A flushed Levi whirled around to face Julian. “Beckett called. He asked us to tell you.” The words rushed out as Levi stalked past Julian toward the door. Then the sound of Levi’s feet hitting the stair treads reverberated in the now quiet office.
“Levi,” Thane called out and rushed after him. Julian put a hand on Thane’s chest, stopping him from leaving the office.
“You have to stop making everyone crazy about St. Clair. It’s nothing. Let it go.” Julian aimed for a calm but forceful and decisive tone, wanting this discussion to end right there.
Pain mixed with perhaps anger flitted across Thane’s face, his brows snapping down. “I’ll never forget how you looked when I walked into your hospital room after I finally found you. I’ve never seen anyone as bruised and battered as you were. The weariness you had then is back in your eyes.” Thane’s strong hand clasped Julian’s where it still rested on his chest. He gave a reassuring squeeze. “You’re family to me. I watch your back like you watch mine.” Thane cocked his head in Levi’s direction. “But Levi knows something I don’t. What is it?” He drew in a breath and shook his head as if clearing his thoughts. “You’re right. I’m making everyone around us crazy, so I get why you’ve stopped confiding in me.”
Julian had made Levi promise to keep the secret of the flashbacks from Thane. He opened his mouth to tell Thane as much, but no words came.
“I’ll give in for right now. I’ll try to butt out, but it hurts me that you’re keeping secrets from me.” Thane slowly let go of Julian’s hand. He looked wounded and dejected as he started out of the office and down the steps.
Thane was more than right. Through this crazy road they had traveled together, Julian and Thane had become family—bound together as tightly as any modern-day family could be.
The secret flooded from Julian’s lips, damn the overprotective consequences to come.
“Thane, look.”
Thane took two additional stomping steps down before his shoulders squared, and he turned his hurt gaze back to Julian.
“I’ve remembered some things. That’s what happened the other day. Levi caught me in a raw moment of openness. I begged him to keep my secret because I didn’t want you to worry. The memories were fleeting but intense. I’m talking to my counselor. St. Clair isn’t on my radar. I’m not ready to go down that path. Be done with the worry of his involvement. I am.”
Thane’s facial features ran through a range of emotions before he finally nodded. Julian could see Thane was torn but trying hard to roll with this new information.
“Go. Make things right with Levi,” Julian said, nodding Thane away.
“We can get you personal security, Julian,” Thane offered in a harsh whisper. Not the first time Thane had suggested such a thing and the very last thing Julian wanted.
“Oh lord, no.” Julian shook his head and ventured further into the office, calling over his shoulder, “Go. I’ve got work to do. I can’t imagine the mess I have to clean up after being gone so many days.”
“I’ll be back, and we can talk more,” Thane offered.
“I hope not. That sounds awful,” Julian said loudly to the echoing sound of Thane hightailing it down the rest of the steps. Julian scrubbed a hand over his face. This was too much introspection on a good day.
Chapter 6
With a row of bellhops pushing carts with Beckett’s belongings behind him, he led the way down the length of the luxurious Escape Coronado lobby toward the front desk. He’d hit the mother lode with this military contract. One week a month, for the next twelve months, he was scheduled to spend time in this over-the-top resort, training SERE classroom courses before the trainees came to his mountaintop to put book lessons into real-world experience.
The military covered the costs of his stay while sending their soldiers from all over the world to take his training class. His chest swelled with pride at the accomplishment, but the hardest part yet would be to hide his complete lack of sophistication while inside all this opulence.
A young woman in a crisp blazer and matching skirt, both in hotel colors, stood in the middle of the large foyer, making eye contact with Beckett as he approached. It seemed odd to think anyone from Escape Coronado would be waiting for him.
“Mr. St. Clair, welcome. I’m Jeannie, your personal concierge.” She extended her hand in greeting. “Have you been told which part of the conference center is yours this week?”
Beckett opened his mouth to speak the question he really wanted an answer to, which was how did they even know who he was? But he managed to keep that inside. Only after the briefest pause did he say, “No. The valet out front said for me to unload here. I’ve got my training manuals and supplies behind me.” Beckett hooked a thumb over his shoulder to the bellhops behind him. “Is that correct?”