Page 82 of Under Pressure

She was officially freaking out.

After the longest walk of her life, doors were opened for her, ushering her into the rear of a big room where many spectators sat. The ceremony looked like it was about to begin. The loud hum of talking allowed her to slip in unseen. As her black heels padded softly on the dark red carpet, she found herself along the back wall and looked at the assistant to her side.

“I’d like to stand at the back in case my son gets fussy,” Kendra suggested, though the truth was that she just didn’t want to be front and center.

She didn’t want a spotlight on her.

“Anything you’d like, miss,” the assistant agreed, placing Kendra in a quiet, inconspicuous spot.

As she stood at the back of the room, her son in her arms, she wanted to melt into the many flags beside her that were lining the walls. She bounced her baby more out of habit than need, trying to stay low-key. There were enough people in attendance that she didn’t think it would be an issue if she and Leo just stayed quiet.

Finally, the ceremony started, announcing the President himself to issue the award. The President strode out onto the podium, brushing back his graying hair as he looked out over the crowd. His power and confidence were remarkable, sending chills up her spine as she waited to see Delta for the first time in days.

“We are here to honor a man for unbelievable courage, unimaginable fortitude in the face of certain death,” the President began charismatically, looking out over the sea of people watching.

He continued, “It’s my honor to introduce Special Warfare Operator Matteo Valente, known as Delta.”

Then a tall, poised man marched out onto the stage in a white Naval uniform to the sound of applause. He appeared so clean-cut and formal that she didn’t recognize him at first. But then she sucked in her breath.

It was him.

He looked like… He looked like a king.

Like many times before, she shivered as she drank him in, observing how the military uniform made him into a different man, his jacket decorated with all sorts of medals and honors. And here they were, awarding him another one. The ultimate one.

She felt like screaming.

As she was squeezing Leo tight, tears sprang to her eyes.

She was so goddamn proud.

Beaming, the President waved his hands over the podium, getting into his speech.

“It’s my honor to award SO Valente the Medal of Honor today for conspicuous gallantry. In Operation Medusa, he singlehandedly rescued an American hostage from behind enemy lines, putting his own life in jeopardy. And I cannot exaggerate this, people… SO Valente defied all odds when he stormed the enemy compound. His survival and success are a testament to his unwavering bravery, resolve and skill. A real hero. Congratulations.” The President turned and nodded to him.

Delta stood at attention, staring straight ahead, as a military man would be expected to do. Kendra could only guess how hard it was for him to be standing there, hearing people applaud him for being a hero. She found herself grinning, grazing her lips on Leo’s head.

The President moved behind Delta, removing the Medal of Honor from an assistant’s hands and placing it over his neck.

As the medal was awarded, Delta remained unemotional, stoic, his gaze moving upward and locking on Kendra. Through it all, he found her. He saw her. He didn’t let up.

A powerful feeling flushed over her. He was sharing that moment with her. He wanted her to be a part of it. The sheer emotion drove her to tremble.

And Leo sensed it, as he started stirring and fussing. As Delta turned to shake the President’s hand, she popped Leo up on her shoulder and slipped out into the decadent hallway, excusing herself to assistants who helped her find her way to a quiet nook. Cradling the baby in her arms, she stood in a ray of sunlight that was beaming in through a window in the private space.

The warmth settled on her, and she had a reality check. It had all been such a blur, but here she was. A week ago, she’d never have believed it. Looking down on their son, she smiled as she observed how much he looked like Delta. Especially the little smile on his face—it was so much like his daddy’s. That fact was new to her. She’d only just started letting herself see it.

But she’d really known it all along, just like she’d known that he had never been a monster. He could be wicked—but never malevolent.

Suddenly, her phone pinged, and with one hand she fumbled for it in her tote while holding Leo in the other hand. It was Lily.

I opened an unmarked envelope this morning—with the results from that glove. Jesus, you are not going to believe this.

Kendra read and re-read the text message several times.

For something she would have jumped at just days ago, now she was holding back. There was a voice inside her head whispering things she didn’t expect. Holding her phone, she rocked Leo, grazing her lips on him, listening to herself, listening to how she felt.

Delta had shown another side of him. He’d shown her that he could control himself. He could control it.

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