Page 78 of Always Been Mine

The back door slammed. Gabe and her father appeared in the hallway.

“What were you two up to?” Beatrice asked suspiciously.

“Nothing,” Porter said.

“Hanging out,” Gabe answered.

The two men didn’t look exactly guilty, but Beatrice was pretty sure something was up.

Something was definitely up.Gabe and her father were busy getting dinner ready. Seriously, how hard was it to reheat a frozen casserole? You really didn’t need a former Navy SEAL and an admiral in the U.S. Navy for it.

She and Doug were already sitting at the dining table. Herassistant leaned in to her. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen your father toss a salad.”

“I’ve got some great wine here, Doug,” her father said, bringing over a bottle. He looked at Beatrice. “Sorry, baby, you can’t have any with the meds you’re on.”

“Thank you, Admiral.” Her blond assistant looked perplexed as her father lined up some glasses and poured the wine. Not that Beatrice could blame him. Her father had barely said two sentences to her assistant in the three years Doug had worked for her.

“And here’s the chicken mushroom risotto casserole,” Gabe announced with much flare. The delicious aroma perked up her appetite at least. After he set down the still-bubbling dish, Gabe muttered something about getting the bread.

Beatrice was controlling a grin. Emotion innervated her body once more as her heart swelled at the sight of her father obviously making an effort to be less rigid. He called her “baby.” He hadn’t called her that endearment in years. Gabe returned with the bread on a cutting board. It happened quickly, the flash of the silver edge, the pounding in her ears, and the fear that gripped her body. Her chair toppled over as she scrambled to her feet. She couldn’t breathe.

The knife Gabe was holding clattered to the table. He was suddenly in front of her and her nose filled with his familiar scent. Her arms were stiff at her sides, but his banded around her securely.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Gabe crooned in her ear. “I got you, babe. You’re safe.”

“I’m sorry,” Beatrice whispered. “I don’t know what came over me.”

Gabe held her slightly away as he stared at her. “It’s been less than 24 hours, Beatrice. Cut yourself some slack.”

“I don’t want them to win.”

“They won’t,” her father said, coming up beside them. “Infact, they’ve lost.” Her father’s eyes searched hers with an emotion she hadn’t seen in a long time. Tenderness. “They don’t know how strong you are, baby.”

Her dad looked at Gabe. Something unspoken passed between the two men as Gabe’s arms loosened around her. Her father tentatively reached out for her. Some unnamed feeling held her heart in a vise and squeezed as a burning sensation burst behind her eyes. She was once again his little girl.

“Daddy!” Beatrice launched herself into her father’s arms, which came around her tightly. His voice was calming, soothing, still commanding but gentler. She knew that would never change, but something subtle shifted in their relationship, something opened up, and that something, Beatrice knew, would be for the better.

Through the film of her tears, she caught sight of Gabe. His own eyes were suspiciously glazed, expression unguarded, leaving no doubt of his intense feelings for her.

Their enemies had failed, because between Gabe and her father’s strength, and with the support of such caring friends, there was no way Beatrice would let this fear control her.

Dinner was delayed for a while. She was sure no one minded.

Beatrice stretched on the couch,stroking Rhino’s head absently. Gabe’s dog seemed to know she was hurt and did his best to act like her guard even if he was probably worse off than she was. Her father and Doug had left a few minutes ago, and Gabe was checking the perimeter.

It was a day of healing. Not only for her physical wounds but emotional as well. Beatrice wasn’t expecting a total 180 from her father, but seeing his usually stoic face crack with regret and tenderness did a number on her heartstrings. Shewasn’t even thinking it would last, but being a father when it mattered was enough. Another thing she was pleased about was the grudging reconciliation between Travis and her dad. Even when they weren’t seeing eye to eye with what should be done, arguing was better than complete silence. Yes, this was a surprisingly good day.

The alarm beeped as the door opened. Gabe walked in and entered the code to arm the security system.

“This place is fucking wired,” Gabe said, lowering the flashlight on the table. “We’re surrounded by woods, but there are trip wires surrounding the property. I followed the schematic and made sure they’re working.” He was holding a blueprint of some sort.

“The room adjacent to the one before the backdoor seems like a command center of some sort,” Beatrice said. She accidentally walked into it earlier.

“Yes, it also functions as a panic room. There’s an interior sliding door,” Gabe looked at the plan again. “Walls are six inches thick all around, including the ceiling. There are weapons inside, but we also have an armory right about . . .” He nudged the area rug in the kitchen to reveal a trap door. Wasting no time at all, Gabe hefted the door and let it fall back in a decisive crash. He disappeared down a flight of steps.

Curious now, Beatrice rose from the couch and walked toward where Gabe disappeared. She could hear him whooping in excitement. Hmph, men and their guns.

“Gabe?” she called out tentatively from the top of the stairs.

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