Page 71 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
Damn. Never thought I’d be the one wishing I could stick around and play Candy Land instead of handling business.
I grab the sandwich, wrapping it, then check my equipment—a loaded handgun, concealed comfortably beneath my jacket, phone charged, keys secure in my pocket. This trip should be routine, nothing I haven’t done countless times before, yet unease still gnaws persistently at my chest. I scan the cabin, mentally reviewing each window and door, reassuring myself that everything is secured, as if my departure might invite danger to slip inside.
I turn as she enters the kitchen, her expression brightening when she sees me. She moves toward me, pausing to tuck aloose strand of sandy brown hair behind her ear, and I catch the faintest flush still lingering on her cheeks.
“Hey,” she says, her eyes warm as she studies me. “When do you leave?”
“Not yet,” I reply, matching her quiet tone. “Morales needs me to check in, so I’m headed out in a minute.”
Her smile widens, a gentle curve pulling at her lips. She hesitates, like she’s trying to find the right words, then nods as she steps closer. “Well, before you go, could you grab some sugar cubes for Eli? He’s tearing through them faster than I expected.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Sounds like Cole and Eli have Cocoa practically spoiled at this point.”
She laughs, rolling her eyes a little. “You have no idea. Eli treats her like a queen. Pretty sure the feeling’s mutual.”
I grin, picturing Eli feeding the mare sugar cubes, his small face bright with excitement. “I’ll grab an extra box or two. Maybe a jumbo bag at this rate.”
Ava watches me for a long moment, something thoughtful flickering across her face. It’s not unusual lately. Since the night we all decided to give this relationship thing a try, Ava has been testing new boundaries. Not just with me, but Cole and Jax too. I’m aware she’s been sneaking little moments with each of us individually—quick kisses stolen when Eli isn’t around. At first, I thought I might struggle with jealousy. Instead, I find I’m relieved every time I see the soft smile on her face, because it means she’s finally finding her footing in this arrangement.
Still, when she steps even closer now, rising onto her tiptoes, it catches me off guard. She angles her face upward, her eyesholding mine with a gentle, hopeful intensity. I can’t help but smirk a bit at her silent request—she's still too short to fully reach me, no matter how high she tries to stretch.
I shake my head, bending down until our faces align, our lips brushing together in a brief, natural kiss. It’s quick and chaste, but the warmth lingers afterward. I pull back, looking down at her.
“Anything else?” I ask, my voice low and teasing.
She smiles, her cheeks flushed faintly pink, eyes bright with affection. “Drive safe, okay?”
“Always,” I promise, and mean it. My gut instinct warns me never to make promises. Especially not now, when my entire life is anchored by people who need me, who I need in return. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Ava nods, stepping aside as I grab my keys off the counter. I head out the door and to the car.
I drive steadily through the harsh, arid landscape. Dust swirls softly behind the truck as I speed down the deserted highway. Every empty stretch of road and sparse cactus seems suspicious today, each shadow longer and darker than usual. My grip tightens slightly on the wheel, scanning the horizon for anything unusual—a habit ingrained so deeply it feels automatic.
The drive into town passes quicker than I expect. The desert landscape becomes a blur of browns and muted greens, blending together until I see the sparse signs signaling the outskirts of the small, dusty town ahead.
It’s quiet here, the streets lined with weathered buildings and modest storefronts, the kind of place where people mind theirown business, which is probably exactly why Morales likes it so much. I pull my truck into the nearly empty McDonald’s parking lot, choosing a spot near the back corner for a bit more privacy.
Switching off the engine, I reach for my laptop and set it on the passenger seat. After a few seconds of connecting to the restaurant’s free Wi-Fi, the screen lights up with incoming notifications. I glance at my phone, checking the time. 4:34 P.M. Right on cue, Morales’s call comes through at precisely 4:35 P.M., punctual as always. I accept the call, adjusting the phone to my ear.
“Liam,” Morales greets me, voice clipped, curt, and somehow tenser than usual. “Glad you made it on time.”
“Always,” I say simply, keeping my tone neutral. “What’s going on?”
“We’re moving Ava again,” Morales says without preamble, direct as always. “We’re getting things ready, but soon we’ll need to rendezvous with you and your team. Once that happens, my guys will escort Ava and Eli to their next safe house. I’ll give you the coordinates now, but wait until I text to leave. Your job’s almost done.”
I frown, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. My jaw clenches reflexively, the muscles in my neck tightening with frustration. Morales’s blunt tone suggests this is nothing more than a simple extraction, business as usual. However, for us, and for me, nothing about this job has been simple from the beginning. I hesitate, torn between honesty and caution.
I’ve known Morales for almost as long as I’ve known my brothers, but past our family, there is no one else whom I trust explicitly. So, I decide to go with caution.
“We appreciate the heads-up,” I finally reply, careful to keep my voice controlled, revealing nothing. “It’ll be nice to get settled again.”
Morales chuckles dryly, oblivious to the deeper currents beneath my words. “Yeah, I bet. It’s been a long assignment. You’ve done good work. You’ll find the new phone number to reach me, payment details, and the coordinates for our meeting spot in the file I sent over. I change numbers often, you know the drill.”
“Got it,” I acknowledge tersely, my eyes focused straight ahead.
Morales’s easy dismissal of Ava and Eli rankles me more than it should. He’s treating this like just another mission, another paycheck, and a part of me is itching to set him straight right here and now. But something deep in my gut warns me to hold off.
“We’ll see you soon,” Morales finishes, clearly eager to wrap up. “Stay safe until then.”
