Page 45 of A New Dawn

“Did he assault her?” I ask, barely managing to hold in my fury.

“She said no. Apparently, he wanted to regain her love.”

Regain her love? Did she love him?

A burst of jealousy jolts through me as more and more questions bombard my brain. How could she love a criminal? There is something so pure about her; it just doesn’t fit. Was it the bad-boy image so many girls are attracted to? But she doesn’t seem the type.

How strong were her feelings for him? At least she ran away. Surely, that has to be a good sign.

My stomach turns at the thought of Riley with another man… loving another man. I want her to love me… and only me. This sounds ridiculous, given I’ve known her for less than a day. But it’s what’s deep inside me, brewing like a storm.

My face must give me away. “You like her,” Gary says, interrupting my thoughts. It’s not a question. It’s a statement. I could deny it, but what’s the point?

“Yeah,” I reply, rubbing my chin. “It’s insane, isn’t it? We’ve only just met.”

But Gary doesn’t question it. “No, not at all. I knew the moment I met Helen that she was it. I think our military experiences have taught us to trust our gut. Always go with that.”

I look at him, surprised by his frankness. Helen is his second wife. They met the day after he left the SEALs and have been together since. Ten years on, they’re going as strong as ever.

“Riley has been through a lot, Aiden.” It’s a warning. He’s invested in this. But why?

Then realization dawns. Her circumstances remind him of his daughter. That’s why he’s going above and beyond to help her. It’s his way of righting his past wrongs.

“She reminds you of Rose, doesn’t she?”

Gary’s face turns solemn. “Uncannily so. Not just her circumstances, but her personality too.”

Understanding better now, I say, “I won’t hurt her. I just…” I pause and consider how much to tell him. He doesn’t push, just waits to let me gather my thoughts. “I just connected with her in a way I never have with anyone before. She intrigues me.” Understatement of the century.

She sets me on fire, makes me forget my name, and lets the world disappear around me. She’s like sunshine flooding my life, making everything brighter and happier. And that’s with her on edge. What would it be like if she was relaxed?

Gary nods, pleased. Then his forehead crinkles. “De Marco has been searching for her relentlessly. It’s unlikely he’ll give up.”

“He won’t find her,” I say, astonishing myself with my conviction. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

Gary’s face lights up as he studies me intently. “I’ve not seen you this way, Ade. I like it. But don’t pursue her right away. Give her time. Just be there for her. Above all, she needs friends right now. She had to leave her entire life and social network behind without notice. This wouldn’t have been easy, but she’s incredibly strong.”

I don’t know much about Riley yet, but her strength and resilience shine brightly.

“Riley is still running on adrenaline and a crash is inevitable. Let’s be there for her when that happens,” Gary says.

I nod. Though, I’m not sure how successful I’ll be not pursuing her right away. Something primal is drawing me to her. But I see the sense in Gary’s words.

If she’s just come out of a disastrous relationship, the last thing she’d want to do is date. Her cold shoulder toward me proves that. She’s building walls around her heart. Winning her trust will have to be my focus.

Looks like my casual hookups are coming to an end and nothing has ever felt so right. If I’m being honest with myself, since all the other boys hooked up with their significant others, the seed for wanting more has been sprouting. And now all I can think about is making Riley mine.

Patience, Angel, patience, I tell myself.

“So, what’s the plan for her?” I ask.

“Riley is a guide dog trainer for the blind. As you know, I need more people in our canine unit. She’ll be joining that team.”

“Security dogs and guide dogs are quite different.”

“The training principles are the same, and I think she’ll fit right in. Until she’s on her own feet, she’ll stay upstairs in our secured apartment. And we need to start her training ASAP. I don’t think the girl has ever held a gun and with a guy like De Marco after her, she might need it.”

“I presume Riley James isn’t her real name?” I know the answer already, but want it confirmed.

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