Rising Hope by Edie James

35

Groggy and dry-eyedfrom a bad case of jetlag, Rollo MacKenzie had to admit he wasn’t looking forward to the welcome home festivities his family had planned for the morning. Usually, he was first in line at family functions, but this international travel was kicking his rear end.

Though Italy had been amazing. Scratch that. Italy was beautiful. A much-needed getaway. His new wife was amazing. And beautiful.

And he was very glad to be home. From the sketchy details Emmie offered last night on the ride home from the airport, Enzo was in trouble. Why he’d been recruited for an undercover drug operation made no sense at all to Rollo. Not that it mattered now. His baby bro needed help. Enough said.

From what Emmie told him, Enzo and the DEA agent he’d been transporting had gotten caught in the middle when the mission went south. Another agent was dead, and they were on the run, with a massive stash of illegal drugs.

Rollo’s head spun. It was like he’d gotten off the plane in some kind of bizarre, anti-world. Or a sci-fi flick where everyone he knew had been taken over by aliens.

Kind, happy-go-lucky Enzo was the true heart of the family. The guy who never put a foot wrong. Never jay walked or even got a parking ticket. That brother was on the run?

He shuddered. He wasn’t looking forward to bringing Chip Mac up to speed on this one.

He scrubbed a hand over his face and followed his new wife into his childhood home. He thought he’d prepared himself for the welcome assault of memories, but as usual, he was wrong.

Would his childhood come hurtling back every time he stepped over the threshold? Part of him wanted to believe that it would, but as the father of a highschooler, he had to wonder. Did memories wear off?

At their first sight of Alyssa, his family roared. “Welcome home! How was the trip!” His siblings and his dad rushed to talk over each other.

All except middle child Dante, who hovered in the corner, hands deep in his pants pockets. He did grin, though, and tilted his chin at Rollo. From the dark MacKenzie, that was like a bear hug. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.”

Dante studied him with his usual intensity. “Married life looks good on you, bro.”

“Feels good, too.” Rollo searched the room for Dante’s lady love, Rachael, and winked at her in greeting. “You should consider it.”

Dante eyed her, too, a soft, almost bemused expression on his hard face.

Rollo swallowed the teasing words he would have flung at any of his other sibs. Dante was new to feels. It would be like stomping down freshly sprouting grass, or laughing at a newborn colt taking his first steps. Sort of a no-go situation.

He settled for a knowing wink and headed inside to greet their dad.

Chip Mac stood tall, despite leaning heavily on his cane. Rollo was relieved to see that his father had weathered the past three weeks well. Closer to eighty than seventy now, the old man was holding up well, despite two serious strokes.

“Yo, Brother.” His youngest sister’s outsized voice hit his ear. She hugged him hard. “Has Jack Reese filled you in yet?” she asked quietly so none of the others would hear.

He checked his watch. “He said he’d be calling soon. I figured I could use Dad’s study for a few minutes.”

She squeezed his arm. “Give me a sign. I’ll join you.”

Viv had come over earlier to pick Wren up. He caught his daughter’s eye through the kitchen doorway. She held up a freshly baked pie, pride shining across her pretty face.

He nodded encouragingly, willing his eyes not to fill with tears. Every time he looked at his beautiful girl, he got that lump in his throat. She was everything a father could want. Somehow, she’d gotten the best of both him and her mother, while avoiding the bad parts.

And now he had Alyssa, too. And the two women in his life loved each other. It was like the three of them had been a family forever. He was so blessed, he barely had the words to thank his Savior.

The front door opened, letting in a shaft of bright afternoon sunlight, and his brother, Teo, still in his Harbor Patrol uniform.

“Sorry I’m late,” Teo called out. “Had to pick up a couple newbie surfers who thought they could handle the six-foot breakers off the Rock.”

The entire family groaned. It happened every time The Cove had a weekend with warm temps and a strong westerly swell. The waves stacked up high and fast, far exceeding the skills of all but the most advanced surfers.

Rollo pulled his brother in for a hug. “No worries. How you been?”

“Good.” Teo’s grin widened, but just as quickly disappeared. He searched the great room. “No Enzo?”

Rollo shook his head, uncertain how much Teo knew.

Teo waved a greeting at Wren and Viv in the kitchen. “I’m not surprised. Things have been weird with him ever since you left on your honeymoon.”

Rollo sighed silently. He’d have to fill the family in, but he wanted to get the latest from Knight Tactical—and Enzo—before he did. “I’ll have more info in a little while. Whatever’s going on, he’s with Knight Tactical. He’ll be okay.”

Teo sagged with relief. “Excellent. That makes me feel better.” He smacked Rollo on the shoulder. “Whatever he needs. Let me know.”

“Will do.”

Teo lifted his nose, sniffing the air. “Is that lasagna?”

“I believe so.” He worked hard not to grimace. Two weeks of spectacular Italian cuisine meant his sister, Viv’s cooking would be that much more inedible.

Noah, Rollo’s lead detective, and his sister Viv’s fiancé, headed in their direction. “It’s safe,” he announced, head on a swivel as he searched the room. “Emmie brought the food. I love your sister,” he admitted, “But the woman’s a disaster in the kitchen.”

Rollo stifled a snort. Viv was a brilliant psychologist, an outstanding surfer, and a wonderful woman all the way around, but her and cooking…not so much. If burning water were a thing, Viv would know how to do it.

Not that anyone in the family would hurt her feelings by saying so. Viv loved to nurture people. She took after their mother that way. It was in her DNA, but the kitchen wasn’t her forte.

He checked his watch again. Jack would be punctual. He’d made it clear in his last text to Rollo that he wanted a few minutes to bring Rollo up to speed before they conferenced in with Jack’s team, and Enzo.

He headed for the back of the house, intending to steal a few private moments on his dad’s computer, but Emmie intercepted him. “If you’re hopping on that call, I’m joining in.” She smiled tightly, her concern for her twin all too obvious.

No point in protesting. Not when she made that face. Lawyer Face, the family called it, mostly behind her back. Pretty and petite, more like the Baez side of the family than the MacKenzies, Emmie had an outsized brain…and the courage to match.

He waved her ahead of him down the hallway. Whatever Enzo had gotten messed up in, he’d help. They’d all help.