Page 51 of Missing Marcus

“I can’t promise you Gabby will take you back. Only she can decide if she can forgive your mistakes. It took some groveling on my part. I slept outside in my truck keeping watch while Ice and Wolf kept her safe in their home. I showed up and proved my loyalty. When she agreed to go out with me, my friends assured her they’d pick her up if I made her uncomfortable. It felt like a kick in the teeth, but her emotional needs came before my feelings. I suspect between deployments and the black op, you may have given Gabby all the material things she needed when all she wanted was you.”

As if a curtain lifted from his eyes, Knight recalled missing their anniversary because they expected him to spin up at any moment and he forgot until she went to bed without him while he talked on the phone with one of his contacts. They spun up at dawn. She told him about missing her graduation. He imagined the disappointment she must’ve felt. He’d let her down again. Did Abe make a valid point?

Wolf returned with a small package in his hand. He handed it to Abe.

“Tex gave us permission.”

Abe handed the item to Knight. “Our friend Tex gave us these for our women. It’s not meant to track every move they make. It’s a precautionary measure. Tex permitted us to give you one for Gabby. Don’t be sneaky about this. Be upfront with her. It’s a pair of earrings with a transmitter in them. Tex monitors it and can track her if necessary.”

Knight held them in his palm, surprised the men did this.

“We’ve got our reasons for doing it. It’s not meant for you to stalk her. It’s for her safety,” Abe stressed. “Don’t give these to her until you talk to her and explain why you want her to wear them.”

Wolf nodded. “Tex will call Matthew from Serenity Securities and give him a heads up. This stays confidential and I imagine you’ll receive a call from Tex himself. He’ll want to speak with Gabby. Our women know his number by heart. If we can’t reach them, he’ll keep tabs until we can.”

“Thanks. I’ll feel better knowing she can’t disappear. I’m unsure if she’ll accept them from me after our last conversation. Hopefully, I can convince her.” Knight sighed.

“If she has any questions, she can call Ice or Alabama. They’ll happily tell her their stories,” Abe assured him.

“I appreciate you helping me. I’ve acted like an idiot and I don’t know how things will turn out,” he confessed.

“I won’t lie, it was the hardest thing Alabama and I ever faced. We learned a lot about each other from the experience. I suggest you discover what needs you didn’t meet. You’re focusing on thethings you gave her. Somehow, you missed something crucial.”

“Yeah.” Knight swiped his hand over his face. “Thanks for the advice. My flight’s early and I’m anxious to return home.”

“Ice put fresh sheets on the bed. What time do you need us to drive you to the airport?” Wolf asked.

“0300.” He informed the men.

Abe nodded. “I’ll pick you up at 0230. Good luck, man. Don’t hesitate to call if we can help in any way.”

Knight stood and shook hands with the men before heading to the kitchen. The two women stopped chattering as he entered.

“Thank you for letting me stay. I appreciate it. I understand Gabrielle called you. I want you to know I made a mistake when I shared some information with your husbands. I jumped to the wrong conclusion and I’m the one to blame,” Knight admitted to the women.

Alabama rose from her chair and hugged him. “It takes a strong person to admit their mistakes. It takes someone with courage to fix them. Good luck, Knight.”

“Thank you…goodnight, ladies.” He turned and walked down to the basement bedroom. He grabbed boxers from the bag and took a shower, brushed his teeth and climbed into bed. He closed his eyes, and Gabby’s tear-streaked face haunted him. Did Abe hit on the missing piece of the puzzle?

When his father left, he watched his mother work herself to the bone to provide for him and Bryanna. She went without to put food in their bellies. They lived in run-down apartments for most of their lives. He never wanted Gabby to lack for anything. He recalled the day his sister, Bryanna, entered this world.

Carl Hutchins paced the living room as he spoke low into the phone. A friend took Mama to the hospital, and Marcus sat on the floor with his homework at the coffee table. He watched his father go into the bedroom. From where he sat, he witnessed his father put the suitcase on the bed and dump his clothes inside. As if undecided, he paused in the middle of the room, gazing at Marcus. Opening drawers, he squished the items into is bag and clasped the locks. His father entered the living room and set his luggage by the front door before sitting beside him.

“Marcus, I’m leaving today. It’ll be a long time before I see you again.”

He glanced up at his father, confused. “Aren’t we visiting the hospital to see my new brother or sister?”

“Yeah. We’ll go and then I’m leaving you with the neighbors. You’ll mind your manners and help your mama when she returns home. I know you don’t understand this now. One day, you’ll grow into a man. You’ll find someone you can’t live without. Soon, you’ll have kids and realize you were meant for more than working nonstop to put food on the table and a roof over your head. It’s not a way to live, son. It’s time I follow my dreams.”

His father loaded the suitcase in the carand drove them to the hospital. Marcus watched his mom introduce Bryanna to his father. He shook his head, refusing to hold the baby.

His mama smiled through her tears as she patted the side of the bed. Marcus sat down, gently holding his arms out as his mama instructed him how to hold his sister’s head. He smiled and glanced at his parents, elated he finally had a sibling to play with.

“What’s her name, Mama?” he asked.

“Bryanna Ann Hutchins,’ his mama announced.

“We talked about this,” his father seethed.

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