Page 258 of Enthrall Shadows
“Thank you, sir.”
“While we’re here, Griffin, please call me Henry.”
“Thank you, Henry,” he said softly.
“The request came in from your father’s CO for his men to be extracted. They needed urgent air-support. Chaos ensued—not unusual in these scenarios. They found themselves outgunned. There were casualties. Your dad ran out into the center of the fray and waved an orange panel to flag the rescue helicopter. The extraction began. Your dad began loading the wounded. He went back for the last man, refusing to leave until everyone had been rescued.”
I drew in a steadying breath. “As he was helping the last soldier, he took a bullet. They managed to get him inside the chopper and took off, but he died minutes later from his head wound. I’m so sorry, Griffin.”
He shook his head. “Why didn’t they tell us that?”
“His Captain took the flak for the mission going wrong. The Officer was later vindicated. Details are only now being released.”
“Thank you, sir.” He took a shaky breath. “I mean, Henry.”
“I thought you might like to meet the man your dad saved.” I glanced over at Staff Sergeant Palmer.
Griffin stared at the Marine. “That’s him?”
“He’d like to meet you, too.” I gestured for Andrew to join us. “Your father saved countless lives that day. You should be very proud.”
“I am.”
“You’ve got the car. Take tomorrow and the next day off. Take as much time as you need.”
He gave a nod.
“Shay has some ideas about you moving over to his team. If that’s something you might like.”
“Special Ops?”
“Civilian, yes, but it can be interesting. Challenging, but fulfilling.”
He brightened a little and I gave him a hug before withdrawing from this private moment. I would let Staff Sergeant Palmer and Griffin—two men connected by the profound actions of one man—have some time alone.
With my head down and heart breaking for him, I made my way back down the pathway. Living without a father would have been a hard cross to bear. He was ours to protect now.
Before leaving, I stood for several minutes facing the cemetery with my hand over my heart, saying a prayer of gratitude to the fallen.
Shay had parked his jeep next to our town car.
After climbing in, I let out a long breath. What I had just done had been even harder than I expected. We both knew the kind of pain a family endures over the loss of a veteran.
For Griffin, the truth had finally come out, leaving some peace to be found amongst the savagery of war.
In silence, Shay drove us away from the cemetery. He no doubt was feeling that familiar guilt I often felt for surviving when our brothers-in-arms had not made it home.
We made it to the rock face in thirty minutes. Though by the time we got there my mood had changed considerably.
As we carried our climbing equipment to the starting point, I kept thinking of how I’d hurt Lotte the night before.
My usual arrogance had driven a wedge between us. I should have let her sit with us at the ball.
My strategy was to get ahead of the press. If they had seen us together on the red carpet, they would have released the story early.
But Lotte had deserved so much better.
I leaned against the rock and gripped the first indent.
