The entire Alpha Mountain Security cohort, including Mrs. L, Megan and Indi, was sitting at two long picnic tables pushed together eating grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. We were joined by our colleagues from San Diego–Lincoln, Admiral Mason and Quincy’s mom, Janet.
“Thank you for your help in gathering evidence to take Williams down,” Ford said to the admiral.
Mason’s face darkened as he looked across the table at him. “Are you kidding? He shot down my baby girl. He’s lucky I didn’t have him executed.”
The man’s jaw was clenched, and he was pissed. I knew the fucking feeling. Williams had shot down his daughter–my woman–and my child. It was probably the one and only thing I’d have in common with the man. The need to protect Quincy and the baby.
“James!” Janet exclaimed, sounding shocked.
He swiveled to face Quincy. “I told you I wanted you out of the fray,” he accused.
“Uh oh.” I said, smirking. “He’s doing theI’m right dance.”
It worked. Quincy laughed instead of getting riled up by her dad. She knew how I’d felt about all that had happened, and she couldn’t blame her father for being upset. There was protective, coming from love, and protective coming from some misplaced belief about women in a man’s world.
“Excuse me?” he swiveled to raise a stern brow in my direction.
I didn’t care. He wasn’t my dad or my commanding officer. He would hopefully be my future father-in-law, though, so I flashed him my most charming smile. “You were right, of course,” I smoothed. “But thanks to your heads’ up, we were semi-prepared for the attack.”
Quincy chuckled some more. She and I had been on a honeymoon of sorts these last weeks. I made it my life purpose to keep her well fed, rested and sexed, and she’d relaxed into the promise of our future.
Ford had pushed off any jobs for the time being. He and Indi had been working on the house, and we’d all been analyzing and working on our security.
We decided to stay here, in Sparks. Quincy didn’t want to give up her career, and she didn’t have to. Ford was willing to keep her on the team in whatever capacity she wanted. He’d purchased a new helicopter, although Lincoln had said we could keep the other merc team’s birds indefinitely because it wasn’t like they were going to come asking for it back, being either dead or in jail.
It had happened fast, but Quincy and I had put an offer in on a two-bedroom house in town, just up the block from Megan and Hayes, and we were set to close next week. I planned to throw my time into fixing the place up before we moved in–fresh paint and flooring. A cozy nursery for the baby.
Taft was thrilled he wouldn’t have to listen to us for much longer although we tried to keep things quiet.
We hadn’t told her parents about the pregnancy yet, but Quincy planned on spilling the beans sometime this weekend while they were visiting. She was still in her first trimester, so still feeling sick and taking lots of naps. According to my extensive research and Mrs. L, she should perk up in another couple of weeks. Whatever happened though, I’d be there for her. Whether it was middle of the night pickle runs to the store or holding her hair back when she threw up.
“Their dishonor was unbelievable,” the admiral grumbled. “And they were former Rangers.” He shook his graying head. “What a disgrace.”
It was. The fact that they were all military or former military, men made the betrayal even worse.
“Well, here’s to Ford’s name being cleared.” Hayes lifted his glass of beer, and we all clinked glasses.
“Yes, thank you for that.” Ford raised his beer toward Lincoln, who smiled in reply. Once Williams had been taken down, Lincoln was able to have the drug test Ford supposedly failed thrown out, and his dishonorable discharge erased. I expected the wheels of justice within the military to move slowly, but this had happened fucking fast. Perhaps there had been more people who believed his innocence and had only been waiting on the proof of it to fix it.
Ford Ledger was now officially on Navy pension like the rest of us.
“Where’s your drink, dear?” Janet asked Quincy when she toasted with a bottle of water. “Do you want some wine? I brought a bottle of rosé we could open.”
“No, the water’s fine,” Quincy said. “Actually…um” –she glanced up at me for support, and I put my hand on her back– “I’m…ah…”
“Pregnant?” Her mom threw down her napkin in triumph, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Yes.” Quincy laughed.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so excited!” Janet stood from her side of the picnic table and ran around to give Quincy a giant hug. “How?” She quickly shook her head, blushing. “I don’t mean how–when? Were you already pregnant in San Diego?”
Quincy nodded. “No. Well, yes, but I didn’t know it, then.” She took a shaky breath and exhaled. “I found out right before the helicopter crash.”
Now her dad threw down his napkin. “They’re dead. Williams, his lackeys. The remaining member of that merc team. Nobody shoots my grandchild out of the sky.”
I didn’t think he meant it to be funny, but everyone at the table roared with laughter. Me included.
Quincy set her hand on mine.