chapter nine
~Gentry~
Shawn Callahan, a moment in my past. I remember the mission where he took a bullet to the right leg. He never rotated to another team again. In the SEALs we didn’t often get switched around. The level of trust you had to have with the men in your unit required you to be with them long term. Callahan washed out after that mission.
I understand it.
He was young. He probably didn’t think it was true what they told him about the kids. They can be as dangerous as adults in some places.
It sucks he had to learn the hard way.
I struggle to see the man who was afraid of his own shadow that night as this killer. I don’t discount what Tempest is saying, but he passed the psychological evaluation to get in the SEALs.
Tempest left for work about twenty minutes ago. Since then, I sent the email to the guy I know still working intel. Then I made a call to a friend who reached out to another friend to get the firm whereabouts of Shawn Callahan.
My emotions have to be pushed aside while seeking information. The instincts inside me to protect Tempest and Arika fight my knowledge of the man I once trusted my life to.
I am not surprised to find out that Callahan is now a free man. He did his time in a military prison and also underwent extensive therapy for his depression, paranoia, and anxiety disorders. The news and media outlets are given information on most military cases. His release was done quietly, which has probably given Tempest a false sense of freedom. Since getting out, Shawn Callahan has stayed out of trouble.
He has also gone ghost.
After Stephanie’s death, he cut all ties with his family. He even missed his own father’s funeral, even though, it would have been a break from his time in the brig. This isn’t typical of a SEAL. While yes we are trained to have no marks that would lead an enemy to our family in order to protect the innocent, we value family. When you see people dying, or you are the one to end someone’s life, it makes you reflect.
Like Tempest … I’ve seen bad shit so I know when to hold onto good. I never expected her to have a daughter. Honestly, no woman has ever held my interest the way she does.
What does this mean for the future?
Well, who knows. The deeper I seem to find myself feeling the more complicated it seems things become.
With her at work and all this uncovering Callahan’s past it has me pondering a lot of things. One of them being, a relationship, a real relationship with the woman who is small but mighty.
Picking up my phone, I follow my instincts.
“Hello,” Judge answers on the second ring.
“Need a word with your woman. I also happen to be hungry as fuck. Can we meet for sandwiches?”
He moves the phone away, but I can still hear him. “Tamalyn, Deacon needs a word and some grub. You wanna go eat at the sub place by Haven’s Harbor?” I can’t make out what she replies.
“Yeah, brother, meet you in ten.”
After clicking the phone to off, I close Tempest’s laptop after placing a quick dinner order for later. From there, I go into the kitchen and do something I have never done before. Finding a paper and pen, I scribble my note.
Beautiful,
I had a meeting. I’ll be back before dark to stay and talk. Dinner will be delivered at eighteen hundred. The driver has already been tipped. You worked hard today. Take a load off. If you need anything else, you know how to reach me.
See ya sooner rather than later,
Deacon
Finishing that note, I feel the urge to leave another one. Deciding everything with Tempest needs to be on instincts, I go for it.
Arika,
I hope you had a good day at school. I’ve gotten started on your information. Please understand these things take time. I have ordered dinner and I hope you aren’t a vegetarian. Remember, your mom loves you so give her a break and yourself one, too.
My number is in a text on your phone that I sent while you were in school. If you need anything at all, even someone just to listen, you know where to reach me. See you tonight and I expect to hear good things.
Deacon
I have never written a note of any kind to any female in my entire life. I never even gave my mom a single card – not even a homemade one. It’s a regret I have because she never had some tangible piece of evidence that I did love her.
Absently, I rub my stomach. Is this what butterflies feel like for women? I feel like I have bugs dancing around inside me as my intestines twist up into a million knots. While the thought of a future with Tempest sounds appealing, will she let me in? I want to get to know Arika, but is that even possible coming into their lives this late in the game?
Deciding, I won’t get answers until I go after what I want, I finish up. So, I leave the notes, lock the front door with the spare key Tempest gave me, and head to the sandwich shop.
Ordering quickly, I take my sandwich and sit down with Judge and Tamalyn who are already seated and eating.
“Hey Deacon,” Tamalyn says with a smile.
I turn the small chair around and straddle it with the back of the chair facing the table. I never like to feel boxed in.
“I’ll cut to the chase. I wanna take Tempest on a date.”
“Not happenin’, soldier.”
She bites into her sandwich while I study her. “First I’m a sailor, not a soldier – that’s the Army. Second, why not?”
“Well, you bikers aren’t the best at dating,” she retorts while trying to chew her food.
“I suck at dating. I’ll be honest, Tamalyn, I’ve never really done it. The relationship thing. But Tempest, she’s in deep with Arika. We have this connection. I think I need to take her on a real date.”
She smiles at me, “Yeah, one that doesn’t involve sex would be more meaningful.”
I don’t argue. Instead, I pick up my sandwich and eat.
“Look, Deacon,” Tamalyn says taking a serious tone. “I don’t want to see either of you get hurt. Tempest doesn’t have room in her life for a relationship. You don’t have a bad track record, but you got like no record, so I don’t know what’s worse.”
I like Tamalyn on an average day. She makes Judge happy. But, her loyalty, her love for Tempest makes me like her even more.
“Okay, you laid it out for me so I’m gonna lay it out for you.”
“Watch your tone, brother.” Judge warns me. “We may be family, but Tamalyn is just keepin’ shit real with you.”
I eye Judge before turning my attention back to Tamalyn. “Seen shit, done shit, bad shit. Know Tempest is all the good I don’t deserve in this fucked up life. Bottom line, my Momma didn’t raise some disrespectful punk. You and Arika are the only family Tempest has left. I’m gonna take her out. I’m just trying to let you know.”
“You willin’ to fight for her?” Tamalyn asks forgetting her sandwich, forgetting her man, and forgetting that I have a bad track record, it seems.
“As hard and long as I have to.” I tell her feeling the crazy storm in my belly again.
“You willin’ to let her go?”
One question. A single inquisition and I feel like Tamalyn just kicked me in the nuts.
“If that’s what she wants. If that’s what is best for her and Arika, yeah.”
“Then all I can say is, Deacon, you’re in for one helluva ride with her and it’s one you better hold on tight and never let go.” Her words are straight forward and I respect it.
“That your blessin’?” I let myself have hope.
Tamalyn looks to Judge then to me, smiling. “Closest thing you’re gonna get, yeah. You gonna claim her?”
“No holding back, now. Yeah, I am.” I look her in the eyes.
“You willin’ to walk away from Devil’s Due?” Judge is the one to ask this surprising me.
I nod, but don’t speak the words because it burns deep inside me. As much as it hurts, yeah, I would. For Tempest, I would change my entire lifestyle because she makes it worth it. The way she silently and simply just gets me.
“She ain’t leavin’ here. She’s too invested,” he tells me what I already know.
“Wouldn’t ask her to.”
“Then if you brought us here for approval, you get it.” Judge pauses. “Walk the line, Deacon. I don’t wanna end up on opposite sides with you. But, you fuck up with her, I’ll end you or I’ll fuckin’ die tryin’.”
“I get you, Judge. ‘Preciate the chat. Respect your position. Now, I need you to respect mine.”
Judge nods at me while Tamalyn just has some goofy grin like she is as happy as a kid on Christmas morning.
I nod, standing, suddenly not so hungry. The feeling in my stomach isn’t the burn of demons past. No, this is a feeling I’m used to – it’s go time. Mission accepted.
If someone would have asked me if I ever planned to make a go of anything before I would have said fuck no in an instant. Tempest Adams, we have this connection I can’t explain and maybe I don’t want to.
What I do know – without a doubt, this is a ride I’m ready for. Watch out Tempest I’m holding on and never letting go.