For us, we won’t get it until he finds his resting place on top of the mountain. He belongs with his family. We won’t stop until Leo comes home.”

Each man nodded in agreement.

“Let’s get to work. Saint wants us to meet him here if their plans succeed. Point B will be here,” he pointed on the map.

When they finished, Hollywood propped up his leg and napped. Knight and Patch showed pictures of Ella and Ryder Leo. Whiskey went down his checklist. Joe and Jake played cards. Doc flipped through his phone, recalling all the memories he and Leo shared. He couldn’t believe his friend was gone. A lump formed in his throat. When they returned, they’d hold a funeral and move forward as Leo wanted. Then, why did it feel wrong?

He stared out the window, praying they found and brought home his remains. He watched the team search for Whiskey and abandon friendships over disagreements. These men represented his family, and he didn’t want to lose a single one.

Glancing at Joe and Jake, he imagined the conversations when Maddie and Carol figured out what the two older men decided. Whiskey might keep them busy until they flew home. Leo would laugh at the absurdity. The thought made Chase grin. Leo gave him the brothers and sisters he never had as an only child. He gave him a family to replace the one he lost on the mountain. Serenity needed to bring their hero home.

CHAPTER 23

Kassie stroked Catherine’s hair as she cried.

“Do you think he’d like the casket? I mean, he’s not in it, but did I pick out everything? It needs to be perfect.”

“It will be,” Kassie assured her. “You’re doing what Leo wanted.”

“It felt like getting punched in the gut to pick out the coffin. Maybe I should have bought a box from Bryanna’s bakery, added a piece of her chocolate mousse cake, and buried it. Leo would love having a piece to go. Does it sound stupid to bury an empty casket? Melody cries herself to sleep every night. It’s heartbreaking. I don’t know how to manage this pain. It feels like someone ripped out my heart.”

“Addyson said, minute by minute, hour by hour,” Kassie reminded her. “Grief doesn’t have a time limit.”

“I’m trying,” Catherine sniffed and blew her nose. “The florist got her nose out of joint when I told her I planned to pick wildflowers for the top of the coffin.”

“Who cares? You’re doing it for Melody. I’m glad you didn’t take her to the funeral home. This will make her feel like she has a part to say goodbye,” Kassie said softly.

“I’m glad the team will be here. They’re Leo’s biggest accomplishments. His parents were awful people. I’m glad he found my brother, Eric, and they became best friends. My dad taught Leo about loyalty and honor. His dad hated how much time he spent at our house. One night, Leo knocked on the door and asked if Eric might come outside. My mom caught a glimpse of his face and called my dad. She dragged him into the kitchen and cared for his cuts and put ice on his bruised eye. My father took him into the study, and Leo admitted his dad beat him for coming to our house. My dad opened the door, and Eric took him upstairs to his room. My dad kissed Mom and left a few minutes later.

“Where did he go?”

“I suspect my dad beat the shit out of Leo’s father. He came home with bleeding knuckles, and Mom didn’t say a word. She tended to his hands. He only said, ‘It won’t happen again.’

“Did his dad leave him alone?” Kassie asked.

“He still gave him shit, but Leo never showed up with bruises again,” Catherine said. “My dad called him son.”