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“Juliana trust me, guys likethat”he pointed dramatically “don’t come around very often. When they do, you need to take full advantage of them.”

“I’m not taking advantage of anyone,” I protested. “It’s just that--"

“Then you’re batshit crazy,” Aric winked.

Twenty

JULIANA

There were few places cooler than walking through Central Park, especially during the spring and summer. With all the leaves on the trees and the lush green lawns, you could almost forget you were in the City. If you went deep enough, you couldn’t even see the buildings anymore. It was like suddenly being transported to another world where the traffic noise faded and everything slowed down.

On a day like today it was picture perfect; not too hot, not too cool. As we passed through Cedar Hill and down in the direction of the Great Lawn, the sky opened above us like a big blue marble. I marveled at how tranquil it was, swirling with puffy white clouds that made me forget all about work, my apartment, or the even City.

“So… shrapnel.”

Devyn nodded again as we walked side-by-side. I learned his assignment had been a quick one, and that rather than fly home to the west he’d jumped on a C-130 that was headed for New York instead. He hadn’t told me too many details, but whatever his mission was it had been short and violent.

“I thought you did deep-sea rescue,” I said.

“I do,” he confirmed. “But it’s notallI do.”

His hand accidentally brushed mine. As I was debating whether to loop my arm through his — I could’ve blamed it on the little hill we were currently climbing — Devyn slid our palms together and interlaced his fingers with mine.

“Let’s just say I helped some people on the other side of the world,” the SEAL said. “Good people.”

My gaze traced the series of wounds on his face. My voice dropped an octave.

“But people hurt you,” I said sorrowfully.

“Yes.”

“Bad people?”

He nodded solemnly. “It’s okay. I hurt them back.”

Devyn squeezed my hand gently, guiding me along the path. I kept assuming I knew the City better than he did. In retrospect, that line of thinking was probably untrue.

“Is everyone else okay?” I asked, sweeping my hair back. “I mean… from your group—”

“UDT Team.”

I could see his blue eyes scanning the park, side to side. His mind was elsewhere, though.

“And what’s that?”

“Underwater Demol—”

He stopped walking abruptly, then turned to look at me. There was an inner conflict in his eyes, but also a deep, infinite patience.

“Everyone from my team is fine,” he said finally. “More or less.”

A pair of tricycle carts went by, towing tourists along the paved path on big aluminum-rimmed tires. As usual I tried to avoid them. They were always stopping abruptly to point out historic sights or features, all throughout the park.

“You never really got to tell me about you,” I said to Devyn. “When the chopper picked you up, it cut our time short.”

“Yeah, guess so.”

“I wanted to know how you ended up in the desert,” I told him. “I wanted to hear about your life, your family, your upbringing here in New York.”