Page 73 of Wandering Souls

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Damien rolled the hangardoors open, letting in fresh spring air. The sun shone and the morning warmed as the temperature climbed. The storms had dissipated and it finally felt like winter had relinquished its hold on them.

From the belly of the cargo plane, Magnus appeared and descended the stairs. A grin stretched from ear to ear as he strode across the concrete to stand by Damien.

“I forgot how beautiful she is,” he said, wiping his hands on a rag. “And still in perfect condition.”

Damien gave a nod. “Well, she has an excellent mechanic. Now be a good boy and roll her to the back of the hangar.”

Magnus eyed him curiously. “You making room for something else, Boss?”

Damien checked his watch. “Any minute now.”

Excitement flashed through Magnus’s blue eyes. “Care to share?”

“I will after you move her. Say, how are Julie and Jack?”

The look of pure bliss that overcame Magnus forced Damien to stop and admire the picture. The kid had been through so much in the last decade he deserved some happiness. It seemed he’d found it in a woman on the run and her ten-year-old boy.

“Life is great.”

Somehow, Damien sensed the understated joy. “And?”

“Nope,” Magnus chuckled as he waltzed away with a swagger in his step, “nothing to see here. Just a man in love with his soon-to-be wife and kids.”

Magnus let out a roar of laughter and disappeared back into the plane.

“Wait? Kids?”

Kids?Huh.Seemed the Shadow Soldier family was about to grow again. Damien couldn’t be more ecstatic if he tried but before he could chase down the expectant father, a horn tooted behind him. He turned to see a large semi-trailer roll into view, filling the horizon with a piece of machinery he hoped would help save his daughter.

From the cabin of the prime mover, Tobias waved. Larger than life, the six-foot-six ex-soldier began to climb down to the tarmac. For a man who’d had knees replaced and heart surgery, he looked as fit as a fiddle—except for the limp–as he made his way toward Damien at a pace that rivalled a snail.

“You look good for a dead man.” Tobias laughed, shaking Damien’s outstretched hand. He glanced over Damien’s head to the plane Magnus was rolling to the back of the hangar. “And she looks as beautiful as the day I gave her to you. Well, except for a few scrapes and bullet holes. Maybe the pilot needs to learn a few more evasive maneuvers.”

Damien rolled his eyes. “Warzones tend to be harsh on some of us, you might well remember.”

They laughed. A few moments later, Magnus joined them. After introductions, Damien turned his attention to the flatbed trailer carrying his new purchase. With her blades disconnected and her tail missing its rotor, the twin-engine chopper looked incomplete, but she was just the ticket.

“Um, Damien?” Magnus set a hand on his shoulder. “I know you want to help your kid, but this is above and beyond.”

He laughed. “It’s not just for Abigail. Say hello to the newest member of Wills Crossing’s fire brigade.”

“Hollywood is going to love you.”

“Wait?” Tobias interrupted. “You bought your daughter a helicopter?”

Damien shrugged, as if it was no big deal. Truth was, he hoped it would win her heart. If he could just show her that she didn’t need the Army to live out her passion, he might get to see her more often. Much as she didn’t know it, she had choices outside of the military, where her injuries didn’t matter, and where she could make as much of a difference to other people’s lives—if not more.

“Yep.”

“You’ve got more money than sense, old friend.”

Damien nodded. “Yep. Tell me you brought the bucket, too?”

“I did. It’s collapsible so it’s packed away. Let’s get this bird off the truck and reassembled, shall we?”

Damien looked at Magnus with an eyebrow raised. “I assume my mechanic can work out how to put her together?”

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