Hostile Home Front [Black Ops Brotherhood 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (28 page)

“Amy?” Anna extended her hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Anna said warmly.

“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. O’Malley,” Amy said shyly as she took Anna’s hand.

“Anna, please,” Anna said with a smile. Anna looked at Irene. “And you must be Irene, Amy’s aunt? Jack and Gavin have told me so much about both of you. It’s so good to finally meet you.”

Anna seemed nice. Amy considered all the rumors she had heard. Anna O’Malley was confident, that was for sure. Self-assurance and strength oozed from the woman. Anna also seemed very genuine and really nice. Rock introduced himself to Irene. Then Rock and Gavin left, telling the women they were going to the airport to ferry the guests back.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Anna asked.

“We can’t seem to get the caterer and the florist to cooperate,” Irene said offhandedly.

“Well, let’s go pay them a visit, shall we?” Anna asked.

* * * *

Gavin and Rock went to the airport because four of the eight people they were supposed to pick up had just landed. The rest would be coming on other flights. They ferried Mac and his wife, Liz, and Shaq and a friend he had brought in a van Gavin had procured for the day. Lieutenant Gamez and Senior Chief Alex “Doc” Richards had also come along. They stopped at a hotel and dropped off Shaq and his friend, Justin. Lieutenant Gamez, Senior Chief Richards, Mac, and Liz would all be staying at the villa.

Rock, Mac, and Gavin turned around and hightailed it back to the airport to pick up another crew. They arrived at the St. Thomas airport and waited in the bar, drinking and bantering. Three of the four more expected guests showed up and were ferried to hotels or the villa. The men walked into the villa and looked around. Someone was missing.

“Wasn’t JJ supposed to be on that flight?” Rock asked.

“Yes, he was. Did we leave him?” Gavin asked.

“Is that a loss?” Mac quipped.

“Seriously, Mac? Are you planning on fucking with JJ this whole trip?” Gavin asked, annoyed.

“He was the only one coming from Austin. Let’s go back. Maybe he got delayed,” Rock said.

The men drove up to the St. Thomas airport and saw five police cars parked at the front that hadn’t been there before. They all looked at each other and at the same time uttered, “
JJ
!” The three men fled the vehicle and rushed into the St. Thomas airport.

“Oh shit!” Gavin said.

“Fucking JJ!” Rock cursed.

“Boys, I think we’re going to need an intervention,” Mac said, staring at the scene with concern.

Airport security, as well as the local police, had taken cover in strategic position watching the secure area of the airport. From off in the distance shouts and curses filled the tense air. Suddenly, there was a loud thud as a man was tossed into the hallway near the secure entry into the terminals. The local police and airport security drew their weapons.

“Fuck
! How the hell am I supposed to fix this?” Rock growled.

“That’s why you’re the captain,
sir
,”
Gavin said.

“Thanks a lot.”

It took the better part of an hour to convince the St. Thomas police
and
the Federal Air Marshal who was on the flight that Master Chief James Quincy Jones III of the US Navy Reserve was not a threat to national security
or
a threat to the good people of St. Thomas.

Yes
, they all agreed he was a dumbass, but he was not a
threat
.
Unless unduly provoked
, JJ had added.
Yes
, he would behave if released into the custody of his commanding officer, Captain Jack O’Malley.
And
Command Master Chief William Henry McGuire would ensure that Master Chief Jones did not cause any further trouble,
or else
! Mac had added. But Gavin had a hell of a time convincing his brother federal agent
not
to lockup JJ because of the ass kicking JJ had laid on him.

“It’s a good thing I had you recalled into the Reserve,” Rock said as they piled into the van.

“What the fuck were you thinking? Did you honestly believe you could get that through customs?
And
why did you beat the shit out of the guy when he tried to take it from you? Did you have to throw him out of the room and into the terminal?” Gavin asked loudly.

“I told that motherfucker not to touch me and I don’t go anywhere without it!
And
I got it through the Austin airport just fine, meaning US customs! Last time I checked, the
US Virgin Islands
was still a part of the
U
fucking
S
!” JJ countered.

“You’re a dumbass! Who did you piss off so bad that now you have to pack a weapon everywhere you go?” Mac asked.

“I’ve pissed off plenty of people! Fucking terrorists have
me
on
their
watch
list! I don’t lay back and relax waiting for the perfect shot, fuck head,” JJ spat.

“I can’t help it if you flunked sniper school,
twice
. You’re like a bull elephant stampeding through the jungle. You have to lay still and be patient for the perfect shot, and who the hell do you think keeps
fuck heads
like you alive?
Shit for brains
,” Mac said, sitting back.

“All right! That’s enough!” Rock ordered.

They pulled up to the villa and got out, attempting to gain their composure before walking inside. Gavin walked with JJ to the rooms and pointed him to his room. Gavin handed JJ a key to the front door and walked away. He heard conversation going on in the kitchen. Amy was thanking Anna profusely for her assistance with the caterer and the florist. It seemed as if everything was on track again and the relief on Amy’s face was evident.

“What exactly did you tell the caterer and the florist, Anna?” Rock asked cautiously.

“I asked them for their help in making this event a top priority,” Anna said nonchalantly.

“Uh huh, and just
how
did you
ask
for help?” Rock asked suspiciously.

“It’s food service stuff, Jack. You wouldn’t understand,” Anna said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“Anna…” Rock started.

“What?” Anna asked innocently.

“Where’s Irene?” Gavin asked Amy, trying to defuse the tension.

“She’s up—”

Before Amy could finish, they heard a bloodcurdling scream from upstairs. It was Irene screaming for Gavin. The kitchen emptied of occupants as everyone raced to the stairs and the down the hallway to the rooms. They were in time to see JJ backing out of Irene’s room.

“JJ! What the hell?” Gavin demanded.

“I was in my room watching TV when she came out of the bathroom nekkid!” JJ said, wide-eyed.

“
Pinche culero
!” Irene yelled.

“For Christ’s sake, JJ!” Rock said, trying to maintain his composure. Instead he started howling with laughter.

The entire group was almost rolling on the floor with laugher. All of them spoke fluent Spanish and understood that Irene had just called JJ an
asshole
.

“I said,
left
! Dumbass! Your fucking military left! That way…” Gavin said, pointing to the room across from Irene.

“This has been a bad day, hasn’t it, partner?” Mac asked, holding his sides.

“Fuck you, Mac!” JJ snapped.

The ladies returned downstairs to let the men sort everything out. JJ left the house in a huff and everything seemed to return to normal for the moment.

The wedding was in three days. Later that evening, the full wedding party got together for dinner at the villa. Anna and Justin seemed to whip out a beautiful feast effortlessly. Gavin noticed how happy Amy was to see Shaq. Amy gravitated to Shaq and his friend, Justin, for most of the evening and seemed truly happy and comfortable. Irene seemed to gravitate to Liz and Anna.

Doc and Gamez decided to scope out some of the local nightlife. Irene decided to go for a walk along the beach. JJ hadn’t returned. Shaq and Justin, after helping clean up, decided to walk along the beach as well. Cheryl and Lynn had also joined the party, and for the better part of two hours everyone relaxed and got acquainted. Gavin watched as Amy was scanning the beach.

Irene returned and excused herself for the night. Amy was still scanning the beach.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Gavin quietly asked.

“I was looking for Shaq and Justin, they haven’t come back. It’s been over an hour.”

“Honey, don’t worry about them. Shaq can take care of anything that comes along.”

Justin and Shaq walked onto the patio where everyone was talking and took seats. Gavin noticed the whisper and then the small touch that Justin gave Shaq. Shaq stood and announced they would be leaving for the night. Everyone said good-bye and the party started to dwindle from there. Later that night, as Amy laid her head on Gavin’s chest, they talked.

“Why were you so worried about Shaq, honey?” Gavin asked.

“I don’t know. I really like him. He took good care of me while you were in the hospital. He’s like a big brother and he’s so sweet, Gavin.”

Gavin smiled. “You really like him, huh?”

“Oh, yes. I can’t believe he even picks up a gun, much less uses it.”

“He picks it up just fine and has no problem using it. He’s a very nice guy and a really smart SEAL. He’ll be another Rock. He’s a smart tactician,” Gavin said.

“Does he have a girlfriend?”

“Sort of.”

Amy lifted her head and gave Gavin a look of concern. “Is she good to him?”

“Well, his
girlfriend
isn’t a girl
and he’s here with Shaq.”

Amy’s eyes widened and Gavin could tell she was stunned at the revelation.

“You mean…”

“Yeah. Shaq and Justin are
very
good friends and have been for a while from what I understand.”

“You’re okay with that, Gavin?” Amy asked, uncertain.

“I’m fine with it. Shaq is a good guy and I’ll always appreciate how he took care of you,” Gavin said.

Amy’s face flooded with relief. “I’m so glad. I would hate for you to dislike him because he’s gay.”

“I’m not that judgmental. Am I?”

“This isn’t a criticism, but you can be sometimes.”

Gavin pulled Amy back down to his chest and smiled. He could be
very
judgmental and he knew it. Amy coming out and saying something even remotely critical to him was a positive thing in his mind. They needed to be able to be honest with each other.

“I guess it’s my suspicious nature.” Gavin reached for the light.

In the wee hours of the morning Gavin could hear JJ stumble through the door. He closed his eyes and relaxed against Amy. He could hear JJ close the door to his room. Gavin’s eyes flew open.
Did he go into the right room?
JJ had been screwed up most of the day and now he was drunk. Him screwing up again just got elevated to the “about to fuck up in a big way” category. Gavin’s body tensed waiting to hear Irene scream again. It had to have been five minutes before he heard JJ stumble into another room. Irene must have been roused when JJ walked in uninvited. At least she didn’t get freaked out again, he considered with relief.

* * * *

Amy ran her hand over the soft ivory chiffon material of her wedding dress. Anna and Cheryl were busy fussing over her hair and makeup as they waited at the church. Master Chief Jones and Irene would be walking Amy down the aisle. Gavin had wanted to dump tradition and walk Amy down himself. The women had prevailed.

They did not, however, prevail in convincing Gavin that he had to spend the night away from Amy last night. The men did their level best last night to keep him away, but he managed to come home and snuggle up to her in the wee hours of the morning. He had told everyone, in no uncertain terms, that as far as he was concerned this whole wedding thing was a formality and very overrated. She was
secretly
on Gavin’s side. After this last year and all the horrible things that had happened, when he was away she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Amy looked at herself in the mirror once more and recalled the first time she had been through a wedding. That affair had been truly overrated and very unlike Amy. It had been a circus and Tim’s mother had made Amy’s life miserable during the process. While this affair had been a little stressful, it was nothing like the last one. Amy and Gavin were surrounded by people who truly cared about their happiness and success. The man that waited for her this time was someone who loved and cherished her. She felt like the day held promise and felt the emotional significance of the commitment she was about to make to Gavin. It would simply formalize and publicly announce a promise they had made to each other long ago.

“You look gorgeous, mi hija!” Irene exclaimed.

“Thank you, Tía. Do you think David would be okay with me and Gavin by now?” Amy asked quietly.

Irene smiled and took Amy in her arms. “Yes, I think so. I think he would be proud. He would complain, but he would be proud,” Irene said as tears shone in her eyes.

Amy smiled and hugged Irene. There was a slight knock on the door and Master Chief Jones poked his head around the corner. She smiled at the man and waved him inside. While Gavin was in the hospital and since Master Chief Jones had moved to Texas, Amy had gotten to know the man and found him likable and riotously funny. Master Chief Jones was like a father to Gavin, so when they were in a quandary because of David being gone, she had suggested Master Chief Jones. Irene and the old Master Chief found themselves at odds, and it was hilarious to watch the elderly pair square off with each other. They had seemed to work out their differences for today.