He's the Man (The Alexanders 3)

“How do you know?” Penny asked softly.

Julia squeezed her shoulder. “Because if being happy that Matt was out of the military brought on the wrath of the universe, we’d all be affected. I was happy, too.”

Penny looked up in surprise.

“You thought you were the only one? I think we were all happy. We love him for serving his country and doing it so well. Matt has the heart of a warrior, but he’s served his time honorably. Now I believe it’s time for him to be at home.”

“I felt so guilty. He was so upset when he realized he wasn’t going to pass. Being in the Special Forces was his dream.”

“I understand, but thoughts don’t make bad things happen,” Julia continued. “Because let me tell you something, honey. If that was the case, there’s some folks who’d be dead as a doornail!”

Shocked, Penny laughed. It felt wrong at first, then it rolled through her. The hysterical giggles finally stopped and she sighed. She was so tired.

“I never told him how I felt. I was worried that we were moving too fast, that if I felt too much too soon, it wouldn’t be real. Do you know how stupid that seems now?”

“I feel like I can speak here because I’ve known Matt since he was a teenager coming home with Jackson. He used to show up with Trent, Nick, and Jackson on the weekends, looking like a lost boy.” She looked over to where Trent and Jackson stood. “I adored my lost boys like they were my own. I used to send them all back to the dorm with cookies and clean clothes. So, I’ve known Matt a long time, and I saw the way that boy looked at you. He loves you. And unless I’m blind, you looked at him the same way.”

“I do love him,” Penny admitted. “I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to see it.”

“It takes as long as it takes.” Julia patted her hand. “Now, let’s take a moment to hope for him.”

* * * * *

THE SOUND OF gunshots had Tank and Matt on their feet. They glanced at each other while the girls huddled closer together, and he could hear one of them crying softly.

“He would want us to stay here,” Tank stated. It was clear the other guy didn’t like it any more than he did.

“I can go outside the door. Technically, I wouldn’t be leaving the client.”

Tank glanced back at the girls. “Do it. I don’t like not knowing what’s going on. Those guys could be building a bomb in the hallway. I feel like we’re sitting ducks if we stay here.”

Matt moved the dressing table from in front of the door. Tank stood to the side, his gun at the ready. Matt eased the door open to peer into the hallway.

“I don’t see anything,” he muttered in a low voice.

They opened the door wider. Matt stuck his hand out. Nothing happened. So he stepped out into the hallway. Something slammed into his side. He pushed it off and swung around. The man who’d tried to stab him earlier looked just as surprised to see him. He must have been running from something else.

Before the guy could react, Matt punched him in the face. He dropped like a stone. Matt took his weapon and unloaded it, tossing the gun to the side.

“Nice one.” Tank grabbed the guy by the shirt and dragged him in the room where he handcuffed him and pushed him against the far wall. The girls looked horrified to have the guy in the same room with them, but it was necessary. They couldn’t chance leaving him outside where his partner could possibly find and free him.

“Okay, I’m going back out. Maybe the other one will show u

p.”

“Or maybe I’ll show up.” Eli appeared in the doorway. Both Matt and Tank were so startled they drew their weapons, then immediately lowered them.

“Sorry, boss.” Tank went back to securing the suspect. He tied something around his feet so he couldn’t move even if he woke up.

Eli came farther into the room and closed the door. When he saw the man hog-tied in the corner, he immediately pulled out his phone. “My men caught one suspect. We have him detained. I’ll wait for further instructions.” Eli listened for a moment, then hung up.

“They’re sending a SWAT team in. They want us to stay put until—” Shots splintered the door behind them, then started coming through the wall. It was obvious the dressing room wasn’t solidly constructed because bullets were tearing through the drywall like it was tissue paper.

“Get down! Get down!”

Eli threw himself on top of Kaylee and took her to the ground. They all covered their heads as more shots exploded through the wall. When it finally went silent, they all drew their weapons.

“Girls, get in the bathroom,” Eli ordered.