Page 60 of Forever My Soldier

Wyatt

I was prettydamn sure I was having an out of body experience, being back in Miami in a hotel on Hallandale Beach, waking up to the sun streaming in my room, the water outside looking like glass. I knew I was here for a reason, but I couldn’t deny how badly I wanted to rent a board and surf like the old days. It was one of the many reasons I knew that while this place held a ton of memories, I couldn’t imagine calling any other place home.

Though, these days, I didn’t really feel like I had a home. I supposed that was what happened when you spent so much time running away like I had. I was coming to the end of my term, though, and had some choices to make. Sure, the Army gave me so much after I lost practically everything, but I was pushing thirty and, if I was going to make a change, it was now or never.

And I wasn’t so foolish as to not be able to recognize a great opportunity when one came my way.

Andrés and I went in together and we became fast friends. He was a good guy, a local I never met before, but left after there was an accident that affected his hearing and he was declared not fit for service. It was a hard pill for him to swallow, but he did and eventually most of his hearing came back, just not enough for the Army. We kept in touch, though, and when he finally decided to start his own business, he contacted me first, insisting we meet in person. I’d put him off for long enough, but it was time. I had to do this.

I couldn’t deny how much pressure I felt. Sure, most was self-inflicted, but still, I decided not to tell anyone I was back. If I did, there was no telling what would happen. I knew my family didn’t mean harm, but we were close and with all my brothers back, they wanted me back, too. I just couldn’t deal with any of that right now.

Realizing it was about time for me to meet Andrés, I looked outside my window one last time at the waves that beckoned and raked a hand through my hair. Later, I promised myself.

I picked up my wallet and walked from my room to the elevator.

A group of young women were giggling and sipping coffee, and I had to force my thoughts to stay in the here and now. Being distracted when I met with Andrés wasn’t an option. Even if I decided to pass on his offer, he deserved my full attention.

I looked at my phone to check the time and nodded when I saw him stroll into the hotel restaurant right on time, only seconds after I sat down. Of course, I thought to myself.

“Wyatt, my man,” he said by way of greeting when he approached the table I secured for us.

I stood. “Good to see you, Andrés.”

He gave me a hug, patting me on the back. “Thanks for meeting with me.”

“Thanks for asking. So how are you?” I asked. It’d been a while, but he looked good. Happy. I wondered if that was how I’d look being back.

“Good. I’ll be better when you agree to partner with me on this.”So that’s how he was playing this, getting right to it? I liked his no nonsense way.

“Partner?” I asked. That was news to me. “I thought this was just a job.”

He smirked and gestured for our waiter. “What are you drinking?”

“Coffee’s good.” It was still early in the day.

He nodded. “Make that two, please. Anyway, it can bejusta job if that’s what you want, but I’d rather have you be my partner.”

“You better back up and start at the beginning.”

He sat back and regaled me with the whole story. After serving he had to reinvent himself and something that used his intelligence and his muscle was the goal, so he started in personal security. Then he went to work for an established company, acting as a bodyguard for some of Miami’s elite. Soon he realized there was real money in that and started taking more side jobs, which pissed off his boss, so he canned him. Having seen how a successful operation runs, he decided to open his own security company and lined up quite a few clients, many local celebrities and some bigger names. The more I learned, the more I was in awe. He had created a solid roster for himself, from models to actresses and singers, even hired a few men. Just as I was about to ask where I fit in or why me, he cut into my thoughts.

“At this stage, to keep the business growing, I need someone by my side to help run the whole damn thing. Someone I can trust, but also someone willing to walk the walk, talk the talk, if you know what I mean.”

“And you know you can trust me and I like to work,” I hedged.

He nodded. “You bet. No one better than a brother.”

It was definitely not what I had in mind and, because of that, taking a pass wouldn’t be so easy. Now I really had to think about this. “Would I work with clients or just be in management?”

“Whatever you want.”

If this was going to go anywhere, then I had to be honest. “I wouldn’t want to wear a suit and sit behind a desk every day.”

“Then consider it done. With two of us, I figure we’ll manage just fine to do whatever we want and still run things,” he said, his hands coming to rest on the table.

“Would I have to land clients on my own?” I asked, rubbing my chin, already thinking.

“I have a girl who helps me solicit clients and schedule appointments. If I hear of something, I tell her, and she sets it up. Then I swoop in and close it. So I guess what I’m saying is, it’d be nice, but it’s not necessary.”

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