Page 7 of Inevitable
Emma and I hadn’t seen each other for almost fourteen years.
However, I’d wondered about Emma for years, and it was probably time for me to get some answers.
If her disappearance was going to involve Last Hope, it was critical that I find out as much as possible about her, right?
“I know her, Wyatt,” I finally admitted gruffly. “We met fourteen years ago in Virginia Beach while I was still on active duty. We spent five days together there while I was on leave. We agreed to keep things simple and enjoy those five days together without sharing a lot of personal information about ourselves. I don’t even know her last name, but those were probably the best days of my life. I was injured not long after on a mission. If I hadn’t gotten injured, I might have tried to track her ass down, although it would have been difficult since I knew almost no personal information about her. It didn’t take me more than a few hours to realize I should have left her my contact information, but by that time, she was already gone. She left the same day I did to return to wherever she called home.”
Wyatt’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he replied, “Whoa! Okay, I have to admit, I didn’t see that one coming. You…and Emma? That just seems so…so…”
Since Wyatt didn’t seem to know what to say that wasn’t insulting to me, I finished for him drily, “Unlikely? Yeah, I know. I didn’t exactly know her age, but I knew she was a lot youngerthan I was. She was also a lot nicer and more personable. I never understood why she was attracted to a grumpy, older guy like me. We were total opposites, but maybe that was why I was attracted to her. I’m also not the same guy I was back then. I can’t say I was a pleasant man when I was a SEAL commander, but I wasn’t the complete asshole I am now.”
Wyatt shook his head. “You’ve dedicated your entire life to helping innocent people, Marshall. You are not an asshole. I guess it just surprised me that you and Emma were together at one time. But I see the attraction. She’s an amazing woman, and it’s hard to be pessimistic whenever she’s around. I don’t know her that well, but she’s really close to the team in Michigan. She’s like a sister to all of them. They’ve all been close for years. I know that her full name is Emma Lockwood, and I remember Brock mentioning that she was forty-five, so you’re definitely not old enough to be her daddy. She still looks young for her age. I guess she did back then, too.”
Had she really been over thirty when we were together in Virginia Beach? She was eight years younger than me, but back then, she’d looked like she was in her early twenties. She’d looked…really young. Wyatt was right. She still looked young judging by the photo I’d seen.
“Does she know they operate for Last Hope?” I asked curiously.
“Nope,” Wyatt replied firmly. “You know everyone involved in Last Hope keeps it under wraps except for their significant other who almost has to know because our guys take off at a moment’s notice. It drives Emma crazy when they just disappear and reappear like ghosts, but they’ve never explained exactly what they do when they have to go. They trust her, but Last Hope is a very covert operation, and the team has never shared that information with anyone. They were Delta. They’re used to keeping secrets. So, are you hoping to rekindle that old romancewith Emma? Is that why you want to go check on her safety yourself?”
If Wyatt was asking that question, Emma obviously wasn’t involved in a committed relationship.
I hated myself for being so damned relieved that she was single.
Really, what did it matter now if she was married or single?
That brief fling had happened a long time ago, and I wasn’t the same man I’d been before that mission that had nearly taken my leg.
I didn’t want to rekindle anything with Emma.
I wasn’t married to the military anymore, but I lived for my job and Last Hope now.
I was probably just concerned because I’d once known her personally and spent the happiest days of my life with her a very long time ago.
“Hell, no,” I grunted as I sent Wyatt a look of disbelief. “She’s young, and she’s still just as beautiful as she was fourteen years ago. Do you really think she’d want to rekindle a romance with a lame, old guy like me? Maybe I’m just a little nostalgic. I’d like to see for myself that she’s safe.”
Wyatt snorted. “You’re not a lame, old guy. I have a feeling you could kick my ass if you really wanted to, and I’m twelve years younger than you are. You keep yourself in shape.” He paused thoughtfully before he added, “I’ll get my private jet ready. It can get you to Cherry Cove quickly, and it might be needed to fly to Lania.”
I did keep in shape, but I was still lame with a gimpy leg. It was second nature for me to keep my body in shape after so many years in the military. I couldn’t run anymore, but I worked out at home and swam hard in my pool for aerobic exercise.
I also solo hiked whenever I had the time. I couldn’t run, but I could walk for miles, even with my permanent limp.
It wasn’t just my body that had changed. I’d changed over the years. I was probably even more jaded than I’d ever been as a SEAL Commander.
I was also a loner and pretty damn reclusive, and I liked it that way.
I nodded my thanks to Wyatt. “The jet would be helpful.”
“I’ll handle it,” he said as he texted what I presumed was his flight crew. “All you have to do is get to the airport.”
“Do you really think Emma could be in some kind of trouble?” I asked huskily.
My chest tightened. It had been years since I’d seen her, and our fling had happened in a different life for me. Still, the thought of her being alone and in trouble wasn’t sitting well with me.
Wyatt shrugged. “I think it’s possible. She’s not a flake. If she promised to check in, she’d check in if she possibly could. She’d never ignore texts or calls. She’d never want any of the guys on the Michigan team to worry about her. I’m not sure what kind of trouble she could get into in Lania these days. Tons of tourists visit there every year, and there’s been no issues. Although…none ofthosetourists are friends with Prince Nick. That concerns me a little. Are you sure you’re ready to leave Last Hope headquarters? You probably see more of this place than your real home.”
I grimaced. I was a control freak when it came to Last Hope, and it was rare for me not to be within driving distance of headquarters. “I’ll live,” I grumbled.
“You know you’ll have a ton of volunteers to help if she’s really missing,” Wyatt reminded me. “I’d be going with you right now if Shelby wasn’t suffering from morning sickness every morning. But if shit hits the fan, say the word and you’ll have all the help you need. Judging by Brock’s impatience, he’s not going to wait long before he leaves to look for Emma.”
