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second-to-oldest
brother?”
    â€œThat’s quite a title.” Kaylan walked past Micah, tossing something in Nick’s bag
before she came back to slug her brother’s arm. “We all know you are an expert packer
because of your years living with me. Nick hasn’t had the benefit of my expertise.”
    Micah eyed Nick’s nearly empty bag and shook his head. “I’m thinking y’all were doing
something other than packing.” He approached her, his finger aimed at her face. “And
as your favorite older brother, I should warn you that I can and will leave him on
this mission if he isn’t behaving himself with you. Tell me now, Kayles.”
    Her laughter spilled over as Nick’s brows raised and he came to a standstill. “Leave
me behind? Watch it, Bulldog. That’s blasphemy. Never leave a man behind.” He smirked.
“And kicking my tail is highly questionable. We both know who always wins that fight.”
    Micah threw his chest out and approached Nick, reminding Kaylan of little boys arguing
over who built the bigger mud pie. Kaylan stepped in between them, her laughter drawing
smiles to their pseudo-tough faces.
    â€œAll right, hotshots. You made your point. Save it for the bad guys.”
    â€œYou.” She turned to Nick and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, sending him
the smile she saved just for him. “Finish packing.”
    â€œAnd you.” She turned to Micah, her heart dancing as she felt the familiar tug of
home and family and Alabama. “Don’t ever let Dave catch you calling yourself my favorite
older brother. He really might bury you in a box and throw you in the lake.”
    Micah’s grin bloomed, reminding her of his mischievous escapades as a child when
he would hide her dolls or her dance shoes just so he could chase her around the
house while she looked for them. “Dave doesn’t have a violent bone in his body. Competitive,
sure. Violent, absolutely not.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know. Challenge Melody, or me, or mom, or Gran, and
you might have a fight on your hands.”
    Micah tapped a finger on his chin and pretended to ponder for a moment. Kaylan tried
to sucker punch him in the stomach, but he moved quickly. Pinning her arms, he began
poking her rib cage, sending her squealing.
    â€œI give. I give. I give.” Kaylan drew a deep breath as Micah let her go, sending
her tumbling into Nick. Her ribs ached from his jabs and her constant laughter. She
would remember this moment until they came home. Thankfully it wasn’t a true deployment
with their full team. They would travel with Support Activity 1, take care of their
assignment, and then come home to prep for their next deployment a little over a
year away. Kaylan knew they would travel and train all over the country as needed
between now and then, but at least then she knew they wouldn’t face enemy fire.
    The knot in her stomach re-formed with a tug, and she took a deep breath, steadying
herself again. Nick grabbed his bag from the bed and slung it over his shoulder.
    â€œDrop us off, babe?”
    She smiled up at him, now wishing the time hadn’t slipped by so quickly. “Wouldn’t
miss it.”
    She looped her arm around his waist and followed her brother to the car.

Chapter 5
    K AYLAN CUT THE engine as she pulled up in front of the team building. In the sudden
silence she realized her brother and boyfriend were about to board a C-17 to another
corner of the world. She knew a cause burned in their hearts. Their easy banter less
than an hour before had faded, replaced by quiet resolve mirrored in their confident
stance and determined expressions.
    Micah had always been her protector. She remembered her fourth grade year when John
Mark Turner wanted her to sign his cast. He’d had a crush on her since second grade,
but Kaylan was a kid. She played with the boys the same way she played with her