Page 39 of SEAL's Paradise
“Not that I’m aware of, sir.This investigation into the illicit sale of weapons is coming directly from the Defense Department.They’ve hired a team to secretly investigate.Riley and her sister are former feds.They branched out on their own after separating from the government.”
“Who else is she working with?”Commander Madden asked.
“That’s a good question.Her sister is busy starting up with a new group on the West Coast.I don’t have the details, but she’s based out of Seattle.Riley is here alone.The women have contacts everywhere and take jobs that come their way.”
“God damn it,” his CO muttered.“I want to speak with her.”
“Seriously?”
“That’s an order, sailor.Bring her in here.I can’t have you running off investigating this matter, unauthorized, I might add.How the hell are you going to ID the guy from a photograph?”
Sawyer cleared his throat.“Facial recognition, sir.”
Commander Madden continued without missing a beat.“Exactly.And none of you were given authorization to do so.I’m not willing to risk the team’s ability to deploy if you’re benched.Does the rest of the team know about this?”
“Affirmative, sir.”
“I expect to see Ms.Moore in my office this afternoon.You two fail to show, and I’m going up the chain of command.It won’t go well for you,” he added with a glare.
Chapter 17
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RILEY JOGGED ALONGthe beach mid-morning, the sound of vacationers and locals mixing in with that of the waves crashing on the shore.Her gaze flicked over the blue Pacific, taking in the sunlight glinting off the water.She inhaled the fresh, salty air.It seemed so...clean.Pure.A refreshing reprieve from the grim realities of the world.Running was the one thing that typically cleared her head, and she needed that quiet calm now more than ever.
Her mind was a jumble after their discovery last night.Thoughts tumbled through her mind, the possibilities spreading out before her.
After weeks of searching, the man at Coconuts had practically fallen into her lap.Things were finally happening, and not all of it was pleasant.She replayed the scene at the massage parlor in her mind.No doubt a seedy side existed in nearly all towns and cities.They’d seen part of Honolulu’s firsthand.Drugs.Sex.Men with money and power coming for women without either.Those women sold their bodies—either willingly or not.
The driver of the SUV had been happy to give Riley a cigarette when she’d approached him, but as his gaze raked over her, he’d asked if she was a cop.Riley wanted to laugh.Toeing the line when it came to the law wasn’t necessarily how the Honolulu PD would operate.She and Radley existed in their own world now—taking jobs they wanted while in the shadows, making up their own rules.Radley had been out of contact for over a week now, but hopefully she’d be in touch soon.Riley had to hope she was safe.
And Riley had found her own champion in Sawyer.His fierce protectiveness had surprised her.Sure, the men had always looked out for the waitresses at Coconuts, but this was different.Significant.More.And when he’d kissed her?There’d been no mistaking the hot possessiveness in his eyes.
When had they gone from pretending to being something more?
Sure, she’d known him all this time, but she didn’t really know him.The things that truly mattered were evident though, and it was a shock to find herself not hating him so much after all.He was nothing like those men who used women for sex in exchange for drugs or cash.He was nothing like the traitor from base who’d stolen military weapons.
