“What’s all this? Someone’s birthday?” Lucky shakes hands and kisses cheeks.
When done with the greetings, Blake clears her throat. “Could we all take a seat, please?”
My husband, still confused, glances at his friends, circled around him. Sitting next to him on the couch, I grab his hands and let out the breath I was holding.
“It’s an intervention.”
“For who? Me? Are you fookin’ kidding?” When he stands, I do too.
“Wait.”
Blake steps to the middle of the room and says, “Would you be willing to stay for a moment? To hear us out?”
“Hell no. I’m not an addict. Who told you I was?” He stares at me like I’m to blame and I am but not in the way he’s thinking.
I put my arm around his waist because he’s sprung tight, ready to bolt. “If you’re going overseas, this is the least you can do for me.”
“Fine.” He plops on the couch and steams while I sit.
Blake starts the proceedings the way we rehearsed. “Loch, we’re all family here. We want to help.”
“I had a few whiskeys but I’m a far cry from an alky.” My husband glares at Suds, apparently deciding he was the culprit.
“We know that, hun.” I try to take his hand but he pulls it away.
“Then what is it? Why’re you here?”
Blake says to Suds. “You start.”
The bodyguard looks about as uncomfortable as Lucky. He unfolds a piece of lined paper pulled from a notepad. “Lucky…”
He clears his throat. “We’ve been through a lot of tough times together, none worse than the week before last. It’s my fault and I’m so fucking sorry. When the building blew up around us, I thought for sure we all were dead but we weren’t, man. We all got out alive. And when the good Lord gives you a second chance, you need to take it. You can’t dwell on what might’ve happened. You got a wife with a bun in the oven. What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes. Don’t throw it all away, pal. Get your shit together and get some help. And… I love you, man.”
Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Suds sits as Grayson stands. “I can’t fathom what happened to you in Afghanistan but I can relate to how you felt standing in front of the ashes of the Italian restaurant. I wanted to jump in, too.”
He turns and holds Isabella’s hand. “Loving someone is the hardest thing you’ll ever do and I’ve never known you to be a coward. Leaving Callie won’t fix what’s broken in you. Staying is the only thing that will make you whole again.”
He looks at Blake. “That’s all I have.”
Isabella stands. “We’ve only met a few times so I’ll be brief. Gray sent me away at one point when I was in danger. He thought it was the right thing at the time but it wasn’t. A couple is stronger when they stand together.”
Can I go next?” I stand.
Blake nods and with hands shaking, I hold the paper and wait for Lochlan to stop pouting and look at me.
When he does, I begin. “Honey, I’m the one who asked everyone to come here. If nothing else, it will be a goodbye you can remember during your long nights away. I can understand why you want to serve but I’m worried. Why now? I have to assume it’s because of almost losing me. I understand how you feel because it’s what I’m feeling now. If you go, I’m petrified I’ll never see you again. How will I and our little roo go on?”
Tears flow freely and I wipe them away, smudging my paper when I hold it up again. “I’ve felt you slipping away and tried to hold on. I can’t bear you leaving, or worse, dying because of me.” I swallow back a sob. “I love you so much. I’m so, so sorry. I wish we had never met because then you wouldn’t be leaving on account of me.”
I sit back down and sob into my knees. He’s so angry. This isn’t going to work. It’s probably going to make things worse. I totally screwed up.
Lucky curses under his breath beside me and holds me close. “It’s going to be okay. Don’t cry, luv. I promise.”
After that, Jack stands. “Me and Blake went through a lot of shit together. Some asshole kidnapped her when I wasn’t looking but working together, we all got her free. I get how Patten Securities has got to do better at keeping our ladies safe. But you leaving isn’t going to keep her safe, pal. She says she’s not going to stop working for Patten. Now, I’m not going to convince you not to serve. Not my place. However, you should serve for the right reasons. In my mind, you paid your dues. You got a shitload of nightmares to prove it. That’s all I got to say.”
“I appreciate your support.” Lucky gives him an approving nod.
Slate clears his throat from where he leans against the far wall. "Wait. I got something to say.”
