Lock Walker strode down the street toward Meridian. The streets were dark, only the glow of the streetlights illuminating the path in front of him.
He stared for a moment at the front of the bar. A bar he’d spent so many hours in with his father growing up.
Cody ran it now. His brother had mentioned they were all meeting up there tonight, but they had no idea that he intended to join them. Or that he was even in town.
He shot a glance at his watch. He’d been here for less than an hour. Wasn’t it supposed to feel like home the second he stepped foot in Misty Peak? It didn’t. But then, nowhere felt like home. It hadn’t for a while.
The familiar facade of his dad’s old building grew closer, and fuck if the memories didn’t hit him hard. Of his dad pouring drinks. Of the noisy nights with his family.
There were also other memories. Ones that were harder for him to think about. Of his father getting sick. Of Dad looking less and less like the strong tower of a man who’d raised him every time Lock came home for a visit.
He stopped in front of the doors and took a deep breath. He couldn’t go in yet. Because for a single second, he felt stuck. Rooted to the spot.
Why was it so hard? Why was being heresofucking hard?
It shouldn’t be.Noneof this should be. Not leaving the military, or coming home, or trying to figure out who the fuck he was and what the hell he was doing with his life.
His gaze moved down the street, a street where so many more of his childhood memories lived, before looking back at the door.
Do it, Lock. Step inside. Tell your brothers you’re home for good.
One more beat of stillness—and he forced himself to push into the bar.
They were all there. His four brothers. Their partners. His niece. Nylah was the only one missing.
Cody was the first to look up, a frown creasing his brow. Then Kayden. Then Eastern and finally Jace.
At first no one spoke, outside of a few gasps, and a quiet slipped over the room, so heavy it thickened the air.
Then a wide grin spread across Cody’s face. “Lock Walker. What thefuckare you doing here?”
His brothers rose to their feet and, one by one, embraced him. He returned their tight hugs, then lifted his niece into his arms. She was too damn big. A hell of a lot bigger than he remembered. He knew she was eight, but in his head she was still a toddler, inciting chaos.
Then he was introduced to their women, each as beautiful as the next. But it wasn’t just that they were beautiful. Each of them had a smile that lit up the room…and when his brothers looked at their women, there was love in their eyes. Real fucking love.
Shit, he’d misseda lot.
Cody pushed a beer into his hand, and Eastern shoved him onto a stool at the bar.
“Talk,” Kayden said.
Lock raised a brow at his oldest brother. “What do you want me to say?”
Jace crossed his arms. “Don’t screw with us. Are you on leave?”
His next breath was heavy. “Actually, my Ghost Ops team disbanded, and we were all discharged. I’m home for good.”
There was that thick beat of silence again. He didn’t blame them. He’d barely come home over the years, so they probably thought he’d never return, even if he left the military.
“You’re screwing with us, right?” Cody asked.
“Nope.”
“Hell yeah!” Jace shouted.
Kayden gripped his shoulder. “In that case, it’s good to have you home.”
Lock dipped his head. “Thanks.”
