“Era male, non è vero?”
“Sì,” he replied. “It was bad, but I’m home.”
“Were you really in the Navy?”
“Yes. I’m a Lieutenant Commander, but I’m on special assignment.”
“With Caroline?”
“Sí.”
“Which is?”
“Can I come in?” Slash asked from the doorway.
Greystone tossed her a nod.
Slash walked in, regarded Greystone. “Elsa knows more than she should.” Slash smiled at the older woman. “She’s a great secret keeper.”
Greystone eyed his grandmother. “Not a word.”
Elsa nodded. “Hai la mia parola. You have my word, Greystone.”
“I’m on special assignment with the CIA.”
Elsa’s eyes grew large. “The CIA?”
“I’m gonna get back out there before Gabriel makes a move on my woman.” Greystone chuckled. “Some things never change.” He held out a hand to Elsa. “C’mon.”
She stood, slipped her small hand into his large one. Together, they returned to the kitchen.
Caroline was laughing hysterically and Greystone’s heart took off in his chest. The joy on her face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“You guys were the worst,” Caroline said to Greystone, as he, Elsa, and Slash sat back down.
“We’re telling her the story about how the three of you put me in a stack of tires and left me there,” Teddy said.
Elsa put her hand over her heart. “Poor Teddy. He was three and they just left him there.” Then, she smiled. “But we got back at them, didn’t we?”
Greystone glanced at the people he’d once been the closest with. Brothers he’d fought with and played with. His best friends in the world, the ones he’d turned to when their parents fought, when his dad would commit yet another crime, when his mom would take off for days and not tell anyone where she was. The mayhem never stopped, but the people around the table had been his constants.
His rocks.
The conversation stayed light, the laugher came easy. When they finished eating, Greystone clasped Caroline’s hand, rested them on his lap.
“Uh-oh, Greystone is about to do something naughty,” Gabriel scolded.
More laughter.
On a chuckle, Greystone said, “Gabriel, I’ve missed calling you an idiot.”
“Simone Reddington is approaching the front door,” announced a computer voice.
“That’s a cool toy,” Greystone said.
“It’s part of Hawk’s security systems,” Carrera explained.
The doorbell rang.
