Page 39 of Casey's Hero

“But you’re no longer on active duty. You can choose when you take on a case.”

“Sometimes. Other times, I have to do what’s right.” He waved his hand. “Like now. Hawk is one of my guys. I have to be here. Even though I have others who can do the work, I need to be there, too. It’s who I am.”

Jacob nodded. “That’s how I feel. My team is my family as well. They’re my brothers.”

Hank turned to Jacob with a serious expression. “We don’t call it a Brotherhood for nothing.”

Jacob’s jaw tightened. “And we don’t leave a brother behind.”

CHAPTER 9

Casey pacedthe length of her apartment, passing Kalea along the way.

“I want to call my father,” Kalea said, shaking her phone in the air. “But he’s in the air right now. He’s supposed to land this evening after the scheduled rehearsal.”

Casey snorted. “At this rate, the rehearsal isn’t going to happen. Not if we don’t have a groom.”

Kalea choked on a sob.

Feeling like a heel, Casey wrapped her friend in her arms. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

“But it’s true.” Kalea clung to Casey, tears soaking Casey’s shirt. “What if they don’t get to him in time? Hell, I don’t give a damn about the wedding. I just want Hawk back.”

“Sweetie, we’ll get him back—in one piece.” Casey stroked Kalea’s thick dark hair, praying what she’d said was true. “With an entire SEAL team on the job, the drug cartel doesn’t stand a chance.”

“What if they don’t get there in time?” Kalea cried again.

“As my mother always told me, don’t borrow trouble.” Casey set her friend at arm’s length. “You can’t worry about what might or might not happen. Besides, you can’t cry all afternoon. You’llwreck your face for the wedding tomorrow. You want to be at your best for your man.”

Kalea nodded, swallowed a sob and straightened her shoulders. “You’re right. I have to look great for tomorrow.” She gave her friend a watery smile. “I’m getting married.” Another tear rolled down her cheek.

Casey frowned. “We’ll have no more tears.” She looked around the apartment. “You know, I’d planned on finishing up the tiny bags of birdseed to be used tomorrow. Why don’t you help me?”

Kalea scrubbed her hands down her face, wiping away the tears. “I thought you had everything done.”

She’d had everything in place, done and complete two days ago. Making a few more bags of birdseed would help pass the time and keep Kalea’s hands occupied.

As they poured birdseed into little squares of white tulle and tied them with small strips of white satin ribbon, Casey tried to think of something to talk about other than Hawk and what the SEALs were planning.

“Have you decided where you’re going to live after you and Hawk are married?” Casey rolled her eyes. “Of course, it’ll be Hawaii, but will you stay on the Big Island, or will Hawk need to move to Oahu, where he can set up that other branch office of Hank’s Brotherhood Protectors?”

“We’re staying on the Big Island,” Kalea said. “I’m working with my father on managing the ranch. Eventually, I’ll take over when Dad retires. Hopefully, not anytime soon. Hawk already has an office on the ranch and another in Honolulu that he’ll travel to several times a month. He’s recruiting more retired or separated special operations folks to man the Honolulu office.”

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the guys coming off active duty,” Casey said. “They can continue to utilize their combattraining while protecting their clients.” She tied a little bow and set her bag in a basket quickly filling with the birdseed favors.

“I hope he’ll be happy in Hawaii,” Kalea said. “He had his heart set on moving to Montana before he was assigned to protect me.” She smiled. “No one seems to know about the big cattle industry we have in Hawaii. Parkman Ranch is one of the largest ranches in the United States. It just doesn’t happen to be on the mainland.”

Casey chuckled. “And it has perhaps the best weather of all the ranches. I can’t imagine anyone moving to Montana for the weather.”

Kaley smiled. “He does love the weather.”

“And you,” Casey reminded her.

“I hope he’s okay,” Kalea whispered.

“Me, too,” Casey echoed.

For a moment, silence reigned.

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