He glanced over at her. Sweet Sydney. His saving grac
e.
“Remember the love, and push everything else away.”
He bent toward her and rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.” He’d told her before, but he needed to say the words again. He wanted to say them, over and over.
Her soft hand slid over his jaw. “And I love you.”
A gift. One he’d always treasure, just the way he treasured her.
His head lifted. He cast one last look toward his brother’s casket.
Remember the love. Push everything else away.
“Enjoy your walk in the woods, brother. One day, maybe I’ll see you again.”
Until then, he’d be walking with Sydney. With the children they had on the way. He’d remember the love, he’d show those children so much love...
And with Sydney, he knew they’d be happy. He’d prove that he could be a good father. A father his children would be proud to have.
They turned away from the grave. The sunlight was so bright. It chased away the shadows, and it showed him the hope that waited. With Sydney. With his friends.
With the life that would be. All he had to do was just reach out and take that life. Just reach out...
He turned Sydney in his arms, held tight to her and kissed her.
And he knew he’d found his perfect home.
Epilogue
Getting called into the big boss’s office couldn’t be a good thing. Cale squared his shoulders and swung open the door that would take him into Mercer’s inner sanctum.
Mercer glanced up, no expression on his face, and waved Cale toward him. “Have a seat.”
Right. Nodding quickly, Cale took the offered seat.
Mercer’s fingers drummed on his desk. “It seems that you’re working out quite well as a member of the Shadow Agents.”
“Sir, they’re a good team.” Good people. But taking that shot, taking out Gunner’s brother...that shot was going to haunt him.
Every death did.
“And you’re a good asset to that team. Cool under fire, determined and willing to do whatever’s necessary for the mission.”
Cale stiffened. He didn’t like that “whatever’s necessary” part.
“So I think you’re going to be the perfect man for a very special assignment.”
Cale leaned forward.
“It’s an assignment that has the highest priority at the EOD.” Intensity deepened Mercer’s voice. “I want a man on this case, a guy I can trust one hundred percent.” He stopped drumming his fingers and pointed at Cale. “Are you that man?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’d better be,” Mercer muttered. “Son, you’d damn well better be...because if you fail on this mission, if anything goes wrong, I will make you regret it the rest of your life.”
Cale managed to keep his expression neutral, with a whole lot of effort.