Page 9 of Grayson

“I never meant to lie to you. I also didn’t want you in any additional danger. I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry, Sgt. Major,” smiled Brunson. “We look up to you.”

Grayson swallowed back the emotions building in him. He nodded, staring at each of the men he’d handpicked. They were good. Better than good. They were the best the Corps had to offer.

“Listen,” said Jennifer softly, “I know that I’m not part of your team but I have to stop this man. He’s taken more than a hundred children from various orphanages where the Sisters worked. It’s personal to me.”

“Personal, Sister?” frowned Romeo.

“I-I’m obviously not a nun. And it’s not Sister Irene, it’s Jennifer. I worked for an independent organization trying to stop trafficking. As Grayson said, we grew up in the same place, around the same people.” The men nodded at her, just staring at her face. “That’s not all. Kyle Lacroix raped me several years ago. He and another man. He’s dead. Kyle is next.”

All of the men were quiet, then stood looking at one another, then at Grayson.

“Then let’s make this last mission your swan song, Sgt. Major.”

“Jennifer, you need to go home,” said Grayson.

“I’m not leaving. You put me on a plane, I’ll turn around and come right back here. I need to do this, Grayson. I need to stop this man and the organization he’s working with. You would feel the same way.”

“She could be useful, sir,” said Romeo. Grayson glared at the young man, warning him not fan the flames. He grinned, holding up both hands in defense.

“Grayson, I know this group. I know how they operate, I know their men.”

“You didn’t even recognize that fucking priest after what he did to you!” he yelled. Jennifer jumped back as if he’d slapped her. She swallowed and nodded.

“You’re right. I didn’t. When you’re raped in a dark alley in the middle of the night it’s hard to remember all the details of the face of the fucking devil. That only comes in your nightmares.”

“Jennifer.”

“No. No, you don’t get to speak. I remembered. Almost too late but I remembered and now I’ll never forget.” She stood, her hand on the doorknob. “So, you can let me help you or I swear to God I’ll do this myself.”

She stormed from the room, slamming the door, the fabricated metal of the small building shaking. Grayson stared at the door shut in his face and then turned back to his men.

“If anything happens to her,” he trailed off.

“Nothing will happen, Grayson,” said Romeo. He realized he’d used his first name and just shrugged. “We’ll be there for you. For her.”

He nodded, gripping the doorknob.

“Sir? Where are you going?” asked Brunson.

“First to apologize to her.”

“First?” questioned Romeo.

“Yeah. Then I do the really hard shit. I have to call her parents and the team back home to let them know what’s happening. I’m either going to be beat to shit, hunted by my own family, or, if I’m really fucking lucky, inundated with more firepower than we can imagine.” Romeo grinned at him, the other men chuckling.

“I vote for the latter.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Grayson reached Jennifer’s trailer and gripped the door handle. He sucked in a deep breath and then opened it without knocking. She was seated on the bed, shoving her things into a backpack. He sat beside her, gripping her wrist tighter than intended.

“Let me go, Grayson,” she said still looking down. He heard her sniff and stilled, loosening his grip.

“Jennifer, look at me,” he said calmly. “Please.”

It was the ‘please’ that got her. Grayson wasn’t known for saying please to anyone. She stilled and looked up at him with red eyes.