Page 10 of Fallout

Jasper figured Destiny would probably be horrified to know someone could tell just from looking at her, but Brent had always been astute. Jasper had learned from a young age never to let anyone know the truth of what was going on inside him.

“Aren’t we all?” Seemed like the right thing to say.

“You okay, son?”

He glanced at Brent. “I remembered something about Caleb this morning.”

The older man squeezed his shoulder. “Ah.”

“I should go see him tomorrow.”

“Yes, son. You should.”

Sometimes, Brent went with him to the cemetery, and they parted ways for a while. Brent would visit his daughter’s resting place, and Jasper would sit by Caleb’s headstone.

Blake’s father had recently been buried not far away.

So much loss.

He’d tried to find something good. Some hope or joy in a relationship or in work friendships. But SWAT had been disbanded, and they no longer worked together except on callouts. The guys were all in relationships now, Dakota had moved to Last Chance County, and Liam worked for the Northwest Counter-Terrorism Taskforce.

“We should go out for breakfast.”

Brent eyed him, finally lifting his chin. “I’d like that. I’ll have my assistant send you some dates.”

Between both of their schedules, it was just better to get something on a calendar a few weeks out.

Brent’s second wife walked over, the one he’d married three years ago. She draped herself over his shoulder, barely looking at Jasper because she’d learned she never got a reaction. “Darling, my glass is dry.”

“Good to see you.” Jasper shook hands with Brent and turned away, not interested in talking to the wife. Plus, it would save Brent from having Jasper hear whatever he said to placate her.

He set his glass down and checked his phone since he already knew he was going to get in his car and drive. Usually, he was out for a few hours, clearing his head. Nothing but him, the road, and loud music. Sometimes, he was out all night.

Detective Jesse had checked in. The surveillance detail she’d volunteered for was uneventful so far.

He sent her a thumbs-up.

“Jasper.”

He looked up from his phone at Clare and grinned. She opened her arms, and he gave her an easy hug, noticing Destiny right behind her. “How are you ladies tonight?” Keeping it light was better, right? Or maybe not, since the expression on Clare’s face looked a whole lot like exasperation. “I was just about to head out.”

Was one of them going to say something? He probably sounded like a moron.

“You’re leaving?” Destiny almost looked upset. But it probably wasn’t about not getting to see him.

Clare said, “Not just yet.” She snagged his arm. “I have a favor to ask first.” She tugged him around, surprisingly strong for a very pregnant lady. Then again, considering who she was, maybe not that surprising. “Not soon, but at some point…Destiny needs someone to train her to fight.”

Jasper asked, “But is that what she wants or what you want?”

“Touché.”

He glanced over his shoulder.

“We’ll need some ground rules.” The look on Destiny’s face was fire and defiance. Why did she use it with him while this room full of people made her uncomfortable?

“We all need to feel like we can defend ourselves if necessary.” Clare squeezed his arm, then spoke to the bartender. “Cranberry juice. Destiny?”

“I’m good.”

---