Page 73 of The Ranger
I glance back at Nathan, then at the road again.
Something is bothering me.
Scarlett never goes completely radio silence on me like this.As sassy as she is, she’ll always reply to let me know they are both okay.
I respect that.
Do you love me, Cole?
Yes, Scarlett, I think I fucking do, and in a few days' time I’m going to change both our lives by telling you.
Not going to lie, I’m more nervous about that than anything I did as an Army Ranger.Or since.
I have to focus.
We have the rest of our lives together,I hope,to fall in love and build our family.
“Listen, his name probably isn’t even Chen.He’ll have multiple identities and passports.Those chips are tiny as fuck, so we have to play this right, or he could slip out of grasp.”
The team will follow him, but that plan isn’t foolproof.
Not wanting to raise suspicions, we told Whitaker’s PA we were heading to a meeting.
“We’re going to visit a new startup.”I winked at Jan, who blushed.
“Looks like I double-booked, Jan.My apologies,” Nathan followed along.“See you tomorrow if we don’t make it back today.”
“Have a great afternoon, gentlemen.”She turned back to her computer with a roll of her eyes.“Next time just email me, as I’ve told you a million times, Dr.Whitaker.”
“Will do.I owe you another coffee.”
“Yes, you do.”Jan gives me a smile as the elevator door closes.
Nathan is still freaking out.Rightly so.
“Fuck.”Nathan pulls out his phone.“I need to call my contacts in the military and tell them.”
“Wait,” I grab his arm.“Nothing has moved off the plant.Let’s not raise alarm bells and fuck this up by getting them involved.”
I’m not sure that’s my call, but until we get to BHS head office, I can’t let him do anything.Josh will know how to guide him.
Nathan drops the phone in his lap and stares out the window.“I can’t believe this is happening.I don’t want to be responsible for a fucking world war.”
Neither do I.
I plant my foot, and twenty minutes later I’m sliding into my parking space outside the office.
“Let’s do this,” I say, climbing out.
We meet Josh at the top of the stairs, where he greets Nathan with a handshake and introduces him to Aidan and Marshall.
“Dr.Whitaker,” Aidan says.
“Call me Nathan,” he replies, and we follow the three men into the boardroom.Penny appears with a couple of jugs of water and glasses, then quickly disappears.
“Hey, dude.”Marshall grips my hand, and does that back slap thing.“Any day now, huh?”
I’m going to be a dad.
