Page 2 of Second Chance Serenity

“The pictures will never see the light of day,” I tell them both. “I saw to it that they were permanently deleted as soon as the captain had written up his report. The phone didn’t leave my hands from the moment I caught him until the photos were removed.”

“You don’t believe the man who took them sent them off to anyone before?” Geoff asks.

“He didn’t have time,” I reply with a satisfied smile. “He was on the run the moment he snapped them, and the phone was in his pocket until I dropped him to the ground.”

Sunny smiles up at her husband, relief on her face. “Close call.”

“Yes, it was,” he replies, then leans down to kiss her on the top of her head. “What can we do to repay you?”

“Pay your invoice,” I deadpan.

Sunny laughs. “Obviously. But there has to be something else.”

“We’ve given your name to all of our closest friends,” Geoff says. “You are highly recommended in our circle.”

Pride warms my chest. When I’d been medically retired from the military after suffering injuries that wouldn’t allow me to remain in the service, I’d thought my time of helping others and fighting the good fight was over.

But then Lance opened his security firm, and my new destiny was revealed. One that allowed me to return to my hometown while also seeing the world and helping as God leads me to do.

“I appreciate that.” I reach forward and shake his hand. “Let me know if you need anything else. You can always give me a call.”

“We will,” Sunny replies.

I offer Sunny a wave then head toward the front door of their private house. Geoff walks behind me, following me out. As we reach the door, I turn to face him. “It was good to see you again, Geoff.”

“You, too, Michael. And listen, let me know if you ever want to take me up on that stunt work. I think you’d be good at it.”

I grin. “I’d be great at it, but it’s not for me. My life is in Hope Springs.”

“Life?” He arches a brow. “I didn’t take you for a family man.”

“Not yet,” I reply with a laugh. “But maybe someday. See you around.” I step out into the bright Los Angeles sunshine. My bike sits at the front of their circular drive, and since my flight isn’t for another five hours, I opt for a ride along the coast before joining the craziness of the airport.

But before I climb on, I pull my cell out and tap on Lance’s contact.

“Knight,” he answers.

“I’m going to head to the airport,” I tell him.

“Everything go okay?”

“Smooth as butter,” I reply.

Lance chuckles. “Good to know.”

“How are things back home?” I ask.

“She’s fine,” he tells me. I’m not at all surprised that he can read between the lines. Lance Knight was my Officer-in-Charge when I was in the service, and we’ve been close friends since the day we nearly died together, alongside our technical lead, Elijah. He knows me better than I know myself most times, and Reyna Acker—the woman whose heart I broke when I was a teenager—is always on my mind.

“Good. Well, I’ll get my report to you as soon as I get back to the office.”

“Your plane lands late tonight?”

“After ten,” I reply. “So it’ll be tomorrow before I get to it.”

“Not a problem. Looking forward to having you back in town.”

I end the call and climb onto the bike. After firing up the engine, I leave their estate through a massive iron gate and hit the highway.

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