Read Online Whiskey Tribute: A Trident Security Series Novella - Book 5.5 by Samantha A. Cole - Free Book Online
Authors: Samantha A. Cole
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several SEAL funerals in the
past. There would be two toasts. The first one included everyone—family,
friends, and teammates. The second would be later on, reserved for Eric’s
brothers-in-arm only. It was a team tradition which had started a long time ago
and was repeated, without fail, at every Team Four funeral.
There were a bunch of whistles and shouts of ‘quiet’ before
the crowd of one-hundred-plus people hushed. With the help of the waitresses,
dozens of plastic shot glasses filled with whiskey were passed out to everyone
over the age of twenty-one. For the minors and those who didn’t drink, a few
were filled with cola, so they could still participate.
Bringing a small tray of shots over to the table, Curt made
sure Dana and her kids had the appropriate drinks. As the glasses were passed
to those who hadn’t received one yet, Ian took the one Devon handed him. “For
those of you who don’t know me, I am proud to say I served with Eric for many
years—it was a privilege to have him on my team. We have a tradition on our
team to toast the fallen with a whiskey tribute, and I invite you to join us
for the first one. His teammates will have another one later, in private. As
the ranking retired officer here, I was asked to lead you in this first toast.
Does everyone have a glass?” When he was certain all had received one, he
lifted his own in the air. “Eric Prichard. Call sign, Wabbit. It was your
team’s honor to serve with you and to call you our brother. Your loyalty to
your country, your team, your family, and your friends will never be forgotten.
You served your country with honor and integrity, the same way you lived your
life. Today, we saluted you and then your fellow SEALs proudly slammed our
tridents into the top of your casket as a sign of our undying gratitude and
respect. Your family is our family and we will always be there for them since
you no longer can be. Take care, my brother, until we meet again.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when all the SEALs
shouted out ‘hoo-yah’ before they downed their shots.
A little over an hour later, most of the local folks had
left, and Dana was saying goodbye to those who remained. Her mother and Jenn
Mullins were gathering up the children so they could all head back to the
house. Jenn was Ian’s goddaughter, and her father had been on Team Four, as
well. The team had watched her grow since she’d been a baby and she called a
lot of them ‘Uncle’. Her parents, Jeff and Lisa, had been murdered six months
ago, and Jenn was just beginning to emerge from her dungeon of angst. She now
lived with Ian in Tampa, while going to college nearby. The sweet girl had been
entertaining the kids all day, and Dana was grateful.
Scanning the room, she saw Curt talking to Marco while
drinking another soda. She knew he was staying sober so he could help her, but
she was worried about him. He hadn’t broken down yet, trying to be strong for
her, and she knew it was only a matter of time before his grief hit him square
in the chest. She wanted that to happen while he had his teammates around to
watch his back.
Spotting Ian and Devon chatting a few feet away from her, she
stepped over to them. Ian lifted his arm around her shoulder and pulled her
into his side. Placing a brotherly kiss on her forehead, he asked, “How are you
doing, Dana?”
“As good as I can be at the moment, but I need you to do me a
favor.”
“Name it.”
She sighed. “I’m going to be heading home in a bit with my
kids and the grandparents. Jenn is coming, too, for a little while. Can you
make sure Curt stays here with you, please?” Devon raised an eyebrow at her,
but she continued before he could ask any questions. “He needs you guys right
now. He’s been a rock for me since he got here, but I can tell he’s holding
back. Get him drunk and watch his six…do what you guys do for each other at times
like this. You can drop him off later—he’s been crashing on the
past. There would be two toasts. The first one included everyone—family,
friends, and teammates. The second would be later on, reserved for Eric’s
brothers-in-arm only. It was a team tradition which had started a long time ago
and was repeated, without fail, at every Team Four funeral.
There were a bunch of whistles and shouts of ‘quiet’ before
the crowd of one-hundred-plus people hushed. With the help of the waitresses,
dozens of plastic shot glasses filled with whiskey were passed out to everyone
over the age of twenty-one. For the minors and those who didn’t drink, a few
were filled with cola, so they could still participate.
Bringing a small tray of shots over to the table, Curt made
sure Dana and her kids had the appropriate drinks. As the glasses were passed
to those who hadn’t received one yet, Ian took the one Devon handed him. “For
those of you who don’t know me, I am proud to say I served with Eric for many
years—it was a privilege to have him on my team. We have a tradition on our
team to toast the fallen with a whiskey tribute, and I invite you to join us
for the first one. His teammates will have another one later, in private. As
the ranking retired officer here, I was asked to lead you in this first toast.
Does everyone have a glass?” When he was certain all had received one, he
lifted his own in the air. “Eric Prichard. Call sign, Wabbit. It was your
team’s honor to serve with you and to call you our brother. Your loyalty to
your country, your team, your family, and your friends will never be forgotten.
You served your country with honor and integrity, the same way you lived your
life. Today, we saluted you and then your fellow SEALs proudly slammed our
tridents into the top of your casket as a sign of our undying gratitude and
respect. Your family is our family and we will always be there for them since
you no longer can be. Take care, my brother, until we meet again.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when all the SEALs
shouted out ‘hoo-yah’ before they downed their shots.
A little over an hour later, most of the local folks had
left, and Dana was saying goodbye to those who remained. Her mother and Jenn
Mullins were gathering up the children so they could all head back to the
house. Jenn was Ian’s goddaughter, and her father had been on Team Four, as
well. The team had watched her grow since she’d been a baby and she called a
lot of them ‘Uncle’. Her parents, Jeff and Lisa, had been murdered six months
ago, and Jenn was just beginning to emerge from her dungeon of angst. She now
lived with Ian in Tampa, while going to college nearby. The sweet girl had been
entertaining the kids all day, and Dana was grateful.
Scanning the room, she saw Curt talking to Marco while
drinking another soda. She knew he was staying sober so he could help her, but
she was worried about him. He hadn’t broken down yet, trying to be strong for
her, and she knew it was only a matter of time before his grief hit him square
in the chest. She wanted that to happen while he had his teammates around to
watch his back.
Spotting Ian and Devon chatting a few feet away from her, she
stepped over to them. Ian lifted his arm around her shoulder and pulled her
into his side. Placing a brotherly kiss on her forehead, he asked, “How are you
doing, Dana?”
“As good as I can be at the moment, but I need you to do me a
favor.”
“Name it.”
She sighed. “I’m going to be heading home in a bit with my
kids and the grandparents. Jenn is coming, too, for a little while. Can you
make sure Curt stays here with you, please?” Devon raised an eyebrow at her,
but she continued before he could ask any questions. “He needs you guys right
now. He’s been a rock for me since he got here, but I can tell he’s holding
back. Get him drunk and watch his six…do what you guys do for each other at times
like this. You can drop him off later—he’s been crashing on the
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