Chapter 1

Seemed helping a woman give birth created a bond for life.

Nathan sat in the living room of the woodland cabin with the rest of men that had helped Tammy Simpson give birth on that plane, almost a year ago. Everything had gone incredibly well, and Tammy had given birth to a healthy baby boy. She’d been so grateful, insisting that each man was her personal guardian angel and that of her little son, Eric Jasper, that she’d formed a Facebook group for them all to keep in touch.

The men had been fine with the idea. So when one of the group, Kenny, was getting married and invited them, the men all seized the chance to renew acquaintances in person.

Kentucky. A bachelor party in a cabin in the woods, then the nuptial shindig. Life had intervened and every single guy was able to make it.

For Nathan, it was also a chance to possibly see some of his Delta North Team American buddies. He’d been thinking mainly of Og Reiden, one of their unit’s toughest soldiers, legendary for having no feelings, though he’d always gotten along with the guy. Og travelled quite a bit for business, hence the possibility. Nothing had materialized quite yet, despite a few emails.

That was fine. It was great seeing the guys—they’d become quite close, over Facebook, since the rescue.

But what no one had expected was that life would throw another rescue at them—and this one, an ongoing one.

“Still can’t believe we found these puppies in the woods.” Wes cradled the little pup on his lap. “Good grief. Do we attract the ones that need help?”

“Seems to be.” Lucas reached down and petted the squirming pup he’d picked for his. In fact, once they paid the vet to care for all the dogs, including the momma, each man had decided to adopt one of the dogs, take it back with him to his regular life. “Hey. What say we post shit and barf updates for Tammy on Facebook? Pay her back.”

Tristan grinned, jerked his head toward Kenny. “Yeah. Shit and barf updates. Get on that, will you, dude?”

Kenny tossed his head back, emitted a huge yawn. “Too damn much to do. I’m getting married tomorrow, in case you clowns forgot. I’m outta here. Who’s coming?”

One by one all the men started to move, amid general protests. “Who’s going to stay with these guys? There’s still the meds to give.”

Nathan spoke up. “I will.”

Spence laid a hand on his shoulder. “Still the bodyguard, huh, Nathan?”

“Damn straight.” He bent, picked up one of the squirming puppies. His and Lisa’s.

And a warmth that had nothing to do with the furry little body that lay against his chest spread through him.

He’d jumped at the chance to take this puppy. The meanest one of the bunch, but he intuitively knew why. Fear.

He knew what it was like to be scared, to not have anything going for you. Even in your own little group, to be the one worst off.

But things had changed for him. So unbelievably. And now…he had something to give back.

He and Lisa would be starting their own little family with this little one. A monster at times, and yes, still scared. Unpredictable. The puppy had bitten a few of the men, more than any of the others.

But he knew, better than anyone, that mean didn’t always mean mean. That stability and love could change harshness. Completely.

It had happened to him.

Him and Lisa. A miracle.

“So the vet’s good with each of these little guys going home?”

Wes nodded. “Absolutely. Eight weeks is the charm, and they’re about that. Though yours needs—something. I think it tried to fight a predator off in the woods. Poor thing.” He reached over, tickled it under its chin, but it snapped at him, barely missing his finger.

And suddenly, Nathan realized—the puppy was trying to take care of his family, his brothers and his momma.

“Ryker. His name is Ryker.” He made the announcement, stunned the name had just come to him.

The rest of the men agreed. “Little soldier.”

“It’s perfect, man.”

“Right on. Strong Leader it is.”

“Okay, we’re out of here. Watch them, dose them, pick up any new bits of crap and toss it outside, then lock up, okay?”

“I’ll do that. You guys go. And Kenny—we’ll take care of everything tomorrow. Don’t sweat it, bro. We’ll make it perfect. You and your girl will be all right.”

“Of course she’ll be all right. She’s got me,” Kenny retorted, but not before Nathan caught the flash of softness in his eyes. “Later, bro.”

“Later.” All of them filed out, and he was alone.

Well, no time like the present to check in with his girl. It’d been a day, right? They’d never been without texting for that long before. He pulled the cell phone from his pocket.

Maybe Dare had news about their apartment. He’d asked him to check into the possibility of moving back to Jack’s Bay.

And that was a miracle too.

He never thought he’d go back. Ever. His mother gone, dead at his father’s hand shortly after he’d left. The stupid, ridiculous name of Hero—a poorly chosen derivative of the longer European name his forbears had immigrated to Toronto with, now a laughingstock.

Worse, a name good people used before they spat. The very antithesis of hero, he could hear them declaring.

And they were right.

Hero. He practically winced every time he said it.

But now, with Lisa, and little Ryker—he could go back to Jack’s Bay. Hold his head high.

Ryker squirmed in his arms. “Let me check and see what Dare’s got to say, Buddy.” He fingered the password, clicked to messages.

And his blood ran cold. Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe.

That guy he’d seen her with…the one she’d said was an old friend, totally platonic…

Holy god. He couldn’t breathe. Had she really sent these to him?

A series of pictures of her with him in compromising poses.

But there was her comment, alluding to something they’d talked about just last week. And the kiss-off, in black and white.

His world came crashing down around him.

His newly birthed family was no more.

He stumbled, fell forward onto the couch, landed on the edge of the puppy’s tiny foot as it tumbled from his arms, and the dog yelped. The bottle of meds went flying. The invite from his American military buddy in the area, on his notifications, went ignored.

He just had to get through today and tomorrow. Through the damn wedding.

Then back to the rest of his life.

Alone.