Page 3 of Cade

“I know,” he said, nodding at his sons. “I know that. I love you both.”

“We love you, too, Dad.”

Bodhi and Cade could have been twins the way they always answered together. At just eleven months apart, they were in the same grade, same sports, same everything. It was shocking to most people when they said they weren’t twins.

Picking up their duffels, they stepped onto the bus with the other recruits and took their seats. They barely fit, but they’d learned, over the years, how to conform their bodies to the space provided.

“Do you ever think about it? What she did? Do you ever think about doing that?” asked Cade. Bodhi frowned at him.

“No. It was a choice she made, but I don’t ever think of doing the same thing. It’s cowardly.”

“It wasn’t cowardly, Bodhi. She saw no other way out, and she was obviously in pain. That’s sad to me.”

“Are you…”

“No,” he said, shaking his head at his older brother. Older by only eleven months, but still, older. “I’m a happy person, Bodhi. I’m happy all the time. Life has too much to offer, and I’m going to take advantage of whatever comes my way.”

“Oh, you mean like Wendy Parker?” smirked Bodhi.

“Hey, she offered,” blushed Cade. “She was my first, Bodhi. I only wanted a blow job, but she was willing to go further.”

“You used a condom, right?” frowned his brother.

“Yes, Bodhi, I used a condom,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“Just make sure you’ve always got them on you, Cade. Girls see us and want to see what we’re packing. You’ve seen how the women are around Dad, and he’s old. Well, not old but older. I’m not going to get some girl pregnant and then get deployed. I want someone special. Someone who wants me for me. Not just… it,” he said, looking at his groin.

“Oh, Bodhi, you kill me sometimes,” laughed Cade. “I’m not going to get anyone pregnant either, but I am going to fuck anyone I want if they offer it. I don’t plan on settling down until I’m at least thirty-five, maybe forty.”

Bodhi just shook his head, staring out the window. His father was waving at them, then turned to head to his truck. He’d been a good father, and although he’d extended an olive branch to their grandparents several times, they never once came out to visit them. Henry was true to his word and always sent birthday and holiday gifts. He even put money in a college fund for the boys without his wife’s knowledge.

Six deployments later, several missions with spec ops teams, multiple bullet wounds, multiple stab wounds, and more than a dozen tattoos, all on Cade, they were ready to be done and go do something else. That’s when one of their old teammates gave them a call.

“Robicheaux! What the fuck are you doing?” smiled Cade, staring into the screen, his brother looking over his shoulder.

“I’m home, mon frére,” grinned Robbie. “I was wondering what you two were doing now. Listen, have you two ever heard of REAPER-Patriots Security?”

“We’re Army grunts. We’re not idiots,” said Bodhi with a straight face. Robbie could only laugh.

“Well, they’re my family.”

“Say again,” said Cade with shock. “Family? As in, siblings, parents?”

“The owners of the firm are my cousins, well, some of them. It’s a long story. We’re all like family here. We want you to come in and interview with the team. We’re growing and need more men. You two are some of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

“Brother, that’s a huge compliment,” said Cade. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

Days of interviews, tests, shooting, fighting, running, physicals with two of the most beautiful doctors they’d ever seen. It was exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. When it was over, they were welcomed with open arms.

One of their first team events was a wedding. Garrett Robicheaux, a former SEAL, and Celeste Pechkin, the daughter of an ex-agency man, were getting married. Cade and Bodhi had never seen anything like it. The sheer number of people was more than their entire small town in Minnesota.

Cade just wanted to dance. He loved to dance, but often the girls that were the best dancers were tiny, waif-like women. Women that he’d break in two if he swung her the wrong way. No, for Cade, he needed a woman with curves. Thick, delicious, beautiful curves. It was as if he spoke his thoughts aloud, and someone materialized his perfect woman.

She seemed to just be there. Standing on the other side of the dance floor with long brown hair and the biggest brown eyes he’d ever seen in his life. Curves made for racing and lips that he needed to feel, everywhere.

Holy shit. He found her. A woman that fit in his arms like his favorite baseball glove. He knew he was screwed.

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