Page 52 of Delta: Retribution

EPILOGUE

Three semesters later…

Trace stood and stared. It’d been hours since Delta had landed back on US soil. He had places to go, things to do—majorthings to do—today. But he couldn’t. Not until he drove over to Arlington and stood amongst the sea of white tombstones.

His throat was tight, his eyes blurry. God, he hadn’t been back here in… well, it’d been too long. The cemetery wasn’t where he’d felt his brother, and until today, he hadn’t needed to be there.

“I think you would’ve liked her, bro.” He narrowed his eyes at Michael’s grave. “Cool chick and all, but she’s a good one.”

The whisper of a breeze teased over his skin. He was a solid hour’s drive away from Marlena’s campus, and he should’ve left already, but it just wasn’t happening. Instead, he sat on the grass and cracked open a beer.

“Thing about her… I just need her. She makes it better. Makes you better. And, since you’ve been gone—”Fuck, blurry eyes and all. “Time passes slower without you, except when she’s there. And when she is, I can breathe.”

After a few slow swigs of beer, he gazed into the sky. “She’s my family, the only one I’ve got. Funny, I’m hers too. And she wouldn’t think I’m crazy for talking to a headstone.”

Trace stood up. “So, I guess since you’re up there and all, you might know my next move. But I just needed to run things by you. I love you, man.” He looked at his watch. “About that time. Well, past that time. I guess I’m late.” He tucked the remaining cans from the six-pack next to a tiny American flag and patted the white stone twice. “Wish me luck.”

***

“Marlena McCloud.” The announcer’s voice echoed over the PA system as she stepped forward. “Graduating with honors with a joint bachelor’s and master’s degree in biological engineering.”

She walked across the stage, took her diploma, and shook the hand of the dean of the engineering school. “Congratulations.”

As she stepped offstage, she scanned the crowd… Trace! He’d sworn he’d be back before she graduated. She had no idea where he’d been, but he’d made a promise and kept it. Even if hewasstanding in the aisle, wearing tactical pants and a dark T-shirt, he was there. With her mother looking down—proudly, Marlena was sure—from heaven, and her father definitely grumbling her successes from a jail cell, Trace was the only person who’d be there to cheer on her graduation. The guy never let her down.

Instead of following the classmate in front of her, she skipped out of line and beelined it for Trace. “Hi, baby.”

“Hey.”

She had his brother’s dog tags in her pocket. Trace had sworn that it was his most prized possession and that she should keep them with her for good luck on her big day.

Filled with confidence and holding her diploma up, she said, “Proves I’m a smarty-pants.”

“Already knew that.” He kissed her lips, making her stomach flip as it always did when he held her close. “But if you were looking for proof, I’d say that gig contracting for the military screams ‘beauty and brains.’”

“Nothing about that job says ‘beauty.’”

He laughed against her lips. “Good thing you have me to remind you.”

She kissed him again. “How was work? When’d you get back? Exciting stuff?”

“Got back a little bit ago. Had to talk to someone.” He shrugged, tucking her against his side. “The job was more exciting than this graduation ceremony. Let’s go somewhere.”

“Where are we headed?” They filed out, and she unzipped the black gown and hat, dumping them in the rental-return box as they passed the doors.

“Doesn’t matter.”

The sun beamed overhead. Parents and guests milled around the school grounds. She and Trace walked across the grassy field where Screen on the Green had been more than a year ago.

“Don’t forget this.” She took Michael’s dog tags and pressed them into his hand. “I’d die if I misplaced them.”

He clasped her hand in his, locking the tags in their grip. “Nah, you wouldn’t lose them.”

“I know, but still.”

“But still, my ass.” Swinging her around in front of him, he smiled more than normal. “Trade you for them.”

“Ha. Like there’s anything on earth more important than those tags.”

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