“Is that him?” my oldest son asks.
“That’s him,” I say, unable to keep the emotion from my voice.
Cora squeezes my hand and then lets it go.
“Go see him,” she says.
I nod my thanks, tears spilling from my eyes, down my cheeks, and onto my son’s head.
I step away from my family, hesitant at first like he might reject me now that he’s out. But that’s silly, this is Carlisle. He is my friend. He is my brother.
His eyes meet mine. There’s a look on his face like an angel who’s just been given his wings. It’s true. This is indeed what has happened.
The guard says something to him that I can’t hear. Carlisle nods and shakes the man’s hand, and now walks towards me.
My body is trying to process the fear, hope, glee, and pure adrenaline. My legs are shaking. I’m weeping openly.
We stop when we’re two strides apart. He looks at me and I at him.
“Jimmy,” he says.
“Carlisle.”
We stand there for a long moment.
When he steps forward, I break the rules.
I’ve stumbled across the finish line. I’ve let go of the past and forgiven myself in whole.
But most importantly, and no matter what happens next, my prayers have been answered. Another son has come home.
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Also by C. G. Cooper
The Corps Justice Series In Order:
Back To War
Council Of Patriots
Prime Asset
Presidential Shift
National Burden
Lethal Misconduct
Moral Imperative
Disavowed
Chain Of Command
Papal Justice
The Zimmer Doctrine
Sabotage
Liberty Down
Sins Of The Father
A Darker Path
Chosen
God-Speed
Running
The Daniel Briggs Novels:
Adrift
Fallen
Broken
Tested
The Tom Greer Novels
A Life Worth Taking
Stand Alone Novels
To Live
The Warden’s Son
The Interrogators
Higgins
The Spy In Residence Novels
What Lies Hidden
The Alex Knight Novels
Breakout
The Stars & Spies Series:
The Patriot Protocol Series:
The Patriot Protocol
The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon:
Benjamin Dragon – Awakening
Benjamin Dragon – Legacy
Benjamin Dragon - Genesis
About the Author
C. G. Cooper is the USA TODAY and AMAZON BESTSELLING author of the CORPS JUSTICE novels (including spinoffs), The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon and various other novels.
Cooper grew up in a Navy family and traveled from one Naval base to another as he fed his love of books and a fledgling desire to write.
Upon graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Foreign Affairs, Cooper was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps and went on to serve six years as an infantry officer. C. G. Cooper's final Marine duty station was in Nashville, Tennessee, where he fell in love with the laid-back lifestyle of Music City.
His first published novel, BACK TO WAR, came out of a need to link back to his time in the Marine Corps. That novel, written as a side project, spawned many follow-on novels, several exciting spinoffs, and catapulted Cooper's career.
Cooper lives just south of Nashville with his wife, three children, and their German shorthaired pointer, Liberty, who's become a popular character in the Corps Justice novels.
When he's not writing, Cooper spends time with his family, does his best to improve his golf handicap, and loves to shed light on the ongoing fight of everyday heroes.
Cooper loves hearing from readers and responds to every email personally.
To connect with C. G. Cooper visit
www.cg-cooper.com