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It was the last three words that resonated. The trucker who pulled her from the fire. Her father’s vows, and now Sean Pope’s promises.I’ve got you. So, God…I’m finally getting You. Angels abound in all shapes and sizes, whenever and wherever we are in need. Thank you for my Sean. The others may come and go, but him, I’m going to keep.
They waltzed until the last note faded, and then the task of gathering up and cleaning up and finally saying goodbye lasted the better part of another hour. By the time they started down the mountain, Amalie crawled into the back seat of her own accord and curled up in a ball. Shirley laughed, covered her with a blanket, and got in the front seat with Sean. Amalie fell asleep listening to them talk.
Sean all but carried her into bed when they got back home, helped her into her pajamas while she was muttering something about cold feet and a warm heart, then let Sean tuck her into bed. She was asleep before he even had the lights out. He was still smiling as he went through the house checking windows and locks.
Shirley was in the kitchen putting dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
“Everything okay?” she asked. “Does Amalie need anything?”
“Everything’s fine, Mom, and she’s already passed out. I think she had a little too much fun.”
“You can’t ever have too much fun,” Shirley said. “Remember that. And if you do overload, just save up the good feelings for a day when you need them.” Then she hung up the dish towel and kissed his cheek. “Night, son. Sleep in. We don’t have anything to do tomorrow but just be together.”
“My favorite way to be,” he said, and went through the house turning out lights behind her.
Wolf was at the airport the next morning with two of his security guards, waiting to board his jet. Toby West, his pilot, was overseeing a refuel, and as soon as they were finished, they would be allowed to board.
Wolf eyed his security team, gauging their appearances. At first glance, they could have been business associates traveling with him. They were both in gray suits, white shirts, and black ties. But the results of daily workouts were hard to disguise beneath their tailored suits. One might even confuse the bulge of their shoulder holsters for more muscle, were it not for the aviator sunglasses and the stoic expressions on their faces.
But for Wolf, they would do nicely.
He thought of Shandy as he was waiting to board, wondering if souls knew what their people did after theywere gone. Wondering if she’d cried among the angels for what was happening to her child.
He had loved her beyond words, and he was traveling to the city of her birth to destroy the people who’d given her life. Given the circumstances, it seemed like a fair fucking trade. Then the fuel truck began pulling away, and Toby came out from behind the tail of the jet and waved them on.
“That’s us, men,” Wolf said, and reached for his bag.
“I’ve got it, Boss,” Joe said.
Wolf led the way as they crossed the tarmac, then climbed up the boarding ramp onto the jet.
Toby helped them stow luggage and made sure they had drinks before takeoff and were buckled in their seats.
“We have clear weather all the way. We have a tailwind, so our flying time is down to just under two hours. Any questions?” he asked.
“None,” Wolf said. “Let’s do this.”
“Yes, sir,” Toby said, then walked to the cockpit and closed the door behind him.
Moments later, the engines fired, followed by the sound of that familiar roar. After all these years and a thousand flights, Wolf still hated takeoffs and landings. He leaned against the headrest and took a quick sip of his drink, then put it in the cup holder of his chair and folded his hands in his lap, knowing they still had the usual time lapse and waiting in line for takeoff to go through, then finally, they were airborne.
At that point, Wolf glanced out the window. Theywere flying through clouds. Clouds so ethereally perfect in his mind that the jet became a knife slicing through meringue. Within moments they were out of them, and it was nothing but blue sky as far as the eye could see. He wondered then, how many angels had Shandy gathered to fly with him today?
Chapter 20
They landed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, one hour and forty-five minutes after takeoff.
By the time they were allowed to disembark, Wolf was silent, afraid if he opened his mouth, he would be screaming. He had not set foot in this city in twenty-seven years, and he was not looking forward to spending the time here he needed to do what he’d come here to do. This place had meant nothing to him but sadness and defeat, and he wouldn’t be here now if he hadn’t come for war.
“I’ve got your bags, Boss,” Joe said.
Wolf started down the ramp to the waiting limo. His guards loaded their bags in the car and then joined him.
Their driver keyed up the intercom. “Mr. Outen, are we still proceeding to the Waldorf Astoria on Roosevelt?”
“Yes, thank you,” Wolf said.
The limo started moving on the tarmac, then away from the airfield, heading to the hotel on Roosevelt Way. Wolf was numb to the beauty. Lost in the past. But their arrival was duly noted as they entered the lobby.
