Page 15 of Delta Mission (Alpha Tactical Ops)

“I know how long it’s been, you imbecile.” She backhanded Channing’s chest and pointed a knobby finger at me. “The years don’t blur the disaster you created.”

I wanted to run for the door. But for Channing’s sake, and mine, I needed to have this discussion.

“What’s an imbecile?” Sutton asked her mom.

Betty jutted her chin. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“Aunt Betty,” Channing said.

She held a finger in his face. “Shush. I want to hear it from her.” Her tone was edged with pain.

“Hang on a minute,” Channing raised his voice.

“No, you hang on.” Her lips bunched with distaste as she pointed at me. “The mess you caused nearly broke this family.”

A silence fell over the room.

Clutching my hands until my fingers hurt, I swallowed hard and forced my feet to take a step closer to her.

“You’re right, Betty. I should have said sorry a long time ago.

And I truly am. I never meant to hurt this family, and that’s a mistake I’ve had to live with, and will continue to live with, for the rest of my life.

That mistake nearly ruined me too. But Channing has forgiven me, and that’s all that matters to me.

But if you’d allow it, I would truly value your forgiveness too. ”

She put her hands on her hips. “But what about what you did at my Henry’s funeral? What about that?”

“I am sorry—”

“She doesn’t owe you an apology for that.” Talon stepped to my side. “I do.”

My jaw dropped as I blinked at Talon.

“I started that fight, Aunt Betty. I was drunk, and it was stupid. It should never have happened, and I’m sorry.”

“I am too,” Channing said, giving me a slight nod.

Aunt Betty blinked at the twins, then turned her gaze to me. A charged silence filled the room.

“What’s happening, Mommy?” Sutton whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

“What’s happening, Sutton,” Rupert’s voice boomed from the corner, “is a family reconciliation.”

Sutton scrunched her nose. “What’s a reconcil—”

“It’s where we forgive each other, and move on, so everyone can be happy.” Channing strode to me, slipped around to my back, and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Right, Aunt Betty?”

She bunched her bright pink lips. “Well . . . I just don’t think—”

“Betty. If Makenna and the twins can forgive and forget, you can too.” Rupert glared at his sister.

She huffed.

“Betty,” Rupert said her name like she was a naughty child. “You’ve been angry over that incident long enough. It’s time, don’t you think?”

The turmoil on her face melted, and she waggled her head. “Oh, all right.” She waved me forward. “Come here.” She opened her arms.

Channing nudged me forward, and it took everything I had to walk toward her.

“I always knew you’d come waltzing back through our door.” She squeezed her arms around me, and as I inhaled aromas of talcum powder and cheap perfume, Rupert winked at me.

“Right, then.” Talon smacked his hands together. “Who needs another drink? I know I sure do.” He clapped Channing’s back and left the room. “Mom, it’s safe to come out now,” Talon called toward the kitchen.

Talon was like the pied piper, and with a mass exodus, everyone left the room, leaving Channing and me alone.

Channing picked me up and twirled me around. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Jesus. That was horrific,” I whispered in case anyone was listening.

He lowered my feet to the carpet. “Well, I thought that went very well.”

I checked that nobody was lurking in the next room. “She’s scary.”

Channing dipped me backward and kissed my throat.

I squealed. “Stop that, you imbecile.”

He stood me upright again and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that was harsh.”

I draped my arms over his shoulders and drank him in. “I love you. Even if your family is crazy.”

“You haven’t seen crazy yet. Wait until we’re all seated around that table of food.” He placed his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. His beautiful eyes shimmered. . . divine and possessive. “I love you too, Goodspeed.”

Seeing the love in his eyes, I wanted to pinch myself. Channing had always been in my heart. Now he was in my arms, too. And in my soul.

A beautiful ball of emotion gripped my heart as I pressed my lips to his.

All too soon, he pulled back. “Come on, I want some of Mom’s pork crackling before Talon eats it all.” I grabbed my wine, and he led me into the dining room.

Everyone was seated around the table. Rupert was at the head of the table, with Valerie beside him. Talon was at the opposite end, and I felt his glare as Channing shuffled me into a chair next to his sister.

Across from me, Aunt Betty had her lips in a tight pout. She bugged her eyes at Channing. “About time you joined us. Hurry up and sit before the roast goes cold.”

It was going to be a long dinner.

Channing sat and rubbed his hands together. “Let’s eat.”

“No! Just you hold your horses, mister.” Betty raised her voice. “We haven’t said grace.”

“Grace!” Talon blurted and reached for a piece of crackling.

Channing and I both chuckled.

“Talon! Put that down.” Betty’s glare could freeze lava. She patted Sutton’s hand, who was seated beside her. “Sutton, how about you say grace for us?”

“Okay.” The little girl’s excitement was so cute as she pressed her hands together.

I lowered my gaze and as Sutton said grace, I prayed I made it through the night without any more weird glares from Talon.

Channing and Talon may look identical, but their personalities were so different. Talon was the black sheep. The bad boy. While Channing was the opposite. Maybe that’s why they clashed so much.

As the food was handed around, Betty dominated most of the conversation. Whenever Betty took a breather, Sutton piped in.

“Pass over that crackling, brother.” Channing reached toward Talon.

Talon took a piece and passed the crackling Channing’s way, he then picked up his glass and swirled the dark bourbon around before taking a long slow sip.

As he did, his eyes burned into me. Channing told me that Talon didn’t remember any details of what happened between us. I damn well hoped that was the case.

Maybe it was true. It had happened so quickly, and once we’d been picked up by that chopper in Colombia, Talon had made it his mission to hit on the pilot, Marley, for nearly the entire flight home.

Channing offered me a piece of crackling and as I crunched into it, Betty said, “Don’t eat too much crackling. I made peach cobbler for dessert. With ice cream and custard.”

“Ice cream!” Sutton squealed.

“And peach cobbler,” Betty tutted. “You must have your fruit first.”

“Yes, Aunt Betty.” Sutton pulled a sad face.

The remainder of the dinner was surprisingly fun.

Talon and Channing shared a story from their time together at West Point Military Academy.

They bounced the story off each other, sharing different aspects like the other had no idea what really happened.

It was funny how they disagreed on the most trivial aspects.

It was also fun to see them like that. Like brothers.

Maybe they really could bury their differences.

After dinner was finished, Valerie stood to clear away dishes. I stood and reached for a couple of empty plates.

“No, please sit, Makenna. You’re my guest.” Valerie tilted her head, and her smile seemed truly genuine. Maybe she really could forget what happened all those years ago.

“It’s okay, Valerie, I’d like to help.” I reached for the gravy jug.

“No. No. I insist,” Valerie said.

Channing took the jug from me and passed it toward his mother. “It’s okay, babe. Mom has a system.”

It didn’t seem right, but I sat down anyway.

The plates were stacked at one end, and Valerie and Betty ferried them to the kitchen. Betty returned carrying her peach cobbler and presented it on the table like it was an award-winning cake.

“Yummy.” Sutton sat forward in her seat.

A heavy knock sounded at the door, and both Channing and Talon looked at each other. The fierce expression that crossed between them had my nerves tensing.

Betty pouted her lips so much it was a wonder they didn’t fall off. “Who could that be at this hour?”

“I’ll go.” Talon swigged the last of his bourbon and stood.

“Don’t be long, Talon. I’m dishing up dessert.” Betty drove the spoon into the cobbler with more aggression than was needed.

After Talon vanished into the hallway, I leaned into Channing’s ear. “Were you expecting someone?”

He shook his head.

Betty added ice cream to the top of her cobbler and handed a bowl to Sutton. “What do you say?”

“Thank you.” Sutton reached for her spoon.

Channing’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, read a message, and frowned. He pushed back his chair.

“What’s wrong?” I blinked up at him.

His blue eyes drilled into me. “Talon needs us out back.”

“But it’s dessert time.” Betty glared at him.

“We won’t be long.” Channing grabbed my hand, and the strength of his grip convinced me that whatever was going on, it wasn’t good.

Betty huffed like it was the worst scenario possible.

He led me out to the backyard where a group of chairs were positioned around an unlit fire pit. Talon was already seated, and a woman was with him. When she turned to me, a gasp left my throat. “Marley? What are you doing here?”

Talon clutched a folder to his chest with the word ‘Classified’ stamped in red across the front.

Channing pointed at the file. “What’s going on?”

“We’re in deep shit. That’s what!”

Channing tried to snatch the folder from Talon, but he wouldn’t release it. “What’re you talking about?”

Talon looked at me and let out a long breath. “Remember that kid we left on the rooftop in Colombia?”

“Of course I remember him.”

During that mission to rescue me, Talon had killed every adult in that abandoned school. But while we’d waited on the rooftop for a rescue, a young boy had appeared out of nowhere. Talon had been torn over what to do with him. Leaving him alive had been the right decision.

That kid had watched us run to the chopper, but he didn’t say anything, he didn’t even move.

Talon leveled his gaze at me, and fear inched up my spine at the intensity of his glare. “Well, that little fucker was Sergio Lopez. He’s now twenty-five. And he’s out for revenge.”

THE END