Page 62 of Ex-SEAL Bad Boy

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SOPHIA

I sprint out of the car, flying down the sidewalk and into the arms of my father, who stepped out as soon as our car pulled up.

“Oh, Daddy, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” he says with tears filling his eyes.

“Whose car is that out front?”

As if to answer my question, Liam rushes out the front, also capturing me in a rapturous embrace.

He must have gotten a new car.

“God, Soph, I’ve missed you so much.”

My mother was the next one to emerge, joining in on the mini-reunion.

“Ethan,” my dad nods his head at Ethan, finally acknowledging his presence. His eyes are filled with anger, and I can’t say I blame him.

For his part, Ethan stays at the edge of the sidewalk as if afraid to set foot on the Delgado property.

“Looks like you have some explaining to do,” my dad says with an edge to his voice.

"Yes, sir,” Ethan says respectfully.

Without warning, Liam charges past my father and goes straight at Ethan.

Ethan doesn’t even bother to defend himself, allowing Liam to hit him hard in the face.

Despite the fact that my brother doesn’t pack much of a punch, the blow sends Ethan back a few steps, putting his hand to his chin where the jab had landed.

“Asshole!” he yells. “I trusted you, and you almost got my sister killed.”

“Stop it!” I scream.

Ethan works his jaw open and closed a few times before respectfully explaining. “I want you to understand that although I take full responsibility for what happened, none of this was supposed to turn out like it did.”

“I find that hard to believe coming from a Blackwood,” Daddy snarls.

Liam is still staring daggers into his friend. Looking for all the world like he is ready to take another shot.

“Yes, sir, I understand that, but your daughter was only trying to help a young lady who was in trouble. Neither one of us understood how serious that trouble was until it was too late.”

“If your parents were involved, it had to be serious trouble from the start.”

“I realize that now, but I assure you, my intentions were good.”

“Daddy!” I exclaim, “It’s true. All we knew was that the girl, Lena Gardner, was pregnant, and this was all just a custody battle.”

“It was Ethan who figured out what was really going on. He’s a hero for saving her and bringing Whitmore down.”

He looks at him skeptically. All he’s concerned about is the fact that Ethan put his little girl in danger. “I guess that’s noble enough, but why did you have to drag Sophia into it?”

“Well, sir, her participation was only supposed to be for appearance when we went to meet Lena. The problem was thatwhen I found out what was going on, she was also in danger because she knew what I knew. It appears that your house was broken into before we left, which was why I was worried for Sophia’s safety.”

“And a fine job, you did,” Liam spits.

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