Page 2 of Daddy's Oath
Damnit, it was almost too late! She had to act now!
She tried again, jerking the parasol up even harder this time.
It worked. The wires snapped out of place, disconnected from the battery.
The tram began to slow before coming to a gradual, rolling stop.
Everyone clapped. Tourists took pictures. Over by a building marked BANK, an entertainment show had been filming a segment. Whatever production they’d been discussing must not have been nearly as interesting as the excitement near the gazebo. They rushed toward Lana and the tourists who were piling out of the now-still tram.
“You’re a hero!” someone yelled.
The tram’s driver ran up to her and threw his arms around her. “Thank you!”
Lana just smiled uneasily and hugged the guy before pulling away and offering everyone a little wave.
She never liked being the center of attention.
Not one bit.
Chapter Two
About twenty miles west of the studio, Michael “Ace” Riggs stood on the shore at Santa Monica beach.
A cool breeze came off the water, bringing with it that salty air he loved. The waves that lapped at his feet were refreshing. He’d love nothing more than to wade deeper into the Pacific and enjoy a nice walk while the ocean rose to his knees.
But he was on a mission. Beach time would just have to wait.
He couldn’t even afford to really watch the ocean right now. Which was too bad, because no matter how many times he’d seen it—and as a lifelong southern Californian, he’d seen it a lot—he never tired of it. It was so blue and vast. Huge. Seemingly endless. It made him feel insignificant and reminded him of his place in the world.
It was paradise.
But right now, the most important thing was keeping precious Littles safe.
So, Ace continued to walk along the beach, his shoes in his hands, acting as if he was just on a casual stroll along the water’s edge like so many others.
Yet he was actually monitoring the chatter of his team, their voices coming through the small, nearly invisible earpiece he wore.
It was Jack Kimble who spoke now.
“Ace, they’re headed your way. Do you have them?”
“Sure do.” Ace stopped, looked at the water, and stretched as a man and woman walked by a few feet in front of him. The woman laughed as the water splashed against her feet before being pulled back into the ocean.
The couple never glanced his way.
Why would they? He was just one of the hundreds who were around Santa Monica Pier. Any given day, that little slice of heaven was busy. That’s why Ace personally preferred El Segundo or Topanga Beach. Less people.
Obviously, though, this wasn’t about him.
The peacefulness the ocean always brought faded as the couple continued past him. A moment later, Ace was seething mad.
To anyone else, it probably looked as if they were just a normal man and woman, out on a date, enjoying the Pier. But Ace knew the truth.
“I want to punch that guy,” he said, once the couple was outside of earshot.
“Me, too,” Jack said. “We might get our chance, too.”
Ace faked a yawn, stared at the Pacific for another moment, and then casually turned and began strolling behind the couple. He let them get further ahead, as if he wasn’t in a hurry and had no particular destination in mind.
