Protecting His Kidnapped Family (Southern Soldiers of Fortune 2)

Yeah. Serena had put him out of her mind already. She’d be fine without him.

He’d be the only one still stuck in the past.

And speaking of the past…

Noah reached the bottom stair and stopped in his tracks. “Mom? What are you doing here?”

“You think you can just drop a bomb on me like that about my first grandchild and not expect me to follow up?” his mother said, stepping into the foyer out of the bright sunlight. “We tracked you down here and we want to see Gracie.”

We? His brain had no sooner registered that word before another figure stepped into the foyer behind his mom. At first, all Noah could see was a silhouette of a man carrying what looked like a large stuffed animal in his arms. But as Levon closed the door behind them and the man moved forward, Noah came face to face with the last person he wanted to see right now—his father.

He looked from his dad’s face to his mom’s, then back again, blinking several times before saying, “What the hell, Mom?”

“Language, Noah,” his mom chided. “Especially with a baby in the house.”

Olive came down the hall and stopped beside Levon, who was watching the proceedings with interest. “Noah, are these your parents?” she asked. “Can you introduce us, please?”

Wooden and wary, he did as she asked, still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that not only had his mom traveled all the way here but that she’d brought his dad along. Last he knew, his father was long gone to parts unknown. But seeing them together today—not only in the same room, but also apparently getting along swimmingly—knocked him back a step or two. “Uh, yeah. Okay. Olive and Levon, this is my mom and dad, Danielle and Patrick. Mom, Dad—this is Levon and Olive’s house. They’ve been hosting us since we got back stateside.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Olive said, shaking their hands. Levon did the same. Then she said, “Why don’t you come in here and sit down while you catch up with Noah. Can I get you something to drink? Tea or water? I can make some coffee too, if you’d like.”

“Tea is fine, thank you,” his mother said, taking a seat on the sofa where Noah had slept the night before.

His dad set the huge stuffed pink elephant down in one of the armchairs and took a seat beside his mom, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side, like they were young lovebirds or something. “Tea’s great for me too, thanks. With some honey, if you have it.”

“Sure thing,” Olive said, walking past Noah and giving him a look. “Go in there and be nice.”

Noah tried to wipe the scowl off his face and failed miserably. He had no idea what they were doing here, together, nor was he in the mood for entertaining. Still, they’d come all this way, and his mother had raised him right. He took a deep breath and wandered into the living room to sit across from his parents, next seat over

from the elephant. “So, how’d you figure out where we were staying?”

“That nice young man at your office told us,” his mom said, placing her hand on his father’s knee and drawing a deeper scowl from Noah. “Clint? I think that’s his name. You’ve been so busy, I haven’t met anyone you work with yet. Well, except for Levon here.” She gestured toward his buddy, who was leaning an elbow on the fireplace mantel and grinning like he was watching a new episode of reality TV and not Noah’s life going up in flames.

He shot his friend a dark look, then glanced back at his dad. “And what’s he doing here again?”

“Son, I know this probably comes as a shock to you—” his dad started before Noah cut him off.

“You think?” Jaw tight, he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. He had no intention of letting this guy in again. He’d made that mistake as a kid and been heartbroken when his dad had walked out on him and his mom when he was thirteen. And sure, maybe his leaving had been for the best. It sure as hell had left things more peaceful around their house without all the constant bickering, but still. What kind of asshole just walks out on their kid without a word for years? Nope. His mom might have forgiven the bastard, but Noah wasn’t there yet. Not by a long shot. “How’d you get to Atlanta?”

“We flew out of O’Hare last night,” his mother said. She still lived in the house he’d grown up in, in Gurney, Illinois, just outside the city. “Your father and I rented a place out on Tybee Island for the week, but thought we’d make a stop off here in Atlanta first, once I found out where you were, and who was with you. I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet my grandbaby in person.”

At the reminder of Gracie, a bit of his fierce bravado weakened. Crap. Given how things stood between him and Serena, now was not the optimal time to be showing off their baby to anyone. Not only were things tense between them, but given how close he’d always been with his mother, she’d see his true feelings for Serena and Gracie written all over his face.

“What do you do for a living, Mr. Wild?” Levon asked, filling the conversational void, much to Noah’s irritation.

“Uh, I work in the gaming industry, selling security software to casinos,” his father said. “I’m working with several riverboat ventures in Joliet right now, so it works out well with me and Danielle.”

“Nice,” Levon said, darting Noah a look that screamed don’t-be-a-dick. Except that where his father was concerned, Noah felt fully justified in being less than hospitable. “Must be where Noah gets it from, then.”

“Gets what?” he snapped. He wasn’t like his father. Not at all. Noah took care of his responsibilities. Noah stood his ground and didn’t run away when things got tough.

“Your love of gambling,” Levon said, his tone amused. His clear amusement at the situation was a score they’d have to settle later. “Your son was the reigning blackjack champ of his SEAL team.”

“Wow, son. That’s impressive,” his dad said, giving him a hesitant smile.

Noah opened his mouth to tell him where he could shove his impression, but footsteps coming down the stairs shut him up before he could say another word.

“Let’s see if we can get you fed, baby girl,” Serena said in a lilting voice that pinched Noah’s heart. “Are you hungry? Yes, you are, aren’t you? Momma’s baby girl is hungry and—”