Ignite (Unbreakable Bonds 7)

The old general had done well for himself in pseudo-retirement. He’d left a career in the Army to work for the Pentagon and sit on a variety of committees, though Rowe wasn’t entirely sure where he had his fingers now. He was confident his friend would be able to pull information on the ambush and Clayborne Security.

After waving good-bye to Noah and JB, Rowe turned toward the house. The front looked like a quaint two-story home with white shutters and a dove-gray paint. The trees and bushes were neatly manicured, while flowers added bright pops of color to the bed. Everything about the place had a sweet, homey feel without being too ostentatious, but Rowe had little doubt that thanks to its McLean, Virginia address, the place was likely to be priced in the millions. Yeah, the general had done just fine for himself.

As he climbed the stairs and reached for the doorbell, the heavy wood door with the exquisite cut glass window opened, revealing an older man with stark white hair and a familiar scowl.

“Goddamn, I knew it’d be a dark day when Rowe Ward stood on my doorstep,” Cal announced.

Rowe stuck out his hand and grinned at his old friend. “But we both know you’ve been looking forward to it, you old troublemaker.”

“Hell yes, I have!” Cal grabbed his hand and pulled him in for a bear hug that nearly cracked one of his ribs. Cal slapped him on the back a couple of times before releasing him. The man might have added about fifteen years and twenty pounds since Rowe last saw him, but it certainly didn’t feel like he was slowing down at all. “Get your ass in here.”

Cal released him and stepped back, allowing Rowe to enter the home filled with shining hardwood floors and framed family photos on the wall. Footsteps echoed from another part of the house and a woman with short gray hair appeared in the hallway with smiling, curious expression.

“Cal? What’s all this noise about?”

“Maggie, come meet Rowe. He was under my command, not that he was all that good at taking orders.” Cal flashed Rowe a grin while pulling the woman close. “Rowe Ward, this is my patient wife, Maggie.”

Rowe shook her hand and smiled. “A pleasure, ma’am.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Rowe. Cal is always happy to have visitors from his old Army days.”

“Yeah, Army vets are better than the meatheads on the Hill,” Cal grumbled.

“How about I get you both something to drink while you catch up? Tea? Lemonade?”

“Lemonade would be wonderful, Mrs. Hamilton. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Maggie. We’ll be in my office.” With a small wave, Cal led Rowe through the lovely home filled with family memories to a beautiful wood-paneled office with shelves overflowing with books. Cal carefully shut the door behind Rowe and nodded for him to take a seat in one of the big leather chairs in front of the empty fireplace.

“I saw that you’ve started a security business in Cincinnati. Still running around with those two troublemakers, Frost and Vallois?”

“We’re never far apart,” Rowe said proudly. He hated being away from the men he saw as his brothers, and he had a feeling that Lucas and Snow were chomping at the bit to have him home again.

“And that one boy that I had you paired with. Keegan? You ever get in contact with him after you got out?”

“Noah,” Rowe said and there was no keeping the warmth and love that came with saying his name. “We’re actually living together. Dating,” he tacked on at the end to make sure it was clear that they were lovers and not merely roommates. He was done with a life of denying and hiding.

Cal dropped into the seat opposite him with a big sigh, his expression clouded for a second. “Can’t say that I understand, but it doesn’t matter if I understand it all. It’s none of my business.” He paused for a second and a slow smile crossed his face. “My sixteen-year-old grandson told me he was gay last year. I’ve seen men facing certain death in battle who didn’t look as terrified as that boy. Told him I just wanted him happy.” Cal shook his head. “Met his boyfriend at Christmas. Good kid. Smart as all hell. Never seen my grandson so happy in all of his life. Guess telling me turned out to be a good thing.”

“The good thing was you telling him that you only wanted his happiness.”

Cal gave a little grunt and stared into the empty fireplace for a moment, lost in thoughts that Rowe could only guess at. He’d seen plenty of instances where family had nearly crushed the light and happiness inside of a person because of their intolerance.

“I should have known when you finally offered to visit me, it wouldn’t be for some small thing. You had to go dig this up.”