Page 22 of Married to the SEAL
“Now.” Matteo led the way out of the ballroom and outside into the cool night air. He turned and faced the other man. “What did the note say? And don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. The note on your goddamn desk.”
Vasile pursed his lips. “None of your business.”
“You will tell me if you want me to help you. If you want me to help your daughter and keep your grandchild safe.”
The men shared a look, a duel of wills taking place between them.
Vasile dropped his head. “It said, ‘Drop out or we’ll take the bastard.’”
Matteo kicked the stone knee wall that surrounded the patio. “And you didn’t fucking tell me.”
“It was irrelevant. I will not give in to their demands.”
“And you didn’t think you should mention this to the people who are concerned for your grandson’s safety?”
Vasile’s face was pale, a translucent kind of gray that made him look ill. “What good would that do? Would you guard him better if you knew? Would my daughter sleep better at night if she had this weight on her shoulders as I do?”
“I don’t know if you were right to keep this from Grace, but you sure as hell had no right to keep it from me.”
“You told me yourself, you are her husband and your loyalty lies with her.”
“And you couldn’t stand the idea that I might choose to tell her.”
Vasile hunched forward several inches and Matteo put his hand on the other man’s arm. “Are you okay?” Matteo asked.
“I’m perfectly fine.” He shook off Matteo’s arm. “These are terrorists. If I give in to their demands, the threats and the destruction will not stop; they will only continue. And instead of terrorizing me and my family, they will terrorize an entire nation.”
“Is there anything else you’re not telling me?”
Beads of sweat had broken out on Vasile’s forehead. One dripped down his face like a tear. “That’s it. I swear.”
For the first time since he got here, Matteo believed Vasile was telling the truth. And now that he knew the intruder’s motivation, they had something more to go on. “If you’d told me earlier, it would have helped HERO Force narrow down the possibilities. Hell, they might even have found out who’s doing this by now.”
Vasile put a hand to his chest and closed his eyes. “My opponent is clearly behind this. Victor Trane.”
“All different groups are interested in the outcome of elections. They affect a lot more than the person running against you.”
Vasile’s eyes closed, his features pinched.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” asked Matteo.
“I need to go back inside.” He swayed dramatically.
Matteo caught Vasile in his arms and lowered him to sit on the rock wall. “You need help. I’ll be right back.”
Vasile clutched Matteo’s jacket in his fist. “Pills. In my jacket.”
Matteo search frantically. What would happen to Lutsia if Vasile died? Trane would take power and join forces with Russia, controlling Parliament like a dictator. This one man had the power to stop it, if he didn’t die on a rock wall outside his daughter’s wedding reception.
His hands closed on a small pill vial. He fished one out and put it in Vasile’s mouth. He was acutely aware of the passage of time, and his eyes scanned the guests around them, but no one had noticed the president was in danger.
Vasile’s face began to pink up.
“Nitroglycerin,” said Matteo.
“Yes.”
“How long have you been like this?”
