Lucas

“I can’t believe we have a dog now.” Alyssa squeals. Her arms are wrapped around Nero’s neck, and the way he melts into her like he can’t get enough brings a smile to my face.

I’m still amazed at how well he’s adjusted to life with the girls. Looking at him now, you’d never believe that just a year and a half ago he was in Afghanistan, fast roping out of Blackhawks and incapacitating armed insurgents. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous when I first brought him around the girls. For four long deployments involving countless missions, Nero was entrenched in active war zones. He’s been shot at, stabbed, and beaten, and his body still carries the shrapnel that almost ended his life on that last mission.

 Though not his handler at the time, I had the pleasure of observing him in action, which is how I knew he could distinguish between friend and foe. I’d seen him walk excitedly amongst children playing in the crowded streets of the Mandawi Market in Kabul. But when it was time to work, he had no trouble tuning them out, often running right past them on his way to attack the next designated target. As such, I knew I could trust him around the girls, at least for short periods. Anything beyond that I wasn’t sure, but it didn’t take long for me to realize not only could I trust him, but that babysitter and glorified cuddle buddy were also part of his calling.

“Lyssie baby, leave the poor guy alone. And he’s not OUR dog. He’s Uncle Luc’s dog.” Embree tries to explain over Alyssa’s loud giggles, as Nero returns her affection with eager puppy kisses.

“Uncle Luc. You said we could share him,” she complains to me with two little fists on her hips and an adorable scowl on her brow. Watching her reminds me so much of her mother and my sister that once again, my mouth pulls into a grin.

“I did say that, didn’t I?” I nod, but stop when I catch the way Emilia’s glaring at me.

Damn it!

I guess that wasn’t the right answer.

I’m learning that being around the girls and their mother is like walking through a minefield. Not because of the kids themselves, but because I have to be reading Embree’s expressions constantly. Who knew that there’s this whole other language of non-verbal cues adults use to communicate when in the presence of children? It’s something I’ve yet to master, and based on how she’s looking at me now, I’d say I have a long way to go.

Time for a preemptive strike.

It’s another lesson I’ve picked up during my time with them. Do or say something around the kids she doesn’t like, fix it by redirecting them to do something helpful.

 “Okay girls, time to help mommy out. Both of you upstairs, double-time, so you can get ready for your baths.”

Helping Mallory off the chair, I ruffle both their little heads and then guide them out of the kitchen toward the stairs. When I encourage them to go up but don’t follow, they turn to me with a look of disappointment.

“No. We want you to do it.” Alyssa takes my hand and starts jumping up and down in front of me, desperate to get me to agree. “Pleeeeease, pretty, pretty, pleeeeease.” When her face twists into an exaggerated look of agony, I bite back a chuckle.

But then, to my surprise, little Mallory reaches up for me, asking to be picked up in a move I’ve only seen her do with her mother. Wasting no time, I swallow down the lump in my throat and lift her into my arms. In the distance, I hear Embree’s breath hitch, but as much as I want to check on her, I can’t tear myself away from Mallory’s doe eyes, whiskey-colored, just like her mama’s.

“Pwease, Wuc. Pwease.” She whispers so low I can just make it out.

When I smile at her in awe, she raises her little shoulder and ducks her head with an embarrassed grin. There’s a sparkle of wonderment in her eyes, almost like she’s amazed at finding herself in my arms. The way she’s looking at me ignites something deep inside of me. A sense of possession, commitment, and devotion all wrapped into one. It’s a feeling so strong and pure that I make a silent vow to do whatever it takes to make sure she always looks at me this way.

When my gaze finally meets Embree’s in search of permission, I’m relieved to find acceptance there.

“Your mama said yes, so go on up. Get ready and I’ll be there a minute.”

After ruffling both their little heads, I watch them take off at a run. Their sweet little voices carry even after they’ve disappeared into their bedroom. When I turn, I find Embree staring at me with an emotion I can’t quite read.

“Thanks for letting me help with them. It means a lot.” Again she gives me a silent nod, similar to the way Mallory likes to communicate. “You know, it’s you who she gets it from?”

“What?” She smiles at me, crinkling her nose in adorable confusion.

“Mallory. The way she nods her answers, no words, just her little head doing the talking for her. She gets that from you.”

“You think?” She asks, genuinely wondering which makes me laugh.

It takes only four strides to get to her. Wrapping her in my arms, I lean down to drop a soft kiss on the top of her head.

“Yes. And I don’t think it. I know it. I see it every day.”

And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful. My time with them has upended everything I thought I knew about myself. It has opened my eyes to the realization I can have this. A life surrounded by people. A family. A home. Friends and neighbors. Even the dog. Every moment with them is like a sunrise, an invitation to new and fresh experiences. They make me want things I never thought would be possible. Things like kids of my own. A future with the only woman I’ve ever loved…

“Well, you better get going.” She slowly rises on her toes, coaxing me to lean down to meet her lips in a chaste kiss. “They’re waiting for you, and they’re far less patient than me.” Smiling, she takes a few steps back, before turning away and heading back towards the kitchen. Like a fool in love, I watch her walk away in total disbelief that this is my life.

“Uncle Luc. Are you coming?” Alyssa yells from the top of the stairs.

With the spell broken, I take the steps up two at a time, calling for Nero to follow. As I do every time, I look over the family pictures that adorn the walls as I walk past. Thinking back to my conversation with Ben two days ago, I scowl. He was right. Just as he said, all the pictures that include Creed seem to have been taken on four different occasions. One of those was their wedding, which means in the seven years they’ve been married, he’s only posed for family photographs three times.

As for Embree and the girls, their photos span over the years and were taken at over a dozen separate events. That he seemed to have missed so much of their lives makes me angry for them. As I hear the voices of the two little girls summoning me, I can’t help but wonder how a man with so much could so easily give it all up. 

For the next 10 minutes, we fill up the bathtub. The girls toss in a myriad of toys while Alyssa jabbers on about mermaids, whales, and fish. Once they’re in the water, I can’t help but laugh when Alyssa pretends she’s a mermaid, while little Mallory looks on with glee.

There was a time many years ago when Embree, Jenny, and I were just as carefree. We’d spend our days down by the lake, playing similar games as we reveled and thrived in the safe world our parents created for us. Looking back, I’m glad we got to experience that. While the tragedy of my parents’ death robbed us of so much, the one thing it could never take away was the memory of those simple days.

 Looking at the girls, I make another silent vow. For as long as the universe allows, for as long as I can manage it, they will be carefree. I’ll make sure of it. And when such a time comes that the universe takes it all away, I’ll be there too. Fighting to my last breath, to show them they are still whole. That life is meant to be lived regardless of the things we lose. A lesson I’m still struggling to learn, but which I’ll cling to with all my might, thanks to them.

When Nero stands abruptly, my attention shifts to him. By the time I hear the low growl, my hyper-awareness is already on edge. Something is wrong. I feel it in the air, sense it in how time stands still. Reaching into my back pocket to get my phone, I select the security system app and hit the panic button to alert the team. Then I dial Embree’s phone.

“Girls. I’m right out here.”

I step outside the bathroom door calmly, standing just outside where I can keep my eye on them. Without having to ask, Nero follows. His posture is stiff as he stands at attention, awaiting his orders.

“Stop what you’re doing. Don’t say a word and come to me. Stay on the line until you get here. I already hit the panic and the team’s on their way.”

She does as I ask and doesn’t respond. On the line, I hear her making her way upstairs. When she gets to the landing, her eyes are wide with fear.

“It’s going to be alright,” I tell her, as I hang up my phone. “Get in the bathroom, lock the door, and get the girls ready to move, just in case,” I whisper. Both so the girls don’t hear, and because I don’t know who else might be listening.

“Lucas…” it’s all she says, her distress evident in the slight tremors that roll through her.

Pulling her into a quick embrace, I place a kiss on the top of her head.

“Teams on their way. Nero and I got it covered until they get here. You’ll be safe. We’ll make sure of it.”

Then I push her through the door, locking it before shutting it quietly behind me. Knowing they’re secure for the moment, I move to the gun safe in the guest room, Nero at my heels. The hair on his back stands, and his guttural growl warns the danger hasn’t passed. Once my weapon is secured, I give him the command.

“Zoek.” Search.

It doesn’t take long for me to realize whatever he’s sensing is unique. As I follow him to Embree’s bedroom at the back of the house, I watch his eyes scanning up and down the walls. When he stands on his hind legs at Embree’s bedroom window, that’s when I hear the unmistakable buzzing. Straight away, I know what we’re dealing with.

“Nero, los.”

I call him back, already running towards the bathroom door.

“Embree. It’s a drone. Get in the tub with the girls. Do NOT open this door for anyone but me.”

Not waiting for an answer, I sprint down the steps, going through the hall and into the kitchen, where I draw my gun and command Nero to get behind me. Opening the door slowly, I listen for the low hum, looking for confirmation of where the drone is hovering. The moment I step outside, it pulls away from the house, proving whoever is piloting it has seen me. Lifting my gun, I move to shoot it out of the sky, but at the sound of a car door closing, I make the split-second decision to stand down.

At this point, the drone is quite a ways away, and though I could have shot it down, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. Whoever was behind that thing already got what they came for, and discharging my weapon in the quiet neighborhood would only bring unwanted attention. Re-holstering my weapon, I call Nero back inside. Re-setting the alarm, I pull out my cell phone, which hasn’t stopped vibrating since I set off the panic protocol.

“It was a drone,” I tell Owen. “Took off, heading east. Got Embree and the girls hiding in the tub, and couldn’t leave them alone to track it.” Switching the phone to my other ear, I walk toward the front of the house, Nero at my heels. “Why didn’t it trigger the alarm, Owen? The motion sensors should have picked it up.” The tremor in my voice is the only sign I’m shaken.

“They weren’t set to detect above, just threats coming at ground level.” 

“What the hell, Owen? We’re not dealing with amateurs here.” Weapon drawn, I move to clear the downstairs space, room by room, even as it’s obvious there is no one here. Even if the alarm had failed, Nero would have alerted me.

“I know man, my bad. Just didn’t expect that.” I hear him typing away as he takes a pause. “Teams there. Ben and Dom are clearing the front, Zeb and James the back. I’ll disengage the alarm and let them in when I get their all clear.”

Re-holstering my weapon, I take the steps up two at a time until I’m back at the bathroom door.

“Embree, five more minutes. The guys are here. They’re just clearing the outside.”

And then it hits me.

The panic.

The endless list of fucked up possibilities that could have meant the loss of everything I found here.

Fuck, just the thought is enough to cripple me. The searing pain at the bottom of my chest as I fight to suck in a breath has me collapsing, my hands at my thighs, the only thing preventing me from falling on my face. This isn’t my first time having to protect someone I care about. It’s not the first time I’ve put my life on the line to help someone else. But it is the first time that losing was absolutely not an option. I cannot lose them. I cannot let anything happen to them.

When I hear the front door disengage, I force myself to stand. With sweat dripping down the side of my face, I lean back against the wall for support. Nero’s ears lay back, and he lets out a quiet growl until he sees Ben and Domnick coming in through the front door, at which point he wags his tail in recognition that all is safe.

For the first time since I adopted him, I’m infuriated by how easily he relaxes. I’m enraged and completely out of my mind because there is nothing safe about this situation. If anything, the risk has been amplified. The assholes who we hoped would give up and set Embree free have come to let us know this is just the beginning.

No. There is no time to rest. No time to celebrate that we came away unscathed. Instead, it’s time to preempt, plan, and get ready for the fight that’s surely coming. Because if there’s one thing I know for certain, the worst is yet to come.

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Author’s Note: 

We now have confirmation that Embree and the girls are still in danger. For Lucas, this is the worst-case scenario given his track record of losing the people he cares about. 

What do you think about this chapter? Would love to know what you think about Nero and his role so far in this story.

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