Page 25 of Wyatt
“Kidnapping them? Look at me. I’m a hundred and twenty pounds on a good day. I’m strong but not that strong.”
“Listen, it’s important. One pilot has died because of this,” said Wyatt. She looked at him, and her face sobered.
“I’m sorry. Really, I am. I make my living off you guys. Loneliness, drunkenness, and the need for sex. I don’t hurt anyone. I didn’t drug your beer. Did you ask the bartender?”
“I was the bartender,” said Ulani. The woman looked her up and down, raising her brows.
“You could put me out of business,” she smiled.
“I’ll take it as a compliment, but I like what I do,” she said, smiling back.
“I wish I could help you, but it wasn’t me. I really was just trying to get you to take me to your place or my place. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you for talking to me,” said Wyatt.
She nodded, leaving the safety of her stool, and headed toward a group of guys at a pool table. Stopping, she turned and walked back to the group.
“There’s a guy named Blink. Not his real name, obviously, but he knows everything about everything around here and occasionally sells certain drugs to the service guys. He’s maybe six-feet, with dark hair and eyes. You’ll find him either here or the Wagon tonight. Almost everyone knows him.”
She walked away, and they all looked at one another. Ulani nodded at them as they walked out of the bar.
“I guess we’re going to dinner at the Wagon tonight.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ulani sat on the back porch, her feet tucked beneath her as she looked out at the gardens and pool. It was a warm, sunny day in Coronado, and they’d all gone for a quick swim when they returned.
Now, showered and dressed for the evening, she was waiting for a call from her boss. She wasn’t sure what to say or how much to say. What if he was hiding things from her? What if he knew more than he was letting on? Why hadn’t CID been able to clear the image of that video from Wings?
“Ulani? Ulani, honey?” called her father.
“Oh, sorry, Dad. I was lost in thought.”
“I can see that,” he said, taking a seat beside her. He pulled her feet onto his lap and wrapped them in one of the blankets hanging over the back of the chairs.
“You remembered that my feet are always cold,” she smiled.
“I remember everything about you, honey. You’re my only child. I never thought I’d have children. I thought that was taken from me. Then the team took me in, the medical folks performed miracles on me, and I met your mother.”
“I never thanked you, Dad.”
“For what?” he smirked.
“For showing me how a man should love a woman. How he should treat a woman. The way you touch Mom, talk to her, treat her showed me all I needed to know about what I wanted in my life.”
“Well, you’re welcome. Is that what Wyatt gives you?”
“Yeah,” she smiled. “It was one of the first things that attracted me to him. He’s so sweet to his mother, even though she’s really his aunt. He never hesitated to call them both Mom and Dad. He’s always respectful, kind, everything you were with Mom.”
“Those are fine qualities in any man, and I’m proud that you saw them in me. As a father, I want to see those qualities, but also the ability to take care of you, defend you, keep you safe. And before you tear my head off, I know you can take care of yourself. You’re a great warrior, Ulani.”
“I learned from the best,” she said, snuggling into her father’s side. They were both quiet for a long moment, and then she spoke again. “I’m missing something big here, Dad. I just can’t figure out what it is. Nothing is stolen from these men except their memories.”
“I know what you mean. U-Jin said something today that’s been rattling around in my brain. Even if they got information about the planes from the pilots, they don’t have schematics, plans, engineering design, nothing. What are they going to do with it?”
“Maybe it’s something other than the jets?” she questioned.
“Am I interrupting?” asked Wyatt, stepping onto the patio.
