Page 29 of SEAL's Spitfire
“You fixed them, Uncle Rafe.”
“I think they did it on their own, sweetheart.” She pulled her hand out of his and ran to her mother, who opened her arms to include her in the hug. As he watched the little family, happiness seeped into his soul.
“I hate to break this up, but I have to go.”
“But you just got here, Uncle Rafe,” Chase said. His little face still red from tears and anger.
“I know, but like I told Cindy, I have to go get the bad guys.”
“Can’t someone else go?”
“I’m afraid not. But I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
“Wow, that didn’t take long. Is it what you were worried about? Dawn asked.
“Yeah.”
“Be careful.”
“Always. Now I want one of those group hugs before I go.” He had to admit, all that love was powerful, and it stayed with him as he boarded the transport to head back to Norfolk an hour and a half later.
The plane was airborne before he figured out what to tell Meghan. The only thing that made it better was that he’d be able to keep his promise and bring Charlie back home to her family. Not being able to tell her he was going was one of the hardest things he’d had to do.
Deciding to call rather than text, he dialed her number.
“Hello?” Damn, he’d woken her.
“Spitfire, it’s Rafe. I’m sorry I woke you.”
“No. I shouldn’t have been sleeping still. Lizzie was supposed to wake me up after an hour. What time is it?”
“Eighteen hundred.”
“In English please?”
He chuckled. “Six p.m. your time.”
“Dammit. I should have been up hours ago. Where are you? It sounds like you’re on a plane. I thought you were in Denver.”
“I was, but I got called back. We’ve got a mission.”
“And you can’t tell me anything, right?” It hadn’t taken her long to wake up.
“Right. I’m sorry. But it’s classified.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“I don’t know. I will call you when we get back. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to, but I’ll try to check on you.”
“What about Charlie? Did your friend find out anything else? I’ve had dead ends here.”
“He did, but it wasn’t much. Tex said they hadn’t asked for ransom yet.”
“I don’t understand how a group of Americans can get taken and no one is doing anything, and there’s nothing on the news or anywhere else. Only that first report we saw.”
“I know. But I’m sure there’s a good reason. Listen, Tex is going to call you if he finds out anything else so you won’t be in the dark. I texted his number to you. If you need anything give him a call. He will do what he can to help you.”
“Why would he do that? He doesn’t even know me?”
