Page 106 of Stone
“I would never do that.”
“Not on purpose, but I know how it feels when you can’t breathe because of your longing for the past, wishing you could make decisions differently. I won’t push you, but I also won’t be the single reason you lose out on everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
She studied me for a few seconds, allowing her eyes to dart back and forth across mine. When she rose onto her tiptoes, pressing her lips against my cheek, the swell of emotions racing through me was crippling.
We were close to the end of this fantasy. Now it was time to push the endgame. Questions needed to be asked. Answers given. And my instinct told me it was only a matter of hours or days before everything came to a head.
“What now?” I asked her.
“Why don’t we go home, grab a glass of wine, and take a walk on the beach?”
“I’d like that.”
“Besides, I have a phone call to make.” With her eyes now piercing mine, I knew better than to try to sway her.
The woman was definitely an inspiration. Maybe it was time I finally ended the chapter of my life that had also haunted me. I’d loved being a SEAL. I’d been driven since I was a kid to serve and protect my country. I was grateful I’d been provided withthe opportunity and had even excelled enough to be selected for such an honor.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Except I would have found a way to deal with the continuous disturbances in my mind. Dani was right. I’d sheltered myself from everyone for far too long, pretending as if I could handle my near psychosis myself. With my parents dying and my return to service by helping Gray, Maddox, and Kage, I’d been confronted with the same fears.
Yet I’d changed.
It was time to let go of the past, including with the woman I loved more than life itself. Yes, her leaving would crush me, but at least I’d be giving flight to the most incredible and perfect creature I’d ever met. What was the saying? When you truly loved something or someone, you had to let it go?
That’s what I was prepared to do. Maybe her courage was rubbing off on me.
She was ending one chapter of her life while preparing to begin another.
And yet again, I couldn’t be prouder of her.
“This is bigger than both of us,” Gray said. I was surprised at the level of stress I could hear in his voice.
Another phone call.
Another way of hiding the facts.
“I don’t care, Commander. I’ve spent far too much time hiding below the surface. That ends. Dani and I both deserve the truth. My son deserves the truth. If you can’t see that or if Bradford Vale won’t provide it, then we have nothing left to talk about. Nothing.”
“I understand. I wish I could provide you with the answers, but I can’t.”
“You can’t or you won’t?”
“At this point, they’re one and the same.”
How many bitter laughs had I experienced over the last week? Too many to count. “If you say so, Commander Jenkins. For the record, I enjoyed and was honored to serve in your command. I valued your tutelage and support and still do. I appreciate you trusting me enough after all these years to provide assistance on a dangerous mission. But I’m finished playing soldier. Please don’t contact me again.”
“Stone. Don’t overreact. You’re right in that the past needs to be left in the shadows. That’s the only way for you to move on with your life. I’ve seen what harboring questions and tense anxiety can do to a good soldier. Or to anyone. I don’t want that for you. Plus, Matis has yet to be caught.”
What I hadn’t told him or Dani was that I had a feeling Matis would suddenly appear. Since my name and who I was to Dani and her father was somehow out in the open, my gut told me it was only a matter of time before a conclusion and needed answers were reached.
“I’m not overreacting, Commander. I’m simply facing the truth my way. And I assure you, I will handle it my way as well. You can tell Bradford one last thing for me. Tell him I love hisdaughter and my son and will do everything in my power to protect them. No matter the cost. No matter what lengths are necessary to make that happen. That’s the least you can do for me. And for the woman I love.”
He took a deep breath. “I’ll be happy to relay your message. Just hear me. Don’t close all doors at least to your friends.”
“I have no intention of ending friendships. But I know who I can place my trust in. If I don’t talk to you again, enjoy the rest of your life.”
With that, I ended the call and a chapter of my life.
