Page 118 of Stone
“I can’t let you do this, Stone.” Gray was insistent. “This is still the vice president of the United States we’re talking about here.”
“Trust me, Commander. I know what I’m doing.” I only had a split second to toss the man a look. Hopefully, he was a mind reader. If not, I could end up with a bullet in my brain.
When my weapon was on the sand, I slowly reached for the second while still crouched down.
My dad had told me a long time before that once I had a child, I would do anything for him or her, including making difficult decisions. I hadn’t understood what that truly meant until now.
What I didn’t want was to lose any time I was gifted with my son or with the woman who I’d loved since the beginning.
A woman I’d die to keep safe.
So I made the only choice that could be made.
I shot Matis between the eyes, saving her father’s life.
CHAPTER 31
Three weeks later…
Stone
“Goddamn, you did a killer run.” Kekoa was standing on the beach as I headed from the water, ready to hand me a towel. Cheers erupted from all sides from spectators. I took a few seconds to stop and wave, including to the reporters who were capturing everything at the event.
I had an entire brigade traveling with me to Oahu for the Eddie Aikau Big Wave International, or as locals called it, The Eddie. The competition was a big deal, timing everything. With the waves reaching over forty feet and weather conditions pristine, today was an excellent day to ride the waves.
“How’d you think I did?” I asked, noticing the good doctor was just coming off his ride. I shook water from my hair and studied the rest of the competition, which was stiff.
“Bitchin’, man,” Kekoa laughed. “You did great. I think you stand a chance of winning the whole damn thing.”
I snorted and ripped the towel from his hands. “I don’t know about that. My form has been shit.”
“I told you that you needed to practice more, but no, you wanted to sit all alone and feel sorry for yourself.”
Snorting, I headed to grab a bottle of water while I waited for scores. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”
“Like hell you aren’t,” Kekoa grumbled in his big voice as he’d been doing a lot lately. Granted, he’d taken more tours than I had while I’d been practicing.
Only I’d had no desire to surf. I had other things on my mind.
Like telling the vice president that he was going to resign, or I’d hold a press conference. I’d also been forced to spend time with the CIA for what they called debriefings. At least Matis was gone. They’d seemed grateful.
I’d been shocked when Bradford had done the right thing, his resignation sending shockwaves throughout the entire world. What the fuck did I care? I wanted him to pay for his sins, but in a way, he’d do that for the rest of his miserable life. Even after I’d saved his ass and he’d confessed, Dani had reiterated she wanted nothing to do with the man.
Still, the entire situation, the ugly memories and thoughts about the past burned my ass.
“Have you talked to Dani?” he asked.
“Nah. I’m giving her some space.”
“You’re such a hardheaded asshole.”
I tossed the towel around my neck and sucked down some water. “She deserves this, buddy. You know that. Have you heard from her?” I asked the question rather sheepishly. He’d given her his phone number when he’d come with us to the airport. Maybe I’d hoped she’d call me, but we’d agreed that she needed time to process and to paint.
The painting she’d done before she left had been framed and was hanging in my living room. Every day it was a reminder of what I’d found and lost.
All over again.
But I was happy I’d managed to convince her to take time for herself and her art. If anyone deserved it, she did.
