Page 3 of Bravo

I nod. “Silas was out on the first flight today. His wife went into labor this morning, so he took off.”

“That’s wonderful. You’ll pass on my congratulations and my many thanks?”

“Will do,” I reply. “What happened to the men we arrested?” I take a seat beside him, grateful to be back in the States. It was a long nine hours on the flight back from South America, but the Dallas skyline was a welcome sight, if not brief, as we shuttled to the building that serves as the main headquarters for Find Me, a nonprofit made up of other veterans who are working to put an end to human trafficking.

As soon as I’d realized just what I was dealing with, they were my first call. While not actual police, Frank has far more contacts than I do.

“They’ll never take another breath as free men,” he says. “We turned them into local authorities in South America and arekeeping tabs on what’s happening with them. But my contact out there says they’ll never walk free again.”

“Good.” I know vengeance belongs to God, but there are moments like this where I wouldn’t mind taking it into my own hands. If not for the ones we rescued, then for the ones we didn’t.

“You know, we have some openings—” he starts.

“I appreciate it, Frank, but you know I’ve got my team.”

He smiles. “I know, but you just say the word. I’ll open up spots for all five of you and your canine partners.” Frank offers Bravo a smile.

“I appreciate the offer.”

The door opens, and I hear a woman yell, “Rebecca?”

Her parents are here.“That’s my cue. Thanks again, Frank.”

“Anytime.” He shakes my hand. “Call us up if you want to work together again.”

“You do the same.” I release his hand and head out into the main room at the same time Rebecca opens the conference room door and rushes into the open arms of her sobbing mother. Both parents surround their daughter, holding her as the three of them cry.

My own eyes burn with emotion as I take in the view. I don’t have kids yet, and I can’t imagine the pain they must have suffered while she’s been missing. The horror of not knowing what happened, and whether or not their child was still alive.

I remain where I am until her father, William Fisher, turns toward me and wipes his eyes. “Bradyn. I can’t— I don’t—” He breaks down and wraps his arms around me. Shoulders shaking, I return the embrace, my heart full that I was able to return their daughter to them.

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“You saved her. You saved our girl,” he sobs as he pulls back.

“God saved her,” I tell him. “He put me where I needed to be.”

“And I will thank Him every day of the rest of my life.” He wipes his cheeks. “I don’t know what we would have done if?—”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I tell him as I clasp a hand on his shoulder. “Because everything worked out.”

“I’m so sorry,” Rebecca sobs. “I should’ve listened. I should’ve?—”

“Baby, it’s okay. Please, it’s okay,” her mother cries. “You’re home now. That’s what matters.”

“You helped me bring these girls home,” I tell Rebecca. “Stand on that when the darkness closes in.”

She looks up at me with red-streaked blue eyes and nods. Then she rushes forward and wraps her arms around me again. “Thank you, Bradyn.”

I return the hug. “You’re welcome.”

As she pulls away and gets settled back with her parents, I offer them a smile. “If you head to the front desk, they’ll get you cleared to take her home. They have resources, as well, to help with the transition period. It can be hard, going from a high-stress situation back to normal day-to-day. PTSD isn’t just something soldiers face.”

“We’ll make sure she’s okay,” her mother says as she sniffles then reaches forward and takes my hand. “Thank you, Bradyn. For everything.”

“No need to thank me,” I tell her. “I’m just glad we had a happy ending.”

Rebecca and her mother head toward the front desk while her father reaches into his pocket and offers me a check.

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