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I smirked. Christmases could have been a lot different if I had given Kaitlyn any thought. But what th

e fuck did I know back then? She was in high school. She was a skinny kid in glasses. And honestly, it was worth the wait. I’d never thought I’d be the kind of man to see life that way, but I did.

With her in my life, things were in focus for the first time.

It may have taken eight years to get where we were, but it was exactly where we were supposed to be. The wind kicked up on the ocean and I turned back to the cottage. I didn’t want to miss Grayson waking up if he needed something.

Before I crossed over the threshold I looked down at my watch. Kaitlyn should be on her flight home by now. Something in my chest tightened. I didn’t like the look on her face when she left. I didn’t like that she had to drive to the airport. I didn’t like she was flying out of Texas without me.

We wouldn’t travel like this again. When we flew back, we’d be side by side. We’d start the new year the right way. I wasn’t one for resolutions, but maybe I should make one.

I started to open the door when my phone rang. I pulled it from my back pocket.

“Hello?”

“Captain Thomas.”

I shook my head. “I don’t go by that anymore.”

“I’m glad I found you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve tried three other Cole Thomases before I found the correct one,” he explained. “This is Colonel Grant Brady with the FAO office at the Pentagon.”

My back immediately straightened. “Sir,” I answered, closing the door again. I could see Grayson snuggled on the couch. I decided to watch him through the door. I had no idea what in the hell this call was about, but I already didn’t like it.

“Captain Thomas, we have received some intel and could use your help.”

I closed my eyes. Fuck.

“Sir, I’m no longer in the Corps. I might not be the Cole Thomas you’re looking for. Maybe you should keep calling around.”

“You were the lead Foreign Area Officer in Kabatur, according to my information.”

I shook my head. This couldn’t be happening. It was every bad dream I’d ever had.

“If that’s what your report states.”

“It is,” he continued. “We have a situation that requires your service.”

“I’ve been gone nearly two years. The Corps had to replace me with another expert on Kabatur. Where is he? I can’t believe I’m of any use to you.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t go into it, but the officer is no longer with us. He died in an IED explosion in-country. We don’t have another option right now. I can’t recall a time I’ve called an officer who has left. You’re right. This isn’t ordinary. It’s an emergency.”

I didn’t want to know about the emergency. I didn’t want to know another good officer had died from an IED. I had moved away from my duty and service for a reason. That reason was asleep on the couch with a fever right now.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m not going to be able to help you.”

“Will you think about it? Consider how critical this is. There are Americans who need your assistance.”

I huffed. “There has to be someone else. Other people speak Kabutese. I’m not current. I’m not your guy.”

“I don’t need someone current.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because we have Ra’s Satori’s location.”