Page 33 of Valor on Base

A C-130 taxis past, engines loud enough to rattle the truck windows. Duke lifts his head briefly, then settles back down with a huff. He's used to the noise, same as I am.

"Think we're ready for this?" Andi asks, leaning against my side.

I pull her closer, wrapping my arm around her waist. The C-130 turns onto the runway, engines building to a roar before it accelerates down the strip and lifts into the air. We watch it climb, banking east toward the coast.

"Yeah," I say. "We're ready."

Duke barks once from the back seat, agreement clear. Andi's hand finds mine again, warm against my palm. Above us, the C-130 disappears into the distance, navigation lights blinking against the darkening sky.

Joint Expeditionary Base Tidewater. Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic. Where the missions are harder and the operators are the best. Holden and I talked months ago when we were both neck-deep in our own situations. I told him to stop hesitating, to trust his gut. Now we'll both be stationed at the same base with the women we chose and the futures we earned.

Duke shifts in the back seat, ready to follow wherever we lead. Andi's shoulder presses against mine, warm and real.

Tidewater's waiting. New missions, new K9 program to build, new coastline for Duke to patrol. But that's tomorrow's work. Tonight, we watch the sky darken and the navigation lights blink across the horizon.