Page 61 of Absolute Valor

To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid

“What started off as a security breach within the OPM, or Office of Personnel Management, has turned into a Federal nightmare involving the armed forces. In a report released today, the Department of Justice admits a security breach, which occurred previously, is at the center of an internet scam. Military Connections dot com, is an online dating website geared to matching civilian men and women with active duty military personnel who are looking for a relationship. The free service collects information, feeds it into a database, and then matches you with the perfect person. Seems simple enough—no money to participate and no face to face searching required. All seems perfect as you correspond with the guy or gal you’ve been assigned. Too bad the person isn’t real. Two names were created, Harmony Wells and Zachery Michels, each given to the seventy thousand subscribers.

Investigators say during the OPM breach, a little known hacker, Virginia Greyson, developed a software program where the information the user gave, was given back to them in a series of emails—convincing the victim this relationship was real and blossoming. In documents filed with the department, an email was sent detailing a mission the active duty was given, detailing he or she would hope they would wait for them to return. Days later another email is sent, depicting an emergency at home, unable to help a sick relative. Once the money changed hands, the service member is lost in action. Records show one million dollars was stolen from victims spanning the globe.”

Three pairs of black boots sat crossed at the ankle on the edge of a table. We’ve watched the news report a dozen times, each one hitting us a little deeper. What began as a man trying to do the right thing, gaining the attention of a beautiful woman, has turned into so much more. Austin had been contacted to advise on how to get past a few of the hacking blocks, his friend from MIT taking the credit. A silent agreement was forged between the two men, willing to help one another if the occasion ever arose.

The good news in all of this, besides the fact we had taken a few thugs off the street, was most of the victims would get their money back. Ginny kept excellent records, detailing the many accounts the funds went to. The feds had been contacting people and getting checks issued to them.

“Guess what, y’all?” Rolling my eyes, knowing what Dylan was about to announce again to anyone who would care to listen. “I have super sperm.”

When my brothers and I made the bet at my wedding, Dylan failed to check with his wife to see what the status of their birth control was. Claire had it in her mind they would wait until the first of the year to start a family, since she wanted to check out Physician Assistant programs.

“Got my wife pregnant while she was on the pill.”

Lainie and Austin announced they were expecting during dinner a month ago, which sent Claire into a fit of tears, and Momma made her take a test. Dylan teased him by asking if it was for real this time, which earned a slap from Momma.

“You’re right, Dylan, you do have super sperm, cause it’s a fucking miracle you got that tiny dick of yours to work.” I barked, having heard enough talk of pregnant wives and shit. Audrey and I had been trying every chance we got and still nothing.

I’d had an idea, one I hadn’t really planned out, counting on my brothers to piece together the possibilities of my proposal. When Austin set up the video chat for my wedding, I had the opportunity to talk with the guys I left behind. Hearing them share of how the team wasn’t the same since I left, filled with new guys who were hero hungry, instead of concentrating on the team.

LT, Zach Michaels, had less than a year left, and a girl he had started talking to. I asked him if she was enlisted, which he denied, but wouldn’t tell us much other than she was from his hometown of Atlanta. He wanted to return home and open a tattoo shop, something which didn’t sit well with his society family.

Doc, Logan Forbes, had received a package from a girl in Virginia. He tried to explain the story, but it was too crazy to believe. He too, had less than a year, and planned to serve the last of his time at the Naval base in Virginia and see where this mystery girl lead him.

Chief, Aiden Sawyer, had been eligible for retirement for several years, but wanted to stay until the rest of the team called it quits. He had fallen for a nurse they escorted across the desert, a sniper attack had sent them huddling inside the armed vehicle. Chief said he had to calm her down and used the only measure he knew.

Havoc, Alex Kakos, was looking at a medical discharge. The bullet he took in the chest had left a shadow on his chest X ray, something the military frowned upon. He had family in south Florida who owned a restaurant and bakery. His momma still on a mission to marry him off to a good Greek girl.

Reaper, Matthew Parrish, had bought some land in South Carolina. He wanted to fix up the old home and avoid the public. He believed the scar on his face scared most folks, especially the ladies.

Ghost, Ryan Biggs, had been looking at a government job, working in communications. His parents had left him some land in Tennessee and he was itching to get back to the hills.

“Listen, I need to talk to y’all ‘bout something important.” A huge knot tightened in my stomach, what I was about to suggest was not only illegal, but dangerous as fuck.

“Not sure I like the sound of your voice there Chase. Everything okay at home?” Dylan planted his feet on the ground, muted the television, and then tossed the remote.

“Everything is great at home, but what I have to say does effect them too.” Audrey had taken the morning off to help Momma with the church Christmas outreach. She showed me an envelope she had been saving money in to give, to help a family like the church had helped hers. I told her to double whatever she had squirreled away.

“Dylan, when you left your job with the department, you said it was because the law had started to fail the people.” Both Dylan and Austin looked at me with blank faces and arms crossed, but giving me their complete attention. “You asked for our help in serving the form of justice the courts couldn’t. Then we all helped with the son of a bitch who beat his wife, all because the law failed them.” Dylan nodded his head, but remained silent.

“And Austin, you did everything you could to help those people get their money back and stop a career criminal from fleeing the country. You even kept Lainie from taking the heat when they tried to disappear. Hell, you both saved my ass from ruin with the Harmony’s scams.”

“This train of thought of yours got a caboose?” Dylan prodded, a serious expression on his face.

“What if we could help more people? More than just the folks here in Charleston.” I let my question hang in the air, a pregnant pause in the conversation. “Originally we all agreed, Carson too, that we would help the ones who needed us. Turns out there’s a whole market of people who have been failed by all the authorities they’ve contacted.” I lock eyes with Austin, his expression chilling me the most.

“Keep going, little brother. I can tell by your eyes there’s more to this plan of yours.”

Standing, I start to pace, “You’re right, Austin, there is more. An entire SEAL team who would be willing to help us. Not right away, but by the end of next year we could have a Mercenary team—show the world what a little southern justice can do.”

“Where did you come up with SEALs? Those are some bad motherfuckers, not your standard issue military guy.”

My brothers weren’t stupid either, I couldn’t tell them when I had to go out on a mission over there. I’d told Daddy a little, but never my brothers. It was time to share what I could about how I came to know this group of guys, forming a brotherhood much like the one I shared with them. “All of these guys possessed a skill vital to a mission. The rules are very clean when it comes to the type of men you need on a team to make it happen. Zach is a born leader, handles stress like he’s drinking a beer. Aiden can talk a Nun out of her panties or a jumper off a ledge. Alex taught me everything I knew about explosives, how to respect them and how to blow the fuck out of anything. Matt, has the longest kill shot in history, not that he can claim it as it’s top secret. Ryan, can make a radio out of anything. Austin, you and him would talk shit for days.”

Dylan scoffed, placing his feet back on the table and crossing them at the ankles. “I fucking better get a cool call sign out of this merger.”

Austin kicked his boot with his own, “You fucking douche, you have to earn that shit.” Turning to me, an irritated look on his face. “What is your call sign, or can you not tell us?”

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