Sor (Voodoo Guardians #29)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“How many fucking trees do we have in this warehouse?” growled Ben as he stacked another tree on top of the three already there. It was in the low fifties outside, but he was sweating bullets from moving all the boxes and trees.

“I don’t know and stop whining!” snapped Luke. He wiped the sweat from his face, shaking his head in apology to his little brother.

“Listen, personally, I’m thrilled as shit for the distraction,” said Sor with a big grin. He loved the brotherly jabbing and joking that happened on a daily basis at Belle Fleur. It was the one thing he knew he’d miss about the military until he walked into VG. “It’s nice to think about the holidays and not a bunch of shit happening on the other side of the world with a man, I might add, that I trusted as a teammate.”

“Sorry, brother. You’re right. This is a cakewalk compared to what we have to do in the coming days. Tech is still gathering intel for us and contacting local authorities. It sounds like the Chinese officials want to handle this themselves, and we’ll let them. You were right about the dude in the bathtub. Prints said it was just some guy who worked near base at a convenience store. DeWitt is nowhere to be found. He was still active, but initially command thought he was in hiding, considering Marshall’s murder, and wasn’t pressing to locate him. They are now, for all the good it does.”

“Why the signage on the walls, though? Why put that thing from the monks?” asked Leif.

“Maybe push blame onto the monks or maybe make the children believe they were doing something good,” shrugged Cam. “Who knows? We’ll gather our intel and come up with a plan. All you need to know, Sor, is that Nell will be taken care of by every man on this property.”

“And woman,” smirked Hex. “If you know anything about our women, you know they’ll shoot the first man to come onto the property without an invite. Hell, some women have shot a man coming at them. Or woman. No discrimination on the part of our beautiful wives.”

“I believe you,” smirked Sor. “With all the security cameras, the stealth shields around the property, fencing, sensors, it seems like it would be impossible to get in. But I guess nothing is impossible.”

“No, brother. Nothing is impossible,” said Adam, shaking his head. “Especially not here at Belle Fleur.”

“You know,” said Sor, wiping the sweat from his brow as they took their seats on the boxes and crates, resting a moment. “When I met Leif and his team, I knew exactly who they were. I knew that in Gaspar and Nine’s day, they kept their identity as secret as possible. Hell, you guys tried the same thing originally. But even all of you were considered legends. The best the world had to offer, and damn if I didn’t want to be a part of that.”

“Times have changed,” frowned Frank. “Dad and the others were forced to show themselves, and unfortunately, we can’t be as hidden as we want to be. So, we do everything we can to keep out of sight unless we can’t be out of sight. And if we can’t be out of sight, whoever we’re after better be prepared to meet their maker.”

“I know,” nodded Sor. “I get it. Believe me. My point is, your reputations, all of you, followed you like ghostly legends. People talked about the seniors as if they were legends that had died. Like superheroes. Then, I started hearing the stories about Luke, Cam, and Eric. You heard the names. Robicheaux, Jordan, Redhawk, Wolfkill. You’d sit around the fires at night and listen to stories like kids at a camp. My personal favorite was Tailor eating an entire goat by himself.”

The other men nodded, chuckling at his story. They knew that they were perceived as legends, sons of legends, mysterious, deadly, and perhaps not real. They knew it, and they didn’t care.

“All of that was amazing and what drew me here at Leif’s invitation. But what made me want to stay, what makes me want to stay is all of this. This family. These people,” said Sor. “Since my folks died, I’ve been searching for a place to belong after the military. I knew I found it the day I walked onto this land.”

“That fast, huh?” smirked Leif.

“It was Matthew.” They all looked at him, stopping whatever they were doing. Sor didn’t know it, but Matthew was just a few feet behind him. He stopped, grinning at the young man’s back, holding an index finger to his lips to keep the others quiet.

“He was like this larger-than-life figure. Strong, tall, kind, patient, wise. He’s so fucking wise. I remember the first time I met him. He pulled me in for a hug, and he kissed my forehead. It was like I was being kissed by…”

“By?” prompted Luke.

“By God. It felt like what I think God would feel like if he kissed my skin. I know you’re all thinking I’ve lost my mind, but there was a peace that came over me that made me completely forget about my ex-wife and all the bullshit. All I could think about was moving forward with Nell. Every time I see his face, I know that this is where I’m supposed to be.”

“That’s because this is where you’re supposed to be,” said Matthew. Sor jumped a little, touching the center of his chest. Turning, he blushed as Matthew walked closer, gripping his neck and pulling his forehead down so he could kiss it.

“I didn’t know you were there, Matthew.”

“You are my family, Mark. I happen to like your real name,” he smirked. “Call me old fashion, but Matthew, Mark, Luke, those names feel comfortable to me. Family. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? This time of year always makes Irene and me think about all of you and the blessings we’ve been given.

“Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren! Yes, indeed. How lucky am I? Dozens and dozens of babies, blood and non-blood, and they all belong to me and Irene. That’s how we feel, Mark. You’re all ours.

“See, I think my ancestors and God had a plan. I think they put that oil and gas in my land for a reason. I think they made me prosperous for a reason. I think we built all those cottages before we even knew why, for a reason. Because you all do something that the world cannot live without. You risk your lives for those you don’t know. You save countries you’ve never cared for. Hell, those countries might have tried to destroy you. Yet you still run to their rescue. That’s the kind of men you are.

“Yes. Yes, indeed. I was given fifteen strong, fine children who blessed me with hundreds more, either through marriage or friendship. It matters not to me and Irene. I am the luckiest man alive, and the luck extends first and foremost to my wife. I’ve lectured every man here about the love of a good woman and what that can do for you in your time of need. Your time when you believe the world is completely against you, when your life is coming to an end, her face will be there for you, pushing you in the direction you need to go. Always by your side. Always faithful.”

Matthew got quiet, and there wasn’t a sound from any of the men watching and listening to him.

“Grandpa?” whispered Carl, touching his arm. He smiled at his grandson, gripping his hand firmly.

“I’m alright. Feeling nostalgic as I always do at the holidays. It’s my favorite time of year for so many reasons. This holiday season, we’re going to have a lot of folks here. Lots of people who need the kind of love and attention that only we can give. It’s important that we do this right. That we do what Irene wants us to do.”

“I’m sorry, Matthew, but what do you mean? A lot of folks?” asked Hex.

“Well, that will come in time,” he grinned. “For now, know this. I’m so proud of you all. My chest practically cracks open every time I see you do what you do. Does anyone here have any comprehension of the number of lives you’ve saved? The number of lives you’ve changed?”

“Pops, we don’t keep track of that,” said Gaspar, standing at the back with the seniors. They weren’t immune to Irene’s orders when it came to holiday preparations.

“I do.” All of the men furrowed their brows, staring at the older man. The seniors knew how he would know that, but the others were confused by his statement. “Thousands. You’ve saved thousands of lives, which has led to generations of children and grandchildren being born because of you. You did that. All of you. No greater gift in the world than a man who lays his life down for another. You all were just lucky enough to walk away. To live.”

Matthew touched Sor’s cheek, giving him a twinkling smile and nod. He turned, strolling toward the door of the warehouse.

“Y’all hurry up. Irene will want everything at the Sugar Lodge by tomorrow. I’ll see you at dinner. Oh, and Luke? Send the boys to Cambodia first and get those children out of there.”

Luke frowned at his grandfather as he walked away. He turned, staring at his brothers, teammates, and friends. Frank shrugged, shaking his head.

“You heard him. Cambodia first.”