Page 61 of Hero Unbound

A lot of people weren’t—CCTs didn’t get the same sexy press as the other special ops teams. “Think being able to do all the badass stuff SEALs or Special Forces can do, plus provide air support through planes or helicopters—that’s Air Force Combat Controllers. It’s impressive.”

Theo could still remember itching to be one.

“Sounds really exciting and dangerous—right up your alley. Why didn’t you pursue it?”

“I couldn’t.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Theo Lindstrom doesn’t officially exist, according to any government. When Dorian and Ray adopted us, we had to take on fake identifications for their safety and for ours—the people who killed our grandfather would come after us if they knew we were alive.”

“Oh.”

“I had, and still have, a very complex fake identification system in place, but Mom and Dad knew that with my skills and aptitude, I would be pulled into Special Forces if I joined the military. Especially since I’d be tripping over myself to volunteer.”

She nodded. “I’ve seen you spar and teach self-defense—I’m sure you would’ve made a really good soldier.”

He shrugged. He would’ve. It wasn’t conceit to think so. “But my parents knew that my joining wouldn’t work. Eventually, someone would discover the truth about my identity—or at least enough about it to raise red flags. Once that happened, it could’ve led back to Ray and Dorian—who were much bigger targets. There are people who still want them dead to this day.”

“So you didn’t join because they asked you not to.” She tucked her legs up on the couch. “That’s noble of you. I respect it.”

“Actually, deciding to join the military was the only time I outright rebelled against my parents. I was eighteen and confident it was all going to work out fine and that they were being paranoid. I left without telling them and was halfway to the enlistment office in Reddington City when they caught me.”

“They forced you to stop? How?”

He walked over and put another log on the fire. “No. They weren’t trying to stop me. They knew the only way to force me not to join would be to physically restrain me, and although either of them could’ve done it, that wasn’t what they wanted for our relationship. Instead, they wanted to make sure I knew where I could find them if I needed them.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’d decided to take my sisters and move to one of our family’s hideout properties for the duration that I was in the military—however long that was.” They’d wanted him to live his dream but couldn’t risk the safety of themselves or their daughters while he did it. “They were willing to go to ground for as long as they had to.”

She stared at the fire. “Because they loved you.”

“Yes. And because I love them, I came home the next day. No dream was more important than the safety of my family. Honestly, I was embarrassed that I’d let it go as far as it had.”

“You never regretted not joining?”

“No. I returned to Oak Creek and made a life here, growing and protecting this town. I’ve never regretted it, although—” he shrugged, trying to find the right words “—I’ve occasionally mourned the loss of the dream itself. But I wouldn’t change it. This is where I belong.”

She sipped on her tea and was quiet for a long time. He didn’t press or talk any more. If she wanted to share about her own past, she could. If not, he couldn’t force her.

“My mother was abused by my father.” Her soft words were almost jarring after the long silence. He’d been prepared to sit with her in the quiet for the rest of the evening.

“By Noah?” Theo couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice. The thought of Noah Dempsey lifting a hand against the much smaller and quieter Marilyn went against everything Theo knew to be true.

“No. Never.” Eva shook her head emphatically. “By my biological father, before Mom and Noah got together. He almost killed her. I don’t remember anything about it. I don’t remember him at all, really. He’s dead.”

“You were a kid. It’s probably a blessing you don’t remember.”

“I was totally clueless that it was happening. My brother Sam knew. I think my father abused him too. But not me. I just flitted on through it all with no scars whatsoever.”

She sounded almost bitter.

“How old were you?”

“He died when I was four.”

“You were a preschooler, Evie. Do you really expect yourself to have known what was going on?”

She shook her head. “My mother protected me from it. She probably tried to protect Sam too.”

From what Theo knew about Marilyn Dempsey, that sounded about right.

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