Page 39 of Echoes and Oaths (Guardian Security Dynasty #4)
T alon King stepped away from the reception.
Eira’s mom had invited him. His team had watched over her as her sister recovered and ensured the family was safe from the cartel’s blowback after Jinx’s mission imploded the Venezuelan drug scene.
Thankfully, the national government had stepped in, and the area was, for now, stabilized.
The drive back to his grandpa Frank’s ranch was pleasant and quiet.
When he pulled up, he was surprised to see his grandfather sitting on the porch swing.
He dismounted the truck and walked up the huge flight of stairs to the porch.
Sitting down next to his grandfather, he accepted the piece of taffy that was handed to him .
“Nice affair?”
“Yes, sir.” Talon chuckled. “Seemed to be.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before his grandfather leaned forward. “Son, I don’t offer advice often, but I’m going to give you a line or two.”
Talon blinked and turned to his grandfather. He looked the same today as in Talon’s first memories of the man. Tall, strong, sharp eyes that could look through a man and leave him bared to the world.
“What’s that?” Talon asked.
“You need to drop your guard.”
“What do you mean, sir?” Talon frowned. He wasn’t on guard. Hell, he was just at a wedding.
“When was the last time you talked to a stranger?”
Talon cocked his head. “All the time. Grandpa, what in the hell are you getting at? Are you okay?”
His grandpa grunted. “I’m going to cut through the fat and get to the meat. When the Siege happened, it scarred you. Bad. You don’t trust anyone.”
“Not true. I trust family and my team.”
“How long did it take you to trust your team and the new guy … will you trust him on your six without looking back? ”
Talon sighed and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, looking out into the darkness.
“No, sir. Not yet.” He had two new men on his team.
Stryker and Jug were the only ones he trusted without hesitation.
The other two were a work in progress … at least for him.
They were good, but he didn’t give anyone his trust without reason.
“And that’s a problem.” His grandpa handed him another piece of taffy. “When was the last time you talked to Wheeler?”
“Doc?” Talon’s eyebrows shot north to his hairline. “Damn, years ago. I don’t need a shrink, Grandpa. I’m fine.”
Frank grunted again. “One day you’re going to wake up and realize trust is as important as breathing.
” He stood up, fluid and strong. His grandpa made his way to the house's screen door before he turned. “It hurts your parents. They know how you close yourself off when you’re not around family. Hurts me. We think we’re responsible. You were just a kid.”
Talon looked up at his grandpa. “No, you’re not responsible, and neither are they.
They didn’t cause that damage. The Siege did.
Yes, sir, I don’t trust anyone for that reason.
You know what happens when you trust blindly.
Look at Foxtrot Team. They imploded. You know what I’m talking about.
” He shook his head. No one spoke of it, but the lack of trust and greed broke that team, and too many lost their lives that day.
It was a textbook example, and he used it as proof of why he refused to trust anyone except his family.
“That was eons ago, son.”
“Yeah, it was, but they still imploded. I see it on every mission. Trust is the way people take advantage of the weak or the foolish. Trust causes a person to turn a blind eye. Trust is a weakness . I’ve learned the lesson well.
Trust no one with your life. And I don’t, sir.
I won’t open myself or anyone I work with to that level of vulnerability.
That is a personal choice I get to make.
I will work to improve this world, but the people I trust are very few for many reasons. ”
His grandfather stared at him for a moment. “You’ll be a very lonely man. Could die without knowing the love of a good woman or that of your own family.” He walked into the house, and the screen door shut after him.
Talon leaned back against the bench and pushed off with his boot. He’d never let anyone get that close to him. Never. He stared into the night and said, “You have no idea how true that statement is, Grandpa. No idea.”
Talon King is now the leader of his own team. He is thrust into a world where nothing is as it seems, a screwed up mission where love and family are used for profit and leverage. Come along as Talon navigates the razor-sharp edge of love and betrayal, and grab your copy of Heir of Honor now.