Page 51 of A SEAL's Protection
I fought so hard to prove I could do this alone, but now it feels like the last thing I want is to be alone.
23
MARCUS
“You going to drink that or hold its hand all night?” Hudson indicates the pint glass in my hand, still almost full to the top while his is empty.
He watches me expectantly, and usually I’d have something clever to say, but not tonight. I take a sip of the beer, but the larger feels heavy in my stomach.
“I guess you don’t want another?” Hudson slips out of the corner booth and heads to the bar. We’re at The Landing after having a debrief in Joel’s office at the retreat. It wasn’t the ideal space, all of us cramped in there bumped up against Joel’s table with plans for the retreat spread out over it. It’s his temporary office in a prefab building while he gets the retreat finished up, not a debriefing space for a mission. Still, I’m grateful Joel and Hudson could help out as support. If I’m going to take another contract, I’ll need my own space, my own permanent team, my own gear…
I run a hand over my stubble, the stubble that only a few hours ago, Allegra had her hands all over. I’ve showered since I got back and put on fresh clothes, but the stubble stays.
I think about Allegra and how her father whisked her away before I could say goodbye.
When we landed with so much press attention, I had to hang back. As a SEAL, we never seek the spotlight, and it’s a habit that’s stuck. I faded into the background. It’s what I do; it’s what I’m trained to do. I just hope she understood that.
But I listened to her speak, and my chest swelled with pride. The way she carried herself, with confidence and certainty, her determination and passion came through.
I thought there would be a chance to speak afterwards, but her father whisked her away and straight back to Boston. And she took a piece of my heart with her.
Hudson slides into the booth with a fresh beer and his phone in his hand. “You should see this.” He tilts the screen so I can read the headline:Professor Arrested in Money for Grant Scandal.
There’s a photo of a thin man in glasses, Professor Wainwright, being led away by police.
After our debrief, we handed over the information Hudson had dug up for us to the authorities. Along with Allegra’s samples, Future Enterprises has a lot to answer for. It turns out they’ve been lying about the runoff for years and paying off institutions from research labs to government officials to hide the truth.
They caught the CEO at the airport attempting to flee to Peru.
Allegra’s research still needs to be verified, but the shock waves she’s created are unstoppable.
“Your girl did good.” Hudson gives the understatement of the year.
“Yeah, she did.”
But she’s not my girl. I let her slip away without even saying goodbye.
“What’s next?” Hudson asks. “You going to look for more contracts?”
I shrug my shoulders, and it sets off the ache of my injury. I wince and rub the sore spot. It will need physio, and I’ll have to strengthen it at the gym. I may not be in peak condition for the military, but I’m not ready to go out to pasture yet.
“I loved it out there,” I admit. “It felt good to be on a mission again.”
Hudson nods as if he understands.
“My sister needs help with the farm, but I need the action. I need the adrenaline. And I’m damned good at it.”
I sip my beer and voice the idea that’s been going around in my head. “I’m thinking of starting a security firm.”
Hudson raises his eyebrows. “Oh yeah?”
“I’ll need a good team.”
There’s a spark of interest in his eyes.
“Do you know anyone?” I tease.
Hudson shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “You can’t afford me.” He takes a sip of beer. “Seriously though, if you’re putting a team together, I’m up for it. Beats laying concrete for Joel.”
