Chapter 4

"They're planning a terrorist attack," Emily Gastaud, President of Millevia, said with a frown. "Do we know the target?"

"No ma'am," Hunter answered. "And the terrorists we've identified do not belong with a known terror group. This appears to be a new terror cell. We're working on finding connections between the dead terrorists now to try to find how they met and their philosophies so we can identify potential targets."

"Captain Bonetti, notify all high-value locations in Millevia to increase their security. Call in the reserves. I want this country and our citizens protected," President Gastaud ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." The captain hurried from the room and the president ordered everyone else out as well.

"Thank you for coming back, Tristan. And please thank Edie for me. I know it was a sacrifice for you both. How is David? I'm heading over as soon as I have things in order here." Emily and Tristan were old friends, and thanks to Tristan, Emily was now in power and righting the wrongs of the past several years of leadership. She and David had also started dating.

"He's in surgery. I was hoping to be dismissed and head to the hospital and then I can send you another update. Also, we know the American team leader who is also in surgery," Tristan told her.

Emily looked at Hunter with sad eyes but a backbone of steel. "Please accept my condolences on the loss of your brothers in arms. Both of you, go to the hospital and send me updates. I have to call President Stratton and plan our next steps. The American president has offered his full support."

Hunter followed Tristan from the president's office. It had to be hard for Emily to focus on work when the man she loved was in surgery. However, that was what being a leader was about—making the hard calls.

Tristan walked as if he knew every inch of the town and the country. Hunter wondered if he missed it here. He and Edie came back twice a year for a visit from what Hunter understood.

"I'll drive," Tristan said to the soldier preparing to escort them to the hospital. Tristan took the keys and jumped into the SUV. "Hang on. David should be getting out of surgery soon, and I want to be there when he does."

Hunter had to grab the door a couple of times as Tristan maneuvered the narrow cobblestone streets for what he swore was a shortcut. He slammed on the brakes at the front of the hospital less than five minutes later.

"You miss this, don't you?" Hunter asked as they strode inside, people getting out of their way since Tristan was clearly in power mode. He stood tall and walked, knowing people would move.

"I don't even realize I fall right back into military talk and action. I miss the mental strategy, but I don't miss the death. I enjoy waking up to my wife every day, having friends, and having a life that's outside the military. You'll understand when you finally open your eyes and fall for the right woman," Tristan said as he punched the elevator button and stood back, waiting for it to arrive.

"No woman will force me to leave the military," Hunter said with a roll of his eyes as a mental picture of a smiling Maggie Bell popped into his head.

Tristan shook his head as the door opened and they walked inside. "Edie didn't make me leave the military. Hell, she didn't even ask me to. You'll want to leave it after a while because the person you love is at home and you're not. I miss her. I miss the quiet. I miss the peace that holding her in my arms has on soothing my battle-tested heart. Not all men will leave. Look at Landry. I'm only saying it gets harder when you have someone you love at home."

"Speaking of which," Hunter said as they stepped out onto the floor with all the wounded soldiers on it, "you better call Edie. She's probably worried about you."

Tristan nodded as they approached the nurse's desk. "I'm from the president's office. How is David Parcodi doing?"

The nurse typed the name into her computer and nodded. "He's out of surgery and did well. He's in recovery. He'll be transferred to room 409 in about an hour."

"Landry Langston?" Hunter asked.

More typing and another nod. "He's just been moved to room 428 from surgery recovery. It's touch and go," she said.

They began to walk away but military police stopped them. "You have to turn in all weapons," he said, pointing to another military policeman sitting behind the nurse. "They'll be locked up and only you will have the key."

Hunter handed over his weapon, as did Tristan. "I'm going to call Edie, let Emily know about David, and I'll meet you in Landry's room," Tristan said.

Hunter headed down the long hallway until he saw another nurse's station. This one wasn't informational but was full of nurses checking on patients, going over charts, and getting medications ready.

Hunter saw that Landry's room was directly across from the station, which was good. That meant they were keeping a close eye on him. Hunter walked into the room. The lights were off except for a reading light over his bed. Music was playing softly as a doctor and a nurse worked.

"How is he doing?" Hunter asked quietly.

The doctor looked up from the chart and quickly took in the fatigues. "It's a miracle he's alive. How do you know him?"

"We're from the same small town and I'm friends with his wife and eight children." Hunter wanted the doctor to see Landry as more than a soldier. Landry had a lot to fight for, and he wanted the doctor to fight for it too.

"I'm Doctor Fissore. I'll be taking care of Sgt. Langston now post-surgery. The surgeon removed three bullets, a section of his intestines, a shard of a rib that was cracked off, and a section of his arm muscle that had an infection from one of the bullets. He's also septic. We're giving him fluids and heavy doses of antibiotics. I heard he had two blood transfusions before he even got here. They saved his life." The doctor's eyes went to the slight bruise on Hunter's elbow. "You saved his life. Without that transfusion, he wouldn't have made it. Now we wait. Wait to see if he's strong enough to fight the infection that's raging in his body. I'll be back every hour to check on him. If anything changes, press that red button and we'll come running. We leave the music on to give his brain stimulation and to hopefully fire up with will to fight, but if it bothers you, you can turn it off. I'll give you some time with him."

Hunter pulled up a chair and reached across the bed to take Landry's hand in his. "Hey Landry. It's Hunter Townsend again. I'm Olivia's brother. I can't wait for you to wake up so I can take you back to Shadows Landing. Tinsley is pregnant and due at the end of the month. You can bet Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie will bake her an apple pie. That alone is enough to make me want a baby. Speaking of babies, your little Lennie is so adorable. Her hair has these sweet little wispy curls and she has everyone wrapped around her little finger, even Landry Junior, and you know how hard it is to impress a teenage boy. Lindsey stopped wearing pigtails last week. She told me she was too big for pigtails and wanted these fancy braids. She asked me to braid her hair. Let's just say, she'll never ask me to do that again. Not sure how but somehow, I made her look like Pippi Longstocking got electrocuted."

Hunter heard heavy footsteps rushing down the hall and turned, putting himself between Landry and the door. He relaxed when he saw Tristan rush in, but the look on Tristan's face made Hunter go on alert again. "What is it?"

"You need to call Lydia. I'll stay with Landry."

Maggie and the town rushed after Lydia. She'd gone straight to Harper's Bar, ordered a shot of tequila, tossed it back, and then began talking to herself. Maggie found her stomping from one end of the bar to the other. Marching in one direction, she'd cry. The other, she raged.

"What can we do, Lydia?" Maggie asked.

"He better not die. What will happen if he dies? How will I tell the children? What will I tell the children?"

"You'll tell them the truth," Harper said gently. "Always tell them the truth. That way, you can face it together."

"Call Georgie and have them bring the kids here," Lydia said before motioning Harper for another shot.

"Ryker's working on getting you all the information you need," Olivia said, joining the bar that was quickly filling with people as word spread.

Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie were already organizing a food train and a babysitting train. The town was filing in the door and signing up at both tables to help the entire Langston family.

"I can take the kids anytime you need, Lydia," Damon said after joining them.

"If Landry is in a war-torn country or a politically unstable country, I can get you to him. I have contacts," Kane added. Maggie knew he was some kind of private contractor, but she wasn't really sure what that meant. Kane didn't talk much about it but took quite a few work trips. Some short, some long. Apparently, they took him to countries others might not travel to.

"Stone and I can take the kids too. I'm so sorry, Lydia," Natalie, Stone's new wife, hugged Lydia and quickly got out of the way as Gator, Skeeter, and Turtle rushed into the bar.

Gator wrapped her up and lifted her into a tight hug, leaving Lydia's feet dangling. "I'll help you kill him after he recovers," Gator said and Lydia burst into tears.

"Mommy!" Lacy yelled as she and Leah raced into the bar with Miss Mitzi hurrying after them. Not far behind them were Georgie and Kord with the rest of the Langston children.

"What happened?" Landry Jr. looked so scared but stood stoically. Gator put Lydia down as her children rushed to surround her. Except for Landry Jr. "Mom? Is it Dad?"

Lydia nodded. "Daddy's been hurt at work. I don't know anything else at the moment."

The kids began to cry as the town embraced them. Gator held on to little Leo as Georgie rocked Lennie, who was too young to understand what was going on. Skeeter put a supportive hand on Lyle's shoulder as Stone wrapped an arm around Levi. Lydia comforted Lindsey while Maggie pulled a sobbing Lacy to her and hugged her tight.

Only Landry Junior wasn't crying. Until Granger bent down and whispered into his ear. Landry nodded and bit his lip, trying not to cry, but he gripped Granger's hand tight. As the town banded together, a phone rang. It took Maggie a moment to realize it was hers.

She looked down at it and frowned, not knowing the number. She declined the call and it immediately began ringing again. This spammer was calling at the wrong time.

"Stop calling, asshole," she hissed the second she answered it.

"Maggie, it's Hunter."

Maggie shot up from where she was hugging Lacy. Ellery, Dr. Gavin Faulkner's wife, came over to hug Lacy so Maggie could walk away from the group. "Hunter, it's not a good time. Something's happened. Something bad," she whispered.

"I know. That's why I'm calling. I'm with Landry."

That stopped Maggie in her tracks. Oh God, was Hunter hurt too? He was there. He was in danger. All she wanted to do was to protect him. "Are you hurt?"

"No. Tristan just got off the phone with Edie and told me that someone notified Lydia. Dammit, they should have waited. He's a fighter, Mags. He should have died, but he's out of surgery and still alive. I tried calling Lydia. Hell, I tried calling the whole town, but no one answered their phones. I need to talk to Lydia and give her the chance to talk to Landry."

"I'll get her now. Just tell me one thing. Are you safe?" Maggie asked.

"Don't look now, Mags, but you're making me think you actually care."

Maggie smiled into the phone. "I was just going to ask Damon if I could buy your gun if you died. That's all."

"As if you could even figure out how to use it. The narrow end goes pew pew when you pull the trigger." Hunter was quiet for a moment, his voice softening. "I'm safe. How is Lydia?"

"Not good. She just told her kids that Daddy was hurt." Maggie had to look up and hold her breath to not cry.

"Damn. Okay, let me talk to her."

Maggie took a deep breath and turned back to the crowd. "Lydia, phone call."

"Not now," she began to say but Maggie's look told her to take it. "Let Mommy take this call. I'll be right back." Lydia came over to Maggie and tried to take the phone, but her hands were shaking so badly she dropped the phone. Maggie caught it and held it back up. "Can you put it on speaker?" Lydia asked.

"Here she is, Hunter," Maggie said.

"Lydia, it's Hunter. I'm with Landry."

Lydia gasped and grabbed onto Maggie's arm so hard Maggie would have a bruise. "Is he alive?"

Hunter's voice was so different. It was soft and soothing, yet strong enough that you took whatever he said as fact. "He is. He's tough as nails, Lydia." Hunter gave her a rundown of Landry's injuries and surgery. "Now they're battling sepsis. I've been talking to him since I found him."

"You found him?" Lydia snapped. "Hunter, just what the hell is my husband up to?"

Hunter cleared his throat. "I don't know why you didn't know that he was a Marine Raider, but he was leading a joint team to investigate a possible terrorist plot when the team was ambushed. Landry saved most of his team after being shot and left for dead. He's a hero, Lydia, and I'll stay with him until I can bring him home. I thought you might want to talk to him."

Lydia could only nod, so Maggie had to answer him. "She'd like that. The kids are here too. Do you think it would help to hear their voices?"

Lydia nodded again and took a deep breath. "Let them talk to their daddy. It might be the last time."

"I'm telling you, Lydia, your husband is tough. He won't go without a fight. He'll fight for you. He'll fight for his family."

"Kids," Maggie called out. "Come here, please." The kids slowly walked over as they wiped at tear-streaked faces.

"Mr. Hunter is on the phone," Lydia said, trying so hard not to cry. "He's with Daddy, but Daddy is still sleeping. However, Mr. Hunter thought you might want to tell Daddy that you love him before we go to bed."

"Just like we do at home?" Lyle asked.

"Just like at home, but this time Daddy can't say goodnight back. But Mr. Hunter will tell him everything each of you said all over again as soon as he wakes up, right Mr. Hunter?" Lydia said in her mom voice.

"I promise to tell him every word you say. Your dad woke up once and the first thing he did was talk about you all. He'll be so excited to know you called him. Leo, why don't you go first? Do you want to tell your dad about soccer?" Hunter asked so kindly that Maggie felt like crying.

One by one, each child talked to their father. Each one got harder and harder as they went by age. Lacy and Landry were the only ones left. The others talked to their daddy and then were embraced by the town once again.

Lacy went next. She held her mother's hand and told her dad about summer break, swimming in the river, and weapons class. "Come home, Daddy. Please."

Then she ran away in tears, straight into Miss Ruby's arms.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll take care of Mom and all my brothers and sisters. I'm a man now. I'm fourteen and Mr. Gil said I could work at the gas station this summer, so don't worry about anything. I'll take care of everybody until you come home." Landry didn't cry. He didn't move. Instead, Maggie could see the literal weight of the world come down and settle on the boy's shoulders.

"Thank you, Landry. You're a great big brother and son," Lydia said with a sad smile. "Let me talk to Dad now, okay?"

"I'll check on the little ones," Landry said, turning stiffly and walking back to his brothers and sisters.

"Landry, you fight. Fight with every fiber of your body to live. Your whole family needs you and loves you. I love you, Land. Hunter, bring my husband home."

"I will," Hunter said with a promise in his voice that Maggie knew, dead or alive, Hunter wouldn't return to Shadows Landing without Landry.