Page 35 of Redeeming Violet (Red Team #3)

“Hooyah, Chief Wheeler,” Zane, Leo, Linc, Benny, Cookie, Dude, and Abe all returned.

Godspeed friend.

Violet

I’d stopped trying to hide my tears while we were at the church. I didn’t even bother now, there was no stopping them. I’d known Eric a very short amount of time, but I knew all I needed to know. He was the type of man other men wanted to be around. He was brave and kind.

He was dead.

I couldn’t believe it. It still didn’t feel real. One minute he was running, the next gone. I couldn’t remember the last conversation I’d had with him.

The loud hooyah from the men drew my attention back.

Zane placed Eric’s flag on Jasmin’s lap and he walked to the casket.

He paused a moment and I felt a sob bubbling up.

I don’t know how I could’ve missed the misery he’d been trying to mask all day.

It was painful to see. Zane pulled something from his pocket and placed it on the lid.

A second later he slapped his hand down embedding the object.

Leo and Linc followed, only Linc used a fist to pound his in.

When the three were done, Wolf, Benny, Abe, Cookie, and Dude each made their way in front of the casket, only instead of taking something out of their pocket they pulled it off the left breast of their dress uniforms.

Their gold Navy SEAL Tridents.

Each of them pounded theirs next to the first three and soon eight shiny gold Tridents were in a row. When the last of Wolf’s team was done, a man that had ridden in on a motorcycle with the honor guard stepped forward and he too took a Trident from his pocket and pounded it in.

More and more men walked up from the crowd and paid their respects.

With each fist that pounded on Eric’s casket, my heart thudded in my chest and understanding dawned.

Jaxon was right, death wasn’t pretty. It is raw, vicious, and overwhelmingly heartbreaking.

But to these men, warriors, the men that have answered the call, and gone into battle knowing they may not return - there is a certain beauty knowing Eric died in service to others.

He lived and died by an oath that most think are just words spoken, instead of words lived.

When it was over, I slipped away from the guys and I walked back to the casket. I touched the cool wood, careful not to touch any of the adornments, and admired the poignant meaning behind them. Respect. Gratitude. Honor. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I heard your song and it was beautiful.”

“Wolf and his team left. Are you ready to go? Everyone’s coming back to our place for a few drinks,” Jaxon said and knocked on Eric’s casket twice.

“We’re not going to wait until the coffin is lowered?” I asked.

“Nope. His instructions were not to mill about and wait for a piece of meat to be offered to the earth. His words, not mine.” I cringed at his description.

“Baby, Eric believed in God. His belief was wherever he was in the world when his spirit exited this place and moved on to the next, that was his interment so to speak. He’s gone.

His soul left this earth in Brazil and it was a blessing to spend his last moments alive by his side. ”

“I’m proud of you,” I told him. Damn, that sounded silly and condescending and I rushed out.

“I just mean, I see it, the pain behind your eyes. Not once have you given in to it. You’ve honored Eric the way he wanted.

But Jax, when you need to give in to it, I’m here for you.

I’m strong. I need you to trust me enough to lean on me.

It would kill me to think you were keeping it in. ”

“Thank you, baby. I know you can handle it.”

Jaxon and I made our way back to the group when two men were walking up behind the huddle. Jaxon let out a sharp whistle and lifted his chin. They all turned their heads to see who was approaching. When we stopped, Zane looked like he was getting ready to take thermonuclear to a whole new level.

“I believe that belongs to me,” the older man said. His clothing was disheveled, and he smelled like a brewery. The man standing next to him looked a lot like… Eric.

“You’d be wrong,” Zane returned.

“I’m…”

“I know who the fuck you are,” Zane cut him off. “I clocked your sorry ass the minute you and your son exited your rental. I’m sorry you wasted a trip, but this flag…” Zane held it up and continued “Absolutely doesn’t belong to you.”

“That was my brother that was buried today,” the younger man spoke. “My father deserves that flag. He’s earned the right to have that.”

Oh no! No, no, no. There were now six very pissed off, very dangerous men ready to kill this asswipe. Not to mention Jasmin looked like she’d swallowed a lemon.

“Deserves?” Zane growled. “Earned? Neither of you know jack shit what this flag represents. Do you think you have the mental fortitude or the wherewithal to stand battle ready and earn this flag?” He turned back to Eric’s father.

“You’re a drunk and a child abuser. You beat your wife and you beat your son.

You haven’t earned shit. And you, until the day comes you’re able to take my vest and my gun when bullets are flying, I suggest you shut your fucking mouth.

He was not your brother. He was ours. We stood by his side.

Never you. You know nothing of selfless service.

No one deserves this flag. It belonged to Eric, he earned it.

The mere fact I’m holding it in my hands makes me sick, because it means he’s not here.

One more thing before you’re both going to turn and walk away.

He hated you both. He never forgave you.

Want to know how I know? He hated you not because of what you did to him, but what you did to his mother.

Did you know that he donated half of his earnings to battered women’s shelters?

Did you know that he volunteered at the local Big Brother chapter, or that he taught self-defense at the local gym to women, for free?

No, you didn’t know any of that. Eric was a goddamned miracle, no thanks to you.

One thing you gave him - you taught him exactly the type of man he didn’t want to be, and he worked every day making sure he wasn’t.

So, fuck what you think you deserve. And shove your earned straight up your ass. ”

Both men stood staring at Zane. The tension was so thick I didn’t know what to do to cut it. No one was moving. This was not the time or the place for them to kill Eric’s father and brother.

“Fuck…” the brother started.

“I wouldn’t go there,” I said, stepping away from Jaxon. “You can’t be that stupid. Look at them and then look at you. Do you really think it’s a good idea to finish that sentence? Cut your losses and get in your car.”

“My brother…”

“You must really either want to die today or have a hard head. Get in the car and go. If having a flag is so important to you, go to the store and buy one. Hang it in your house in a pretty box with a plaque and let everyone that comes over ohh and ahh over it. But friend, it’s not gonna be this one. ”

“That one is…”

“Christ! You’re just stupid. That one,” I pointed to the flag Zane was holding, “and one you can buy at the store are the exact same thing. There would be no significant difference for you . Do you know why? Because it’s not about the flag.

It’s about the man under it. That’s the part you fail to realize.

This flag means nothing to you, because you meant nothing to Eric.

” I turned to Zane and in what might’ve been the bravest moment of my life, I touched his shoulder.

He was literally vibrating in anger. “Zane?” He looked down at me and I nearly wet myself.

I sucked in a breath and continued. “Fuck ‘em. Who gives a shit if they stand here and mill about. He’s not here anymore, they don’t get him.

He lives in you six. Jaxon, Colin, Leo, Linc, you, and Jasmin.

You have him tucked away. He was your brother.

These two? They are nothing more than two droplets of water in an ocean that was his life.

We’re grilling at our house, poppin’ a few beers and Jax promised you some cheap ass Knob Creek. Let’s go.”

Zane continued to stare at me and I wondered how big of a mistake I’d made. I didn’t think he’d appreciate being touched a whole lot and he probably didn’t like people even hinting he should do something.

“Hey, Jax,” Zane said, and I figured he must’ve been super pissed if he was addressing Jaxon and not me. “Man, why didn’t you tell me your woman was a poet? Ocean that was his life, huh? Yeah, I like that. ”

And for the first time, Zane Lewis smiled at me. A real smile that hit his eyes, and if I wasn’t madly in love with Jaxon I might’ve admitted that it made him look hot.

“You have dimples. They’re cute.” I winked and walked back to Jax.

“Cute?” Zane barked.

Lincoln’s laugh triggered everyone else’s. Standing next to Eric Wheeler’s grave, his team laughed until they cried. No one noticed when the other two men walked away. No one cared. The truth was they were meaningless. Everyone that Eric loved was there, smiling and happy.

“I can’t believe you called Zane cute,” Jaxon whispered.

“I said his dimples were. Not him.”

“Same thing,” he chuckled.

“I think I peed a little bit when he gave me the stare down. Can we go home?”

“Yeah, baby, let’s get you home and get those wet panties off of you.”

“Are you hitting on me?” I laughed.

“Oh yeah. Is it working?”

“Like a charm.”

“I’m taking Violet home. See you fuckers later.”

Home.

Jaxon grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the car. With a wave over my shoulder, I was ready. Ready to leave the past where it belonged—in the past.