Page 21 of Hunted Hearts (Black Heart Security #6)

T he mountains had that crisp look that Theo had only ever seen when it was promising snow. He could smell it in the air too, clean and cold—a tang that almost burned his nose.

Gabe’s going-away party was starting outside, and the ladies had gotten into the spirit. Strings of golden lights had been strung around the fire pit, attached to wooden stakes stuck in the ground. Between the fire Colt already had blazing and the lights, the whole yard was lit up.

At the center, the fire crackled, shooting sparks into the air and vanishing into the dark. The smell of woodsmoke curled through the air, mixing with the laughter and clink of bottles. The faint twang of country music played over a speaker.

Theo stood off to the side, a beer in hand, taking it all in.

There were at least twenty people scattered around.

Malones, Black Heart vets, a couple of locals who’d gotten close to the program.

It was the kind of gathering he’d grown used to since coming home, where tough men who carried ghosts on their shoulders loosened up around a fire, ribbing each other and passing around the therapy baby like she was the one thing anchoring them all.

Navy giggled as Oaks hoisted her in the air like she was flying. She was wearing a snowsuit, and her small mittened hands flapped.

“Fly to your daddy, Navy!” Oaks made her swoop into Denver’s arms.

Theo grinned to see Denver cradle his child and press a kiss to her forehead before she “flew” to Colt. Even the vets who normally kept their distance—hard cases with thousand-yard stares—relaxed when she landed in their arms.

There was something about the baby’s soft babbling and gummy smile that soothed parts of them nothing else could touch.

Theo’s stare shifted from the child to Juliette. Always back to Juliette. Looking at her brought such a mix of feelings. After spending hours in the war room with his brothers, he had enough intel on the charity to create a plan for moving forward.

But it wasn’t nearly enough—not for him. As much as he loved having Juliette here on the ranch, he needed her out of danger.

Even if it meant that she resumed her tour, and things ended between them…it was his job.

He brought the beer to his lips and took a swig. Nothing was strong enough to dull the pain of the thought of her walking out of his life.

Hell.

She stood with the ladies, the firelight caressing her beautiful face and casting parts of it in shadow. But he could tell she was smiling, and her eyes glittered with happiness. He didn’t know his sisters-in-law well yet, but Juliette seemed to enjoy their company.

And she fit right in with them. Which only made her eventual leaving even worse, because it was obvious that he wouldn’t be the only one in the family feeling her loss.

He tried to tear his stare away from her, but it snapped right back like an elastic band.

Too damn bad his heart wouldn’t do the same.

Gray appeared at his side, and Theo grunted in greeting.

“Nice party,” he said.

Gray snorted. “You can’t see anything but Juliette, can you?”

He flicked his gaze to his brother’s and held his stare for several long beats. He wasn’t about to give that comment any response, not when he didn’t have one.

His brother started to say more, but Theo cut across him. “Gabe’s getting a proper send-off.”

Thankfully, Gray rolled with the change of topic. “He’s worked hard to get to this point.”

“Is he the first veteran the Black Heart Ranch program has ever seen go?”

Gray shook his head. “Some only need a short time to transition to the civilian life. Others have been here since the start.”

Theo focused on Oaks standing across the fire with Gabe and a few other vets. The firelight flickered across their faces, but then their solemn expressions stretched into smiles and the sound of their laughter rippled through the air.

“I want to get more involved in the program,” he said.

Gray contemplated him for only a beat. “Could always use more hands on deck.”

“It will keep me busy…after Juliette’s gone.”

“Theo, it doesn’t have to be that way. Anyone can see how you feel—”

He cut him off. “Gotta go talk to Carson.”

He didn’t. He just needed an escape route from that conversation, a ripcord to pull before he said something he’d regret…or let Gray see just how much this all was getting to him.

His oldest brother sat on a split log with his wife in his lap. Before Theo reached them, a shrill whistle that could have only come from Willow pierced the air.

Everyone silenced, all eyes on her. She waved a hand. “Let’s take this party inside! Food’s on!”

Theo’s stare landed on Juliette. She twisted, scanning the crowd. When her gaze met his, his heart threw itself at his ribs.

Unable to stop himself, he strode to her side. The instant he felt the heat of her body and caught the light notes of her perfume playing in his nose, he let out a sigh. But the sight of her in jeans and a casual sweater—and his thick oilskin coat—had his cock hurling itself at his fly.

The rustle of people moving past them to continue the party in the lodge thankfully rendered his growl inaudible.

She tilted her face up. And her lips were right there .

Leaning in, he couldn’t stop himself from claiming her mouth in a soft kiss that pulled a shudder from her.

For a moment, he considered carrying her off to bed. But the veteran they were honoring deserved Theo’s support tonight, and duty called.

He pulled away from Juliette far too soon, if her dazed expression said anything.

Grabbing her hand, he led her across the yard to the lodge.

Willow had gone all out with the event—balloon arches, streamers in the Black Heart colors of blue and silver, and a massive poster with “GOOD LUCK, GABE!” scrawled across it in bold lettering.

A card table was already stacked with gifts, and the buffet boasted a ridiculous spread of food, complete with a towering cake.

The chef had cooked enough to feed an army—burgers stacked high with every topping imaginable, ribs slick with sauce, wings in three flavors, cornbread, potatoes done three different ways.

All of Gabe’s favorites, because if anyone deserved it, it was the quiet Marine-turned-resident who had spent the last year working harder than anyone to get his life back.

The guest of honor stood near the balloons with Navy in his arms and whenever she reached for them, she’d kick her feet as if she could propel herself closer.. Someone had stripped off her snowsuit and she wore footed pajamas now.

“This is amazing,” Juliette said softly beside Theo.

He nodded, chest tight as Gabe dipped his head and kissed Navy’s hair. His voice carried clearly across the room. “Gonna miss you, kiddo. Gonna miss this place a hell of a lot.”

Gabe looked up and met Theo’s gaze. He gave Theo a nod of acknowledgement, and he couldn’t help but feel that even though they didn’t know each other well, he was saying goodbye to a friend.

Clasping Juliette’s hand, he led her over to Gabe.

He held out a palm for a handshake. “Place won’t be the same without you. Next time you’re in the area, swing by and we’ll do some hunting like we talked about.”

Gabe smiled. “I’ll do that.”

“You got plans lined up?”

Gabe shifted Navy into another man’s arms before answering.

“Yeah. My sister lives in Utah. She’s got twins—a boy and a girl.

Her husband owns a garage, needs an extra set of hands.

They invited me to work there, help out.

” His mouth tipped in the faintest smile.

“Seems like a good place to start fresh.”

Theo reached out, gripping his shoulder. “You ever need to come back, you know the door’s open. This place doesn’t close its doors on its own.”

Gabe’s answering nod was firm, though his eyes flicked toward Navy again as the vet holding her blew raspberries against her tiny palm, making her giggle. “Thanks, Theo. That means a lot.”

Theo’s gaze drifted toward the entrance, where more of the group was beginning to shuffle inside. Willow stood off to the side, talking to Decker.

Theo’s senses prickled. Something was off.

The big vet stood rigid, hands jammed into his jacket pockets, his jaw working. Even from this distance, Theo could see the strain radiating off him, a man barely holding it together.

He watched as Willow leaned closer, her voice soft enough he couldn’t make out the words. Her brows were drawn tight, her posture gentle but firm. Decker’s face remained impassive, but then Willow’s hand came to rest lightly on his arm, a small, grounding gesture.

Whatever she said must not have landed. Decker jerked slightly, turned on his heel, and strode out without a word.

Willow stood frozen for a beat, her hand still hovering in the empty space where he’d been, before she turned back toward the room.

Theo caught the flicker of her expression—worry, hurt, something heavy settling in her eyes. He didn’t need to ask to know she was rattled.

Juliette tilted her head toward Willow. “Something’s wrong.”

Theo gave a short nod. “Yeah.”

When they reached Willow, she swiped a hand under her eye quickly, as if trying to erase any sign of what had just happened.

But her voice trembled as she said, “He’s backsliding.

Decker. We don’t understand it. When he first got here, he didn’t speak at all.

Not a word. It took weeks just to get him to meet my eyes, months before he’d talk again.

And now…” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.

“Now he’s gone quiet. Just…stopped talking again. ”

Theo squeezed Willow’s shoulder. “He’s not lost. Oaks is already on him. Colt too—he told me he was the first one Decker spoke to when he had his breakthrough. We’ll figure out what’s setting him off.”

Willow sniffled, shaking her head. “He was doing so well. Laughing. Talking to the other guys. And then out of nowhere…” Her voice thinned, fraying at the edges. “I don’t know if something triggered him, or if it’s just the weight of it all catching up.”