BLOOD TIES (Decklan Jennings Thriller Book 1) by Philip Duncan (book recommendations for young adults txt) 📕

He headed out of the living room and down the hall toward the stairs. But it wasn't until he got to the top that he realized he needed somewhere to sleep, and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be in his bed. He walked past his room and found himself face to face with his daughter's bedroom. Or at least what used to be her bedroom.

He couldn’t face looking inside, so he moved on. Now he was in the same situation, only with his son's room. The only difference was this door was slightly open so he could see inside. He caught a glimpse of his son’s favorite pajamas lying neatly on his bed. They were patterned with little soldiers. He wanted to be just like his daddy when he grew up, which he would never get the chance to do.

His emotions were starting to take over and he couldn’t keep them bottled up anymore. Tears started streaming down his face and soaking his untrimmed beard. He slumped against the wall and slowly fell to the floor until he found himself in the fetal position, sobbing like a baby. Here he was, an ex-Special Forces Army Ranger, lying in his own hallway weeping uncontrollably.

There was nothing he could do to stop it, but he tried to be as quiet as possible so he didn’t alert his new houseguest. This was pain like he had never felt before. Nothing could hold a candle to the pain of a grieving parent, and no one could be equipped to handle this kind of pain. Not even a soldier.

CHAPTER 9

Light started to peer through the window at the end of the hallway.

Morning already? I must have cried myself to sleep.

He headed downstairs to make some coffee and see if Langley was up yet.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I have been up for a few hours and thought I would make a pot of coffee,” Langley said, as Decklan made his way into the kitchen.

Decklan didn’t care. All he cared about was getting some coffee into his system so he could wake up. Or at least try.

“So what’s the plan?” Decklan asked, as he poured his coffee into his favorite mug that read World’s Best Dad.

Langley smiled. “I can see your military ways haven’t left you. Plan and execute.”

Decklan nodded and sipped his coffee, waiting for Langley’s plan.

“I was thinking we would start by going into town so I can get more familiar with this place. I am always more productive when I understand where I am,” Langley said.

“I thought you were already here for another job?” Decklan said.

“I was, but it didn’t take me as long as I planned so I would like to get more familiar. If that’s okay with you,” Langley replied.

What a great plan, Decklan thought to himself sarcastically.

“Plus, it will give us some time to talk and get to know each other better. I believe that the better we understand each other, the better we will work together. Don’t ya think?” Langley said, trying to get Decklan to warm up to him.

He tried his best to hold back his normal sarcastic, smart-ass tone. “Yup, sounds great,” Decklan replied.

“Great, I’ll drive.”

They hopped into Langley’s jet black Dodge Charger that had the window tint and rims to match. They drove around for about fifteen minutes before stopping off at a gas station to fill up.

“Keep the pump running for me. I am going to run inside real quick. Do you need anything?” Langley said.

“No thanks, I am all set,” Decklan replied.

Ten minutes later, Langley came walking back out eating a candy bar and holding a Dr. Pepper.

“That took a while. What were you doing in there?” Decklan asked.

“Sorry about that. I was asking some questions to see if I could find out anything useful.” Langley said.

“From a gas station?”

“You never know who might have answers. Plus, it never hurts to ask.”

They headed back out on the road.

“Can I ask you a question?” Langley said.

“Sure, why not?” Decklan replied.

“Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt your family? Anyone at all? Anything could help.”

“No.”

“I need you to think really hard. Have you pissed anyone off lately? Did your wife have any enemies that you were aware of?”

“Pissing people off is kind of my specialty, but no one in particular stands out. And as far as my wife goes, she was an angel. She would never hurt anyone and everyone who knew her loved and adored her.”

“Everyone has secrets, Decklan.”

“Not her, trust me.”

“Okay, I’m sorry but I had to ask,” Langley finished.

Several minutes passed by without a word. Then, something caught their attention: a group of shady-looking guys standing around a black SUV in an empty parking lot.

“What the hell are they doing?” Decklan said.

“I can’t say for sure, but from my experience it looks like a drug deal,” Langley replied.

“A drug deal? Here, in my town. No way. I have never seen drugs here.”

“Trust me, drugs are everywhere, which means drug dealers. Which usually means violence.”

“You think those guys could be linked to my family?”

“It’s definitely possible.”

“We should do something,” Decklan said as he started to get out of the car.

Langley grabbed Decklan’s arm to keep him inside the car. “Not so fast. You can’t just walk up to guys like this and start asking questions. That’s how you end up dead,” Langley said.

“Then what do you suggest we should do? If there’s the slightest chance they could have something to do with my family, I can’t just let them get away.”

“I get it, Decklan, but we have to be smart. I think we should follow them and see where they go. Maybe they will lead us back to their stash house.”

“Stash house?” Decklan said, unsure what it meant.

“Yes. Drug dealers typically have a place where they spend the majority of their time so they don’t draw attention to their own homes. It’s also where they stash their drugs, money, and weapons. Hence