Page 8 of Gator

“Thank you, Gator. Really. I’m sorry I’m not much company right now.” He nodded with a faint smile, and she watched as the big man left. When he was gone, she sat on the floor in the living room and sobbed.

She had no idea what Hanz wanted or who the company was that he was referring to. All she knew was that the new life she thought would save them was now going to destroy her.

CHAPTER FOUR

When Sara and George sat with her the next day to talk about plans for the cafeteria, Dylan learned more than she’d anticipated. This wasn’t just a rich, behind-the-gates community. It was a security agency. Voodoo Guardians helped all kinds of people, and if she were lucky, eventually, they might help her.

“Anything you need, Dylan, just ask us,” smiled Sara.

“There are a lot of families here,” she said.

“That’s right. It’s all families. In fact, we’re just one big family. There are generations all in one place, and we love it like that. We love family, and we always will side with them.” Dylan swallowed, staring at them and nodding.

“Is everything okay, Dylan?” asked George.

“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. It’s just been a lot of change in a short period of time. I’m good. I’ll find my groove, I promise.”

“Well, just so you know, our anonymity is really important. No one can know that we’re here behind the gates. We had to completely rebrand ourselves recently because of being exposed.”

There it was, thought Dylan. The thing that had been nagging at her for almost a week. She stared at the two.

“What was the former name?” she asked in almost a whisper.

“REAPER-Patriots.” She felt her breakfast coming up and almost ran to the bathroom. She took two deep breaths, then swallowed. Sara stared at her, George reaching for her hand.

“Honey, are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes. Yes, I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll go get things started for lunch.” She practically ran from the room, and Sara looked at George.

“That gal has a secret, and I don’t expect it to be a good one,” said George.

“She’ll tell us when it’s time,” smiled Sara, kissing the old, weathered cheek. She left and headed back up to the café where a new oven was arriving today. George followed Dylan as she walked toward the gardens.

“Yep. That gal’s got a big secret.”

Gator knew he was on borrowed time. He only had nine more days to make his decision and let command know whether he would stay with the SEALs or retire. They both had their positives, and they both had their negatives.

These last few weeks at home had made him realize how much he’d missed his family. Things had changed, leadership had shifted, the name and logo were different, but what they were doing was the same.

Seeing Jak so happy with Mattie had also changed his perspective on many things. He knew that one day he wanted to settle down and have a family, but finding someone that he truly felt a connection with was tough.

His thoughts went back to the night of the wedding and bumping into the pretty chef. She was adorably awkward, and unlike the women he’d met in bars recently, she didn’t seem to give a shit that he was a Navy SEAL.

He smiled, seeing Jake and Claudette speaking with the gardeners. They were determined to keep the grounds as pristine and beautiful as Mama Irene had left them. They must not have figured out that she was there almost every day inspecting them, no doubt telling the plants to grow as she wanted them to.

Deciding to take the shortcut through the maze, he smiled, remembering all the times they’d played hide and seek as children out here. It seemed the girls were always the best. They were small and could hide anywhere.

Stopping at the first turn, he lifted his face to the sky, feeling the cool fall breeze. The sound of the wind coming through the leaves and branches made him smile. The warmth of the sun coating his face.

When he started to move again, he stilled, hearing a different sound. Someone was crying. Walking as softly as he could, remembering all the lessons from Trak and Zeke, he rounded the curve and saw Dylan seated on the stone bench.

“I’ve sent you all I have. Please, give me my son back,” she pleaded.

She has a son? Gator frowned, thinking he should back away, and then he thought better of it.

“He’s not your son. He’s mine. You never wanted him. He means nothing to you other than using him as a pawn. Please.”

She still had not looked up. She still didn’t see him. Then something she said stilled his blood, sending cold chills down his spine.

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