Born to Fight

Chapter 18

Jamie

Nine hours later

Nine hours.

That was how long it had been since the men had invaded our home.

Nine hours since Celeste had disappeared into the darkness with a g*n in her hand.

Nine hours since I had realised just how badly things had escalated.

I’d checked on her several times throughout the early hours of the morning.

Every time, she had been awake.

Until eventually exhaustion had won.

She was finally asleep.

It had been well after sunrise when she’d finally closed her eyes, but I wasn’t complaining.

She needed the sleep.

God knew she’d earned it.

Lilly was sprawled across the mattress in the lounge room, still wearing the clothes she’d slept in.

For once, she was quiet.

Josh and I sat at the kitchen table, nursing what had to be our thousandth cup of coffee.

I’d lost count somewhere around four.

We were waiting.

And waiting was something I hated.

Especially when the person we were waiting for was the reason we had a house full of former SEALs.

After what happened last night, Josh and I had reached out to men we’d served with.

Men we trusted.

Men who knew how to protect people without asking unnecessary questions.

Because the reality was becoming impossible to ignore.

Josh and I couldn’t guarantee we’d always be here.

If we got deployed, Celeste couldn’t be left alone.

Billy would obviously protect her.

But Celeste wasn’t ready to accept Billy.

Hell, she wasn’t even ready to accept Josh and Lilly.

She still kept all of us at arm’s length.

I understood why.

She’d lost her mother.

Her entire world had been ripped apart.

And then, almost overnight, she’d discovered she had a father and two siblings she’d never known existed.

That was a hell of a lot for anyone to process.

Still…

I wanted her to let us in.

Because once she actually got to know Josh and Lilly, she’d realise they were good people.

And she’d realise she wasn’t alone anymore.

A knock sounded at the front door.

Josh stood.

A few seconds later, voices drifted down the hallway.

Then he appeared with four familiar faces.

Eric.

Joe.

Wayne.

Taylor.

Former teammates.

Men who had left everything behind the moment we’d called.

“Good to see you boys,” I said.

There were handshakes, shoulder claps and the usual bullshit that happened whenever a group of former team guys got together.

I headed for the coffee machine.

Apparently, I’d been promoted to unpaid barista.

Another knock sounded.

Josh went to answer it.

This time, he returned with Billy.

My eyes immediately went to him.

He looked exhausted.

Worried.

And determined.

He hadn’t come here to sit around and drink coffee.

He’d come because his daughter was in danger.

Our conversation quickly became louder.

There was laughter.

Old stories.

A few insults.

Basically, exactly what you’d expect when you put a bunch of former SEALs in one kitchen.

Then—

“What’s all the racket?”

Everyone went quiet.

Lilly appeared in the doorway, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Billy immediately stood and pulled her into a hug.

“Morning, Grumpy Bear.”

He kissed the top of her head.

Lilly groaned.

“I’m not grumpy.”

Everyone at the table laughed.

“Lilly,” Eric said. “Been a while.”

She gave everyone a sleepy wave.

“Hi, guys.”

Then she headed straight for the coffee.

Once caffeinated, Lilly opened the refrigerator, pulled out bacon and eggs, grabbed hash browns from the freezer and started cooking.

I watched her for a moment.

Apparently, surviving an armed invasion had done nothing to damage her appetite.

I headed upstairs to check on Celeste.

She was still asleep.

I stood in the doorway for a moment.

Loki was curled beside her.

For the first time all night, she looked peaceful.

I quietly closed the door and returned downstairs.

⸻

Josh

The kitchen felt almost normal.

Almost.

The guys were catching up, talking about where everyone had ended up and what they’d been doing since we’d last seen each other.

Then Jamie returned.

“She’s still asleep.”

I nodded.

I looked around the table.

These men had dropped whatever they were doing to come here.

For us.

For Celeste.

I cleared my throat.

“Okay, guys. You all know we recently found my half-sister.”

Eric grinned.

“The famous love child.”

I ignored him.

“Unfortunately, we found her under tragic circumstances.”

The laughter died.

“Her mother was murdered.”

Everyone’s expression changed.

“And last night, the people responsible came here.”

Silence.

“They came looking for Celeste.”

I looked around the table.

“We think they may have been worried she could identify them.”

No one interrupted.

“So we need to ask you guys for a favour.”

I paused.

“If Jamie and I get deployed, can we count on you to protect her?”

The answer came almost immediately.

One after another, the men agreed.

No hesitation.

No questions.

Just yes.

I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

Eric leaned back.

“So when do we get to meet the love child?”

“She’s still asleep,” Jamie said.

“She had a rough night.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Lilly spoke.

“She has a gun.”

Every head turned toward her.

“Apparently, no one here has a problem with a seventeen-year-old playing Rambo.”

“Lilly.”

I gave her a warning look.

“What?”

“Enough.”

She shrugged.

“I’m just saying.”

Dad’s expression hardened.

Lilly immediately looked away.

Joe noticed.

“So, Billy.”

Dad looked at him.

“What?”

“What are you going to do about the people targeting your daughter?”

The room went silent.

Dad didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve reached out to some contacts in the Intelligence Community.”

His voice was cold.

“We’re getting closer.”

“And when we find them?”

Dad’s jaw tightened.

“I’ll take the fight to them.”

Something about the way he said it made everyone at the table go quiet.

He wasn’t bluffing.

He meant every word.

⸻

Celeste

I woke to voices.

At first, I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Then I heard Dad’s voice.

Billy.

I climbed out of bed, grabbed Loki’s collar and headed downstairs.

I stopped halfway there.

Someone was talking about the people who killed Mum.

I moved closer.

Billy’s voice carried through the kitchen.

“I’ll take the fight to them.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Finally.

Someone was going to fight back.

I continued toward the kitchen.

The moment I entered, I stopped.

There were men everywhere.

Men I didn’t know.

Every one of them turned to look at me.

I suddenly wished I’d stayed upstairs.

Billy stood.

“Gentlemen, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Celeste.”

One of the men grinned.

“Ah. The love child.”

He elbowed Billy.

Billy groaned.

I tried not to smile.

Introductions followed.

Eric.

Joe.

Wayne.

Taylor.

I took the only seat I really wanted.

Beside Jamie.

Lilly started bringing breakfast to the table.

I kept my head down.

I didn’t like being the centre of attention.

Then Joe looked at me.

“So, Celeste.”

I glanced up.

“What do you think about what your old man just said?”

I knew exactly what he meant.

Taking the fight to them.

I didn’t hesitate.

“I agree.”

Every conversation stopped.

“I’ve been thinking about it all night.”

I looked around the table.

“I’m military through and through. My mother was military. My grandfather was a Marine.”

I glanced at Billy.

“And apparently my father was a Navy SEAL.”

Then I looked at Josh.

“And so is my brother.”

Josh smiled slightly.

I leaned forward.

“I’m done being treated like a victim.”

My voice hardened.

“I’m done waiting for them to come back.”

The room went completely silent.

“They killed my mother.”

My hands curled into fists.

“They destroyed my life.”

I looked at every man sitting around that table.

“I want to know why.”

I swallowed.

“And I want them to pay.”

Lilly’s voice cut through the silence.

“Calm down, Rambo.”

I turned toward her.

“You’re getting a little ahead of yourself.”

I smiled.

“Oh, look.”

I tilted my head.

“The little green-eyed monster is showing.”

Lilly’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m not jealous.”

“Sure.”

I gave her an exaggerated sympathetic smile.

“I can see that.”

“Girls.”

Billy’s voice was warning.

“Enough.”

Lilly ignored him.

“You cannot seriously be okay with this!”

She pointed at me.

“She is seventeen. She’s carrying a g*n!”

Billy’s expression tightened.

“Lilly, calm down.”

“No!”

She stood.

“She shouldn’t have it.”

I glared at her.

“Back the f**k out of my life, Barbie Doll.”

The room erupted into a mixture of shocked silence and barely contained amusement.

Lilly’s mouth dropped open.

Billy rubbed his forehead.

“Maybe Lilly has a point.”

I slowly turned toward him.

“What?”

“You shouldn’t be carrying a gun.”

Something inside me snapped.

“Maybe you should stop playing Let’s Pretend I’m a Good Parent.”

The room went silent.

Billy flinched.

Lilly stared at me.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“He’s trying to save your life, you ungrateful little b***h!”

I stood.

“The only reason I’m alive is because your father couldn’t keep it in his pants!”

Lilly went completely still.

“You don’t get to lecture me about my father.”

Her face flushed.

“He made a mistake.”

I laughed.

“A mistake?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

I looked her directly in the eyes.

“Cheating isn’t a mistake.”

My voice dropped.

“It’s a choice.”

Lilly stared at me.

“That’s disgusting.”

“Maybe.”

I shrugged.

“But it’s true.”

“Celeste.”

Billy tried again.

“The g*n—”

I picked it up from the table.

“You can have it over my dead body.”

Billy’s expression changed.

Not anger.

Something else.

Fear.

For the first time, I wondered if he’d realised something.

I wasn’t going to sit around waiting for these people to come back.

I wasn’t going to hide.

And I wasn’t going to let someone else fight my battles.

Because if Billy really intended to take the fight to the people who killed Mum…

I intended to make sure I was part of it.

Whether any of them liked it or not.