Griffin couldn’t hold back the grief as it tore through him in racking sobs.

And all the while, Sherri held him tight, absorbing his pain into herself. She didn’t speak. Didn’t try to push any thoughts-and-prayers platitudes on him. She just shared his pain and silently offered her strength and support.

Eventually, the worst of the initial grief passed, leaving him drained. He felt wrung out like a cheap washcloth. Griffin raised his head and pressed the heels of his hands into his eye sockets.

“I’m sorry—” he started.

“Stop.” Sherri cut him off sharply. “Don’t you ever apologize for loving your brothers and feeling the loss of one keenly.”

One corner of his mouth momentarily quirked up. “Yes, ma’am.” He rose to his feet and drew Sherri into a hard, long hug. “Thanks for being here.”

“Any time.”

“For real.”

“I meant what I said, Griffin. Any time. Any place. You call, and I’ll be there for you.”

Huh. She really was starting to sound like a SEAL.

He looked around, identifying the forest in minor shock. “Well, hell. I really ran us out to the back forty, didn’t I?” He didn’t relish the long run back. Not feeling this soul-weary.

Sherri wriggled in his arms and dug a cell phone out of the back pocket of her cargo pants. She hit a button and plastered it to her ear.

“Hey, Anna, it’s me.”

Sherri listened for a minute. Then, “I don’t blame them. If I lost you or Lily, I’d react about the same way. Hey, could I ask a big favor of you? Griffin went for a run around the long loop, and we’re at the back end of nowhere out here. Any chance you could hop in a Jeep and come pick us up? Neither one of us feels like hiking all the way back. Thanks, girlfriend. You’re the best.”

Sherri pocketed her phone. “She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“What’s up with the guys?”

“They’re locked in Cal’s office with a whole lot of booze.”

Griffin nodded. If he hadn’t taken off like he had, that was exactly what he would be doing right now.

The sound of a Jeep engine broke the silence before long, and Anna pulled up beside them. Sherri climbed in the back, and Griffin swung into the passenger seat. Nobody spoke. Words weren’t adequate to express how any of them were feeling right now.

They arrived back at the compound, and Anna paused in the act of getting out of the Jeep to make eye contact with Griffin and nod soberly. No doubt about it. She’d lost someone close to her, too. Knowing shone in the dark sadness of her brown eyes. It was a terrible club to belong to.

Anna tossed him the car keys and disappeared into the women’s barracks, leaving him and Sherri alone.