Page 96 of Desolation

“What about your life back home? Your family, your friends, your job?”

She sits up. “The only thing I need are my kids. Nothing else there matters.”

I stare into her eyes and see the truth in them. She would give up everything for a chance at us being together. “Do you think your kids will like me?”

As I ask the question, the idea of kids hits me straight in the gut. I never wanted them. I don’t want to turn out like my mother or stepdad. I don’t even think I know how to be a father. But that’s not the thought that scares me. It’s that I truly want to know if her kids will like me. I want them to. I want to be the opposite of my stepdad. I am not sure I know how to be but I will fight like hell for it.

Mari wraps her hand in mine. “Makayla will be fascinated by you. All of your stories as a SEAL. She will pick your brain apart.”

“And Olivia?”

Mari smiles and my heart clenches. The love she has for her children breaks my guarded heart even more. “She might be a little tougher. But I don’t know how my kids couldn’t like you. I saw how you were with the kids today. They loved you.”

I smirk at her. “I mean it’s hard not to love me.”

She punches my shoulder. “You know, every time I think your cocky attitude has disappeared, it comes roaring back.”

“You love my cock.” She rolls her eyes and I pull her on top of me, my lips finding hers. I kiss the hell out of her before I pull back. “In all seriousness though, I want this to work more than anything. I meant what I said earlier, Mar. You are my sea. You bring a sense of peace to my life I’ve spent a year searching for. I know that the road ahead of us won’t be easy. But I will fight like hell to make this work. I’ll fight for you.”

She gives me a sad smile before her lips land on mine. I can’t help but feel like she is still holding something back from me. But right now, I don’t care what it is. She wants this to work as badly as I do. And I know that no matter how difficult the road ahead of us is, we will find a way.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Landon

I am practically skipping into the office after my weekend with Mari.

And I am not a man who skips.

But she has done something to me. Made me feel for the first time in a long time.

Is this what Ryder felt? Or Sam?

Is this how you feel when you meet the right person?

I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But after both of our confessions on Saturday, I can’t help but think this will somehow work out. We can be together. Obviously, we have a fucking mountain to climb to get there but I think it will be worth the trek.

I am about to sit at my desk when I see David rushing over to me. “We have a problem.”

“What?” I ask. David looks frazzled and he never looks anything but composed.

He drags me to a secluded corner of the office, peeking over my shoulder to make sure no one is around. “That case, Charlie has been investigating, about the scandal in congress…”

“The one her brother has been snooping around?”

“Yes. Well, he found something strange. Charlie’s been investigating and using her resources across the globe. A name came up.”

I have no idea where he is going with this.

“Duthmoor.”

My mind spins at that name. “Duthmoor? You mean to say that Mar’s case, our case, and Charlie’s case are all connected.”

“That’s exactly what I am saying. Mari is in more danger than we thought.” He peeks over my shoulder again. “Look it’s not my place to tell you this but—”

“Thompson, Abrams. My office.” Jackson shouts.

I look over at David and he looks pale. “What were you going to say?”

---