The Christmas Wish

Chapter Eight

It's been several days and Brandon's friends were due any minute. My anxiety was at an all time high and I couldn't stop pacing the floor. I was constantly checking on Keely, making sure everything looked good and everything was in its place. I don't know why I was so nervous. I just hope that they would be able to help us and be able to find Luke and most importantly find him alive.

"Laura, you have got to calm down. It's going to be okay." Brandon says as he softly grabs my elbow, getting me to stop pacing.

I look up into his eyes trying to hold back my tears. " What if they won't help us? What if they don't find him? What if he is really dead?"

He quickly wraps me into a hug, kissing the top of my head. "I wouldn't have asked them if I knew they couldn't do this. They are the best at what they do. We know that the government has given up, and this is your only chance."

"How am I going to pay them?"
"You don't worry about that. That's for me to deal with. The only thing you need to worry about is Keely and when they bring Luke home."
"Uggh, I hate this."

"I know, but they are going to bring him home."
We hear the doorbell go off and Keely comes running out of her room to answer it.

"I got it, mommy!"
She runs to open it and I follow behind her, and I see four people standing at the doorway.

"Hey guys, long time no see." Brandon says as he walks up.

"Yeah, and why is that?" The first guy says. He is tall and muscular with dark hair and scruffy beard.

"Because I suck at keeping in touch." Brandon introduces him as Cap. His real name is Stephen and he is the head of the group.

"You got that right." Brandon chuckles and says this is Ethan also known as Gunner. He is a little shorter than Stephen and with light brown hair.

"Are you going to let us in?" The fiery redhead says with a smirk on her face.

"Yeah, right. Come on in." He says as he introduces the red head as Julia also known as Red, go figure.

We show them to the living room and we all sit down. Keely climbs up in my lap and snuggles. She is a little shy around strangers.

"You must be Laura and Keely?" The last one asks. He seems a bit shy and reserved, with dirty blond hair and strikingly beautiful blue eyes. "My name is Jackson, also known as Gig.

"Yes, and how do you know Brandon?"
"We all went to college together. He went home to start his own business and we went off and started our own." Julia answers.

"What is it you do?"

"We do a lot of security and a bit of other things we can't talk about."
"Oh."
"It's just to keep you safe." Ethan adds.

"Got it."
"So your husband is a navy seal?" Jackson asks.
"Yes, he has been in his unit for about four years now."

"I see. I assume he was lost in an attack?" Stephen asks.

"Yes, we were talking one night and I heard an explosion over the phone and the line went dead. That's the last I heard from him. Christmas day, one of his sergeants came and told me he was m.i.a and presumed dead. I think they have now given up the search."

"Leave it to the government to turn tail and run. They always leave men behind." Ethan scoffs.

"Will you be able to help her? I know it's like finding a needle in a haystack, but she says she feels like he is still alive. Her gut feelings are usually never wrong." Brandon asks.

"We will give it our best shot. Gig here is the best at hacking. Gunner knows his ammunition. Red is an awesome tracker. We will do our best. I am not promising you anything, but we will get right on it. I will keep you posted as well as we can. It's a war zone out there." Stephen says trying to ease my worry, I do feel somewhat better.