Page 147 of Depths of Destruction

I don't dare move while she sleeps, but a noise in the house stirs me.

Someone is here.

I carefully place Naomi on the pillow and grab my gun. I shut the door to the bedroom and creep down the hallway.

Please be one of the guys.

At the very least, Hunter and Ryker should have been here when we arrived. There is no sign anyone except my family has ever stayed here. Axel and Dirk should have been close behind us, but the news is reporting Honduras had more earthquakes, so who knows what they are up against. Then there's Malin.

As much as every guy on my team is like my brother, I hope it's Malin who came into the house. Naomi is a wreck over Emilia, and it would be great to have them reunited.

My gun is loaded, and I flip the safety.

Don't blow their heads off.

Unless it's an intruder, then blow his head off.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins, and I turn the corner.

"Blaise. What are you doing here?"

He lowers the gun he's pointing at me. A line forms between his dark eyes. "You almost got a bullet through your brain. I think I should be asking you the same."

I flip the safety on my gun and set it on the counter. "Long story." We embrace.

"Are you done with your tour?" I ask him.

"Yep. I'm not going back, either."

"You're not?"

He scratches his day old beard. "No. I need to be done."

A chill runs through my body. I know theneed to be done. "You all right?"

"Will be."

Eye to eye, unspoken words pass between us. Blaise and I are the closest in age and spent the most amount of time together in the military. My little brother, Javier, was the oops baby, and I was a teenager when he was born. Most of my childhood memories are with Blaise. But the ability to not speak and still understand the other isn't just from our brotherly bond. It's the experiences we've endured defending our country.

"You have plans or taking a break for a while?" Last time Blaise's contract was up, he said he wasn't going back. He surprised us all and returned. We were all worried about him. At times, he suffers from severe PTSD. No one in my family thought he should have re-enlisted.

He shifts. "I really am done this time. But I think it's best if I take a time-out and figure out my next move."

"Makes sense. Don't rush it."

"Andre?" Naomi's soft voice calls out.

I turn.

Her fingers are white from holding the wall, and her eyes widen.

I am quickly by her side. "It's okay, baby. This is my brother, Blaise."

It takes a moment for my words to register. She slowly smiles. "Hi."

Blaise nods. "Ma'am."

"This is Naomi." I take her hand and lead her farther into the kitchen.