Page 45 of Stone
“Yes. You don’t know me any longer. You didn’t need to fly halfway across the world. My dad has every member of law enforcement as well as members of every military service in his back pocket. Why you?”
He threw me a look, his eyebrows furrowed like they always were when he hated whatever challenge I’d tossed at him. “Because I have special skills.”
“You mean with weapons.”
“That and we were trained for reconnaissance. My unit was considered the best of the best. We took our work seriously and saved thousands of lives. I’m very proud of what my unit accomplished over the years.”
“I don’t need your resume, Stone. I knew that you’d become the best soldier possible. That doesn’t answer my question. Why disrupt your life to save me?” I don’t know what I was looking for. Maybe I was grasping at straws, hoping that we could make up for lost time.
The dream was sweet, but sadly unrealistic.
“Because I had to, Dani. Do you honestly think I would just stand by and watch you get killed? If you do, then you really don’t know me at all.”
“I guess I don’t. You’ve changed significantly.”
“How so?”
“You’re sad, or maybe the better word is haunted. I can tell how close you are with Kage and Maddox, yet the three of you are full of stories and despair.”
“The three of us have our reasons. Being a Navy SEAL wasn’t all about glory and heroism. We were performing a job while witnessing the worst of mankind.”
“I can only imagine what you suffered. Maybe you’ll tell me more about your military career at some point.”
When he shifted in his seat, I could tell he was uncomfortable even thinking about talking about himself. “Maybe. But there are some stories I don’t need to relive, Dani. There are some atrocities that I just don’t need to be reminded of ever again.”
His statement was riddled with pain. As large as life as his personality had seemed while saving my life, I sensed the prison he’d placed himself in years before. He wasn’t the boy I remembered. I honestly wasn’t certain if there was much of that eager young man in the person who was in front of me today.
That both saddened and excited me. Which wasn’t fair.
I settled more into the seat, taking a sip of water as I stared out at the sky. “It would be nice to know where we’re going. That is only fair since you’ve basically kidnapped me and are holding me hostage.”
“You think so?” At least I’d put another grin on his face.
“Yep. Not that you ever liked playing fair.”
Reaching over, he managed to tickle my ribs. Just like he used to do when we were on a date. “I play fair.”
“No, you play rough.”
“You haven’t seen anything like what I can do. I’m a dangerous man. Remember?”
“You’ve certainly proven that. Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I like it rough.” I think we both sensed the conversation was heading in the wrong direction. I looked away even as heat rose on my face.
That dreaded moment of awkward silence settled between us.
“So you run a touring company? What exactly does that mean?”
He shifted again and glanced at his instruments. “Well, maybe you’ll get a better understanding in just about three minutes.”
“Why?”
“You never had any patience whatsoever.”
“I’ve always had patience. Tell me.”
“Case in point,” he said, laughing. “Just wait. Look out the side window.”
“At what? Clouds?”
