I couldn’t get the last words Colin had said to me out of my head.

I promise we’ll find him.

Find him.

My dad was missing.

I couldn’t stop pacing. Jasmin, Olivia, Violet, and Ivy had all come into the office to stay with me while their husbands had gone out to find my dad.

The door to the conference room opened, and Jasmin had her pistol out of the holster on her hip and pointed in that direction before I could blink.

“Jasmin.” My mother’s smooth voice carried. “I don’t believe that’s a proper greeting for your auntie, is it?”

My mother’s brow raised, and Jasmin lowered her weapon. “You can never be too careful.”

Gerard was standing behind my mom, looking angry. Angrier than I’d ever seen him before. And that was saying something because I’d pushed the man to his limits with all my sneaking off.

“Come here, little rabbit.” My mother opened her arms, and I lost it. Her arms tightened around me, and she let me cry on her shoulder. After a few moments, she murmured, “That’s enough, Erin.”

“What?” I raised my head so I could look into my mother’s face.

“Dry your eyes. That’s enough crying.”

How could she say that? My dad was out there somewhere with a target on his back. If something happened to him, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to stop crying.

“Dad is missing,” I said unnecessarily.

“Your father is the strongest man I know. And he’s smart. He’s also surrounded himself with men who will stop at nothing to find him. Right now, our job is to not fall apart. He needs us to be positive.”

“But what if—”

“What if, nothing. Dry your eyes, sweet girl, your dad will be fine.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because the man I married is a tough son of a bitch. A UDT. A sailor who fought and won in the most horrific of conditions. He will not break. He will not give in. The man I married will hold his own until the Calvary comes for him. And, this time, the Calvary is your future husband. Don’t you have faith in the man you’re going to marry? Don’t you trust in his ability to bring your father home safely?”

I’d never heard my mom speak so strongly or with such conviction. Her confidence in my dad made me feel a fraction better about the situation.

“Of course, I do.”

I was affronted my mom would suggest I didn’t believe in Colin. I knew he was more than capable. I’d seen it with my very own eyes how deadly he could be.

“Good. Then you hold onto that trust. Don’t allow anything else to creep into your mind. There is no other possible outcome. Your father and his men will be home safe and sound before the day is out. You can bet on it.”

My mother stood tall, with her chin tilted in defiance. She believed what she’d said, believed in my dad. I needed to follow her lead and believe in Colin and the rest of the team to do their jobs.

“You’re right, Mama.”

“Damn straight, I am.” I cracked a smile, not used to hearing my mother curse. “This isn’t my first rodeo, little rabbit. Back when your dad was sent overseas to the war, we didn’t have the luxuries the wives have now. There was no email, no cell phone, no skype, or messaging. We had letters, and very few of those actually made their way to the battlefield. There were months and months I was left to wonder how your dad was. I couldn’t allow a sliver of doubt into my heart. I always knew he was coming home to me. Just like I know he’s coming home this time.”

I looked around the room, and all the other women had the same strength behind their stare as my mom did. She was right, I had to be the strongest I’d ever been. Not only for my dad and Colin, but for my friends. We were a team, these women and I, we had to stand together in a united front.

“So what now?” I asked.

“Now we wait. We keep ourselves busy and our minds occupied.”

“Miss Erin, there’s a Mrs. Doyle here to see you,” Gerard said from the doorway.

Shit. Colin’s mom. How in the world could I have forgotten her?

“Um. Can I go down and get her? Will someone bring her up? I don’t know how to get through the security.” My mom placed her hand on my shoulder and gently patted.

“Gerard. Would you please go down and get Mrs. Doyle? And if it isn’t too much to ask, would you please see if there is something in the kitchen? Water? Anything.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

When Gerard disappeared, I whispered, “That’s Colin’s mom, and I look like a total mess.”

“You look stunning. Everything will be fine.”

“I’m so happy you’re here.”

“There is nowhere else I would be. We’ll get through this together. As a family. Right, ladies?”

My mom glanced around the room, smiling at each of my friends. Three yeses echoed and one goddamn right we will. One guess who uttered that wonderful statement just as Colin’s mother happened through the door.

Thankfully, the beautiful woman smiled at Jasmin. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Jasmin.”

“Mrs. D. Excuse my outburst. The guys keep telling me I need to stop cursing so much or the boys’ first words will be shit and damn.”

My mom groaned from beside me, and Jasmin shrugged her shoulders.

Mrs. Doyle’s gaze landed on me, and her smile faded. She looked me over from top to toe before her eyes met mine once more. Oh, no, this was not how I thought my first meeting with Colin’s mother would go. I tried not to fidget but I was shrinking under her scrutiny. What if after her examination she found me lacking? Would Colin change his mind?

“You’re even more beautiful than your pictures. I can see why my Colin is so taken with you.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Doyle.” The other woman cleared her throat and shook her head, reminding me she’d requested I call her by her first name. “Alice. Thank you, Alice. This is my mother, Clarissa Anderson.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Anderson.” Alice stepped forward to shake my mother’s hand.

“Please call me Rissa.” The two older women clasped hands. “I was just telling the girls here, that we are all family. There’s no need for formalities.” Before my mom let go of Alice’s hand she spoke again. “I want to tell you, you and your husband have raised an exceptional man. We adore him, and he’s one of my husband’s most trusted men.”

Alice blushed before tears pooled. “Thank you for that. We worry about him.”

“We always worry about our children, don’t we? It doesn’t matter how old they are. Let’s sit. We have a lot to plan.”

Gerard came back with water and set it on the table before retaking his post by the door.

“Is Colin here?” Alice asked.

“No. He’s—” I stopped myself, not knowing what I should say.

“Out looking for my husband,” my mom said.

Gerard coughed and sputtered from the doorway. “Ma’am?”

“Alice has just as much right to know where her son is as these women deserve to know where their husbands are. We’re in a secure location. Besides, she’s my daughter’s mother-in-law and Erin needs the support.” Gerard didn’t seem happy my mom was going to tell Alice what was considered top secret information, however, he didn’t argue further. “Tom’s helicopter lost radio transmission and GPS signal while en route to Camp David. There’s concern an attempt has been made on his life. Colin and the rest of the teams have gone to retrieve him. They’ll be back in a few hours.”

Alice gasped, and I eyed my mom suspiciously, her tone was flat and matter of fact. I was beginning to wonder how much of my mother’s confidence was a put on.

Alice’s gaze slid to mine before she reached her hand out to me. “Yes. We have a lot to plan. And dresses to find. And flowers to order.”

When Colin’s mother pulled me into her embrace and wrapped her mom arms around me, they felt almost as good as my own mother’s—almost.

“Everything’s going to be fine, Erin. You’ll see,” she whispered.

“I hope you’re right.”