Page 53 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

“You are family, Kennedy. And no matter what happens, we take care of our own.” Matt never looks away as he turns the computer screen in my direction. The monitor is split into five smaller boxes, each one filled with a different face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is Kennedy Forrester, the love of Viper’s life. Kennedy, this is the rest of our family.” I expected everyone to speak all at once, but everyone remained smiling, but silent.

“Kennedy, when we were in the desert, I was the highest ranking officer, next to Doc.” A handsome man on the lower left nodded his head. With his uniform and haircut, he appeared to still be in the military. “Which made me the leader of this group. While we still have a few wrinkles to iron out, we may keep our responsibilities the same.” When I failed to say anything, Zach came around the bar to hold me. “No need to be afraid, Kennedy. They wouldn't dare hurt you.” He kissed the top of my head, as my attention remained on all the faces looking back at me.

“Kennedy is it?” A female voice severed the tension. “I’m Audrey Morgan. I’m married to this handsome man, Chase, or Diesel as the others call him.” She waved her hand at the screen, a tiny baby in her arms with a handsome man wrapped around them both. “Don't you let these guys scare you none, everyone of them would cut their hand off if they even thought they had hurt you. I can tell just by looking at you that we are going to get along just fine.” Audrey had a kindness about her and I found it hard not to smile with her words.

“Diesel?”

“Sir?”

“Anything to add or did Miss Audrey cover it?”

Diesel’s face broke out into a sly smile as he reached over to rub the face of the tiny baby. He was a handsome man. Hell, all of the faces on the screen would fit on any runway or magazine. “Just that I hope you’re doing all right after what happened with Ethan. Audrey had a similar situation not long ago, and it took us a minute or two, to get back to where we are now. I have two brothers, Austin and Dylan, who are busy with an issue here. I’m sure you’ll meet them when you come to Charleston.”

“Kennedy?” Zach prodded.

“Thank you...Diesel. I’m fine, no sleep lost over a man with issues.” Diesel nodded his head and then returned his attention back to his baby.

“Ghost?”

“Sir?”

“You’re up.”

Ghost has dark hair, with sunglasses sitting on the crown of his head. A scattering of stubble dusted his chin and jaw. From what I could see, he had a few tattoos on his forearms, but his sleeves kept me from being able to see what they were. He looked to be sitting in a park, the Washington Monument in the background.

“Name’s Ryan Biggs, or Ghost as these guys know me. Currently, I’m in Washington DC fixing a situation my mouth got me into. But I’ll be headed down south soon enough, to help these guys right some wrongs.”

“Havoc?”

“Sir?”

An olive skinned, dark haired man, sat up a little straighter. His uniform told me he was still in the military, but the background showed a white-sandy beach, the surf breaking in the distance.

“Hey, Kennedy. My name is Alex Nakos, I’m the good looking one in the group.” A rumbling of snickers broke out, with a few “you wishes” thrown in. “These guys all call me Havoc, mostly because I cause a lot of it. Especially when I mix a chemical or two together, just to see what happens. I’m also known for this big Greek family I have, with a mother who won't rest until I’m married with a dozen children.” Again the snickers filled the air. “I still have a few months left on my contract, but I’m always available for my brothers.”

“Chief?”

“Yes, Sir?”

While the man on the screen looked to be a little older than the rest, he certainly wasn't any less handsome. His hair blonder, eyes a little brighter, but it was his smile I found the most appealing. Where the others had shared their alluring or sexy grins, Chief was all about being genuinely happy.

“I'm the old guy in the group, Aiden Sawyer. My job is to study the area and people we’re dealing with. And may I add, Kennedy, keep an eye on that brother-in-law of yours. Your mother isn’t the only one with an agenda.”I didn’t dare ask what he meant, too frightened to know what he would say. I nodded my head. “I will, thank you.”

“Last, but certainly not least, Doc?”

“Viper?”

“I haven't heard from you in a while, you okay?” It didn’t get past me the lack of ‘Sir’, as Doc addressed Zach. As hard as I tried to keep the smile on my face, my concern showed through.

“I’m good, but Kennedy, honey, never play poker with me or any of these guys.” His index finger circled in the air to include everyone. “The second I didn't say sir, your face contorted. Technically, Zach and I are the same rank, so we don't call one another sir. Asshole maybe, but not sir.” This time my laughter joined the rest; I could see the invisible bond these men had formed.

“My name is Logan Forbes. I’m a flight surgeon and the last one of us still stuck in the Middle East. These guys call me Doc. I’m about five months out from the end of my contract. When I leave here, I have orders for Virginia Beach, but after that, who knows?” Doc had darker hair like most of them, but his expressive green eyes stood out against the tan of his skin and the khaki of his uniform. Just like the others, he was pleasing to the eye.

“Well, let us know when you do. I’ll try and keep these guys injury free until you get here.”

“Heaven help us, if Viper is in charge of medical.”

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