How the hell had his buddy managed to walk away from black ops? That wasn’t an easy feat.
Sinjin set a hand to his woman’s hip and hauled her closer. “Affirmative,” he told Holden while gazing into Isla’s upturned face. “I’m never leaving.”
Since the couple appeared to be lost in their own little universe, he left them to toss his empty plate in the trash andjoined the rest of his Delta buddies, who beckoned him over to where they sat watching the SEALs and several women playing volleyball.
“Told you Sinjin was smitten like a kitten.” Carter grinned, holding out his hand. “Pay up.”
The joker wasn’t just the tech genius of the old unit, he also supplied the laughs. No matter how great or horrible their day, Carter had always said or done something to lighten the mood.
“Gladly.” Holden dug a twenty from his pocket and slapped it into his friend’s palm.
He should’ve known better than to make the bet with the guy when they’d met up last month, but it was a bet he was happy to lose.
“I’m a little surprised to hear Sinjin is working full-time at ESI, though,” he said, dropping into a vacant lounge chair.
Carter’s head jerked back, and Dex raised a brow, but Mac and Hunter appeared unphased.
“I think you need more sustenance than chocolate cake to fire up the synapses in your brain, buddy.” Carter snorted. “Sinjin has been working for Mac for several months now.”
He flicked his gaze back to Mac, then Hunter, and read the truth behind their blank expressions. They were the only ones who had known…and apparently Isla, that their buddy had originally been in Texas temporarily.
Happy to keep it that way, he glanced back at Carter and nodded. “You’re right. Think I’d better go remedy that.”
Smiling, he rose to his feet and made his way to the grill where Gabe stood cooking something that smelled amazing while a gorgeous gray pit bull lounged at his feet.
Sadness tightened Holden’s chest and evaporated his smile. The devotion in the Pit’s eyes as it stared up at Gabe reminded Holden of the dog he’d had to leave behind.
Braddock.
The best of the best of Delta.
Holden was the five-year-old Belgian Malinois’ handler. They’d gone through training together as well as several layers of hell. The dog had been at Holden’s side when they ate, slept, fought, and bled together. Braddock had saved his and his unit’s asses countless times and leaving active duty without him had ripped out part of Holden’s soul.
Braddock still had duties to perform.
That didn’t stop Holden from missing the dog every damn day or worrying that Braddock wouldn’t bond with his new handler.
But he trusted in the dog’s good sense, impeccable instincts, as well as his training, to see him through to the end of his service.
Before leaving Delta, Holden had procured a promise from his commander that he be notified when Braddock was cleared to retire. No matter how long it took or how much red tape he had to weed through, he’d do whatever was needed to bring his dog home.
“I’m sure Braddock will be okay,” Gabe said, as if reading his mind.
Holden nodded, and working to ease the tightness from his chest, he grabbed a plate and bun from a nearby table. “Smells as amazing as ever,” he said. “I see you haven’t lost your touch, Master Chief.”
The pit bull’s attention immediately zeroed in on him.
Gabe chuckled. “His name is Chief, and no, I didn’t name him.”
“Sounds like it was meant to be then,” he said, reaching down to pet the dog that had walked over to rub against his leg.
“Looks like you haven’t lost your touch either.” The guy chuckled.
He shrugged. Dogs were easy to read and understand, unlike humans.
“I hear you’ve seen Griff,” Gabe said, changing the subject as he slapped a burger onto the plate Holden held out. “How is he? Ain’t right what the Navy did to him.”
Griff was a former SEAL who had also helped Holden’s sister in Mexico. The guy had operated under Gabe a few years ago, so Holden wasn’t surprised by the sheriff’s concern. Although he wasn’t sure of all the facts behind Griff’s dishonorable discharge, he was certain the mess had a distinct scapegoat odor to it.