Page 125 of Luck Be Mine
“I’ve been where you’re at. Suicide bombing. Bagram. Came home with a broken body and a shoulder needing two surgeries to fix. It’s mostly plastic and metal screws now. No feeling in my fingers.”
“You told me this.”
“I had good people on my side, and it pisses me off that, with your service record, nobody took care of you. Clear enough for you.”
“I told you I didn’t have the money. VA won’t pay.”
She nodded. “I checked with the VA. I have organized a complete plan, all paid for.”
Delaney’s eyes narrowed. “How?”
“I have friends.”
Mackey snorted, the noise carrying.
“Down in the front row, Mac,” she yelled, eyes never leaving Delaney. “I can fix your arm. It won’t be an easy recovery, and whether you have feeling back is a crap shoot and may take awhile. But studying your record, I think hard doesn’t scare you. I have every step worked out. Except how to convince you. So I’ll say this: The question to ask yourself is how much more good could I do with my arm fixed?”
The sergeant opened his mouth then closed it. His eyes shifted with his mood, from skeptical to considering. He tipped his head toward Mackey and Hunt. “Do those two ever tell you no?”
Cait grinned and gazed at the two men. One a brother by sheer coincidence and the other the spark, the love of her life. “No, Delaney. They do not. You won’t either. Because you know I’m right.”
“What’s first?”
“Imaging, and a consult with a friend of mine. He’s a fabulous orthopedist.”
“Can I hold making the decision on the surgery until after the consultation?”
“Sure. We can do this all at your pace. But I’m not going to disappear in a puff of smoke or come to you later and tell you we can’t do it – unless the x-rays and MRI don’t get us there. It’ll be a medical decision, not a personal one.”
“So when and where?”
“Tomorrow. Can you meet us here? We’ll get the images taken. Surgeries take planning.”
“Yeah, I can be here.”
She stifled the need to do a dance in the parking lot. “Mac! The man needs a burner phone,” she yelled.
“You think I have one in my pocket?” His exasperated question made her grin.
“I know you do.” Cait winked at Delaney. “If you don’t, frogman does. His pockets are legendary.”
Both men pulled phones from their pockets.
Delaney’s face flashed with humor. “Competitive much?”
“You have no idea.” Cait watched their tussle for whose phone would win. Her husband’s laugh sent shivers down her spine.
The two men walked back to them.
Cait admired their confident strides. “We’re meeting tomorrow, Mac. I’m not working, so whenever it’s convenient for you.” She could come down here alone, but that was a fight she didn’t even want to have.
Mac stopped at her side and handed Delaney a burner phone. Hunt stayed behind her. Protective to the end.
“Hey, First Sergeant?” Mac had a serious face, but his eyes were filled with amusement.
“Yeah?” Delaney finished his coffee.
“You want a job?”
