Beaufort, South Carolina
March 27
The C-130 transport plane hit the runway with a thud waking Steady. He watched Tox jump up and grab his duffle. The big man stood holding the overhead strap while the aircraft slowed. Steady knew why Tox was eager. Calliope had just touched down; the Gulfstream she had taken from Zurich was sitting on the runway. He also needed an update on the Twitch situation. They had hated being unavailable, but they had a job to do. Steady elbowed Cam awake and nodded toward Tox.
“What?” Tox asked.
“Eager much? Dude, you’re about to jump out of a moving plane,” Steady said.
“My wife is a hundred yards away, and I haven’t seen her in a week. You’ll excuse me if I’d rather look at her than you two ugly motherfuckers.”
Steady looked at Cam. “Well, when he puts it like that. Although I have to say I’ve always thought of us as devilishly handsome men. By far the best looking pair in the group.”
Cam slapped Steady on the shoulder. “Thank you, hermano. You don’t need to hit on me to get a lift over to Twitch’s.”
When the plane lurched to a halt, Steady watched while Tox opened the door and hopped out. They hadn’t showered in two days and still had remnants of camo paint on their faces. Across the tarmac, Calliope stood at the top of the airstairs. Oversized sunglasses were perched on her head, pushing her coal-black hair back from her face. She came down the stairs, dropped her bags at her feet, and welcomed her husband home.
Steady stood shoulder to shoulder with Cam and watched the reunion.
“Our boy is so gone for that woman,” Steady said.
“Yeah. Let’s get going. I’d like to have a little welcome home celebration of my own.”
“Jesus, you’re whipped too.”
“And proud of it. Come on. We need an update on Twitch.” Cam jumped down.
“I’m right behind you. I want to ask Jim if I can log some hours with him next month.” Steady thumbed over his shoulder toward the cockpit.
Cam took both their packs and headed to the SUV. After a quick chat with the pilot, Steady hopped down onto the tarmac. He glanced over his shoulder and stopped.
Tox was on his knees with his face pressed into Calliope’s stomach.
Cam appeared at his side. “Evan just texted. They’re still at the house with the police.”
Steady lifted his chin toward Tox. “What’s all that about?”
“True love, man. True love.”
Steady nodded his understanding despite the fact he hadn’t the first clue about true love. And that was just fine by him.
Tox was still as a statue, afraid he had misheard. “Baby?” He asked cautiously.
“Baby,” Calliope confirmed. “Bear cub,” she amended with a smile.
Tox took one final step and, without a thought, dropped to his knees in front of his wife. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then muttered, “Fuck it,” and pressed his face to Calliope’s middle, smearing her outfit in the process.
Calliope ran her fingers over his stubbled head. “I need you solid as a rock on this, Miller. The thought of giving birth to a you is freaking me out a little.”
Tox had a fleeting image of his wife full and round with their child. Her naked body, wet and flushed from a shower, her expression serene and beckoning. Tox looked up at her from the pavement.
“Oh my God, did that turn you on?”
He growled.
“I’m serious here, dammit.”
Tox rose to his full height. Without a word, he lifted Calliope like a bride and carried her around to the passenger seat. He set her down and buckled her seatbelt, then he kissed her gently on the forehead, wiping the smudge of paint he left away with his thumb. He waited for his wife to meet his gaze.