“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Need to update you on a situation of my own.” He’d already decided that Ghost needed to know what was going on with Ian Black and Kazimir Rybakov. If Rybakov was an operative, they’d know it soon enough. But if he really was Roman, then Mendez hoped he’d be around more frequently.
“Wow,” Ghost said when Mendez relayed the story. “How are you feeling about this?”
Mendez blinked. He hadn’t expected that question, but maybe he should have. Ghost was perceptive. “Confused. Hopeful. A lot of things, really. If he’s my son, then what? And if he isn’t, what’s going on and why the con?”
“If it’s a con, the implications aren’t good.”
“Nope, they aren’t. I’ll deal with that once I know.”
“I’m glad you told Ian to bring him in. Find out the truth once and for all.”
“Not getting my hopes up, but if there’s a chance it’s him, maybe we can have a relationship with him. Or at least Kat can. He might not forgive me for the way the truth comes to light.”
“One day at a time, Viper. That’s all you can do.”
Mendez shoved a hand through his hair. “You’re right.”
After a few more minutes of conversing about work and missions, the call ended and Mendez swiveled his chair to look out at the front yard covered in snow. It was so very beautiful, a white Christmas to remember. And remember he would, though not because of the snow. Elena Katharine, born on Christmas day in a truck not four miles away from home. He shook his head, though not without humor. He was finally starting to see the humor in it as the hours passed and mother and baby continued to do well.
He got up and went into the great room, folded up the blanket and put it on the back of the couch. Fluffed pillows the way Kat liked them done with a karate chop in the middle. He didn’t get that but whatever. He positioned the battery-powered candles and made sure the timer was on so they’d be flickering when he brought Kat and Elena home. He put the Christmas music on and let it play softly, then went into the kitchen and checked the fridge. The turkey was in there, still sitting in the pan and ready to go into the oven. Maybe he’d uncover it when they got home and take it out, let it sit while the oven preheated. Then he’d put it in and cook a damned turkey for his wife. If they got home too late, he’d fix it tomorrow. He wasn’t unskilled in the kitchen, though he wasn’t Kat’s level either. Still, he could fix a meal. He would fix it so they could have their first Christmas meal as a family together. If he made lumpy gravy and his turkey was dry, they’d survive.
His phone rang. It was Matt Girard. “Richie,” he said. “How’s the family?”
“Hey, General. They’re great, thanks. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. How are you and Kat holding up?”
“We’re doing all right. I’m at home but going back to the hospital soon to hopefully get Kat and Elena.”
“Evie wanted me to let you know that she’d be happy to come and help Kat out if she needs it. We can also fix some meals for you.”
Mendez’s mouth watered. Evie Girard wasn’t just a home cook. She was a trained chef and her meals were incredible. How Matt managed not to weigh six hundred pounds was a mystery.
“That’s kind of you both. We may take you up on that.”
“Sir, permission to speak freely.”
“Of course. Say what you want to say so badly, kid.”
Matt laughed. “You’re a stubborn cuss of a military officer, sir. You run HOT with a tight fist on the reins, but you don’t do everything yourself because you can’t. Well, you can’t do everything at home right now either. You have a newborn and trust me when I tell you this, you’re about to wonder how anyone survives a new baby in the house. I’ve been on missions that weren’t as difficult as soothing a crying baby in the middle of the night while wishing for just a few uninterrupted minutes of sleep. So when I tell you that Evie and I want to help you and Kat, you should really take us up on it.”
Mendez couldn’t help but grin. He loved his HOT family so much. They were there when you needed them and even if he was the daddy figure, the one who had to remain stern and in charge, he knew they had his back when he needed it. “All right, Richie. I hear you. I’ve got an entire Christmas dinner in the fridge that Kat never got to fix. Think you and Evie could do something about that?”
“We sure can. When would you like it done? Today? Tomorrow? You tell me when. We can pick it up and bring it home to prepare, or we’ll do it there. Up to you.”
“Can I get back with you on that? I need to see what Kat thinks.”
“Absolutely, sir. We don’t have any plans other than hanging out at home with our kids this week.”
“I’ll let you know. Thanks for offering. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“It’s our pleasure. Merry Christmas, sir.”
“Merry Christmas. Tell Evie I’m grateful.”
“I will.”
The call ended and Mendez stood with his hand on the kitchen island, gazing around the space, and wondering how he got so lucky. His life had always been about work and duty, but this past year had added something that he couldn’t ever live without again. Family, love, belonging. And not just with Kat and Elena, but with his team. Hell, even Ian Black was part of his life more than he’d ever thought possible. He wished his mother could be a part of it, but she never would be. His
