Page 43 of A Dead Man’s Pulse (Trident Security Omega Team #1)

Epilogue

Three weeks later .. .

W ith one arm in a sling, and her free hand clasped with Logan’s, Dakota walked beside him in reverence of the vast size of Arlington National Cemetery.

Photos and videos didn’t do it justice. A light breeze on the sunny day brought with it the scent of freshly mowed grass and the mournful notes of “Taps.” Logan raised their joined hands and pointed far up on a hill to their right, where a funeral was taking place and a lone bugler was standing off to the side, welcoming another deceased veteran to hallowed ground.

As a police officer, it was the one song that never failed to bring a tear to her eye, having heard it at far too many law enforcement funerals over the years.

They’d arrived early so he could take her to watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which had been breathtaking, before heading back past the parking garage toward where his teammates were buried.

Tomorrow, she was going to meet his parents and sister for the first time, and she was nervous as hell since the last time a lover had introduced her to his family had been many years ago.

Tara Reese had recently gotten engaged to her longtime boyfriend, and on Saturday, there would be a large engagement party for the happy couple.

But today, Logan had wanted to introduce her to someone special—but he’d refused to tell her who, insisting it was a surprise.

As they followed the road past rows of white stones, Logan stopped sooner than she expected. “Is this it?”

He shook his head. “No. Just wanted to stop and pay my respects to this kid for a moment.”

Dakota read the stone. Brian Chadwick. Cpl. US Army. “My God, he was only twenty when he was killed in Afghanistan. A baby.”

“Not old enough to drink, but old enough to lay down his life for his country.” He tugged on her hand. “Come on, beautiful. Don’t want to be late.”

He’d been calling her “beautiful” since he’d noticed her frowning at her reflection in the hospital.

Slash wounds and bruises had covered her head, torso, and arms, in addition to the bullet wound.

The black and blue had faded to purple and yellow before disappearing altogether, while the marks from the whip were taking a little longer to heal.

She’d hoped they’d be completely unnoticeable for when she met Logan’s family, but a little makeup might be needed to hide the last of them.

A little further down, on the opposite side of the roadway, she noticed a couple in their thirties standing amongst the white markers, but it was the little boy, about seven years old, with them, who caught her attention.

He was facing one of the graves, his legs shoulder width apart, his head bowed in respect, and his hands clasped at his lower back—a near-perfect parade rest posturing.

She glanced up to see Logan smiling as he also realized what the boy was doing.

When they approached, no one said a word as Logan let go of her hand and positioned himself to the boy’s left, mimicking his stance.

“Attention!” Logan ordered, and he and the boy brought their left feet to meet their right, shoulders back, hands cupped loosely at their sides, chins up, and eyes front. “Present arms!”

Dakota watched in awe as they both lifted their right arms, bringing their flattened hands up, fingers together, angled toward their temples.

A few seconds passed as they saluted the graves, before Logan gave the command, “Order arms!” and they both returned to the “attention” stance.

“Parade rest!” Once they were in their original positions, Logan chuckled before giving the final commands. “At ease and fall out.”

“Logan!” The little boy leaped into the man’s arms and was rewarded with a big hug.

“How’re you doing, Charlie? You grew a few inches!” Setting the boy on his feet again, Logan grinned at him. “And you’ve been practicing a lot.”

“Daddy’s been teaching me. Was it good?”

“It was perfect.”

The boy’s mother smiled as she and her spouse stepped closer. “Logan, this is my husband, Paul.”

Logan shook the other man’s hand. “Nice to finally meet you.” He waved Dakota over.

“This is my girlfriend, Dakota Swift—she’s a Tampa police officer.

Dakota, this is Paul and Dawn Roberts. Paul is also on-the-job in Alexandria, just outside of D.C.

And this is my little buddy, Charlie.” He tousled the kid’s hair.

After shaking hands with the boy’s parents, Dakota took hold of his as well. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.” He turned his attention back to the retired Marine. “Are you one now, Logan? Are you?”

To Dakota’s amazement, Logan blushed and shrugged before glancing her way. “I think you better ask Dakota that question, buddy. She’s not only my girlfriend, but she was also my partner for a while.”

Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “What are you both talking about?”

“Is Logan a hero yet?” his idol-worshiper asked.

There was obviously some story behind this, and she’d get it from Logan later, but for now she answered the boy’s question, knowing her man was uncomfortable calling himself a hero.

“Yes, he is, Charlie.” She gestured toward her injured shoulder.

“I was shot, and Logan saved my life.” Of course, she left out the part about the bullet coming from Logan’s weapon.

“He also made sure a really bad guy would never hurt anyone again.”

Charlie threw his arms around Logan’s waist. “I knew it! I knew you were a hero like your friends and my dad!”

After patting him on the back a few times, Logan took a step backward. “You sure did, buddy.”

“’Kota? Do you know Logan’s friends?” He pointed to the graves.

The boy’s smile and joy was infectious. “No, Charlie. I never had a chance to meet them, but I’ve heard a lot about them.”

“They’re heroes too.” Starting at the grave they’d originally saluted, he patted each stone belonging to Logan’s teammates. “This is Clutch and Gunny and Flipper and Kandy and Pluto and Preacher and Scooby and Hammer.”

At Logan’s stunned expression, Paul laughed. “He’s had them all memorized since you emailed what each of their nicknames were. Every time we come to visit his grandfather’s grave, he stops here and makes sure he has them all correct.”

Swallowing what had to be an emotional lump in his throat, Logan held up his hand. “That’s awesome. High-five, Charlie!”

“High-five! Oh, and Logan’s nickname is Cowboy!” he announced, just in case they hadn’t already known.

The glee and wonder Dakota saw in her lover’s eyes warmed her from head to toe.

With each day that passed, he was enjoying life more.

He’d never forget his teammates and what they’d all gone through, and a part of him would always feel some guilt that he’d come home when they hadn’t, but he was learning to live with it.

He would continue to honor their memories by being the best man he could be and would do it with her at his side.

She’d never expected to fall in love with him, but it definitely had happened.

She almost couldn’t remember the woman she’d been before she’d met him.

They’d both grown . . . for the better. Her relationship with her father was on the mend, although she was certain it would be a rocky road ahead for both of them.

As for her job, she’d been shocked when Ian Sawyer had offered her a position with Trident. After discussing it with Logan, she’d turned the job down. Her career was with Tampa P.D., and after she was cleared for full duty again, she was permanently assigned to the Special Ops Division.

But Sawyer’s offer hadn’t been the only surprise in the past week.

The second one had come when Logan had asked her to move in with him.

While things were still new between them, she hadn’t hesitated to say yes.

He’d gone from being her partner, to being her friend, lover, and Dom, and she couldn’t be happier.

She wanted to be in his bed every night and wake up to his arms wrapped around her every morning.

He’d told her that someday he was going to get down on one knee and ask her to marry him .

. . when the time was right. For now, they were both content to let their love grow between them.

“’Kota! Stand next to Logan. It’s time.”

Charlie’s command brought her back to the present to find everyone was lined up in front of Clutch and Gunny’s graves. “Time for what?” she asked as she joined them to Logan’s left.

“It’s time to salute them again, and then we’re going to lunch.”

As the small group honored Logan’s teammates, the somber notes of “Taps” floated through the air once more.

Another hero was being laid to rest, but this time, instead of shedding a tear, Dakota’s heart felt lighter.

One day, Logan would be laid to rest here, of that she was certain, but until then, she was going to cherish him and every day they had together.

And maybe, someday, they’d have a little girl or boy who would look at Logan with the same adoration as Charlie was looking at him now .

. . after all, he was a true American hero.

If you’re following the best reading order of

the Trident Security series and its spinoffs,

up next is

Salvaging His Soul: Trident Security Book 11 .

Now available.

As many of my readers know, I don’t normally include a play-list in my books (I usually have the TV on in the background).

However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the song that was the inspiration for the Arlington scenes.

“Last Band of Brothers,” by Keni Thomas, is a song that rarely fails to bring a tear to my eye.

If you listen to the words, you’ll understand why.

When I was first writing Logan visiting his teammates’ graves, I had no idea little Charlie was going to walk up to him.

But like most of my characters, he emerged from the depths of my mind, surprising me, and became an amazing part of the story.

This book is dedicated to all those who have served this great country I’m honored to live in.

To those who never came home, and those who came home different than when they left, I thank you.

Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.