“Back Off, She’s With Me!”—Single Dad Ex-SEAL Protected a Stranger Who Was Actually a CEO
Chapter 13
Six months later, Mason’s life looked different.
He still repaired houses.
Still drove the same old truck.
Still woke early.
Still made Emma pancakes on Saturdays.
But Claire was now part of their world.
Not every day.
Not without complications.
She was rebuilding Bennett Global from the ground up.
She traveled often.
Mason had his work.
Emma had school.
Their relationship wasn’t easy.
But it was real.
Then one afternoon, Claire arrived with news.
“I resigned.”
Mason stared.
“From Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I sold the company.”
He blinked.
“You sold a four-billion-dollar company?”
“Most of it.”
“To?”
“A workers’ cooperative and an independent investment group.”
Mason smiled.
“Why?”
“Because I finally realized I don’t want to spend my life protecting an empire.”
“What do you want?”
She looked at him.
“A life.”
He took her hand.
“With us?”
“With you.”
He smiled.
Emma ran outside.
“Are you staying?”
Claire laughed.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“As long as your dad lets me.”
Emma looked at Mason.
“You have to let her.”
Mason nodded.
“Apparently.”
That night, Claire told him she had one more secret.
“What?”
She handed him an envelope.
It was from Emily.
Mason opened it.
The letter was dated two weeks before her death.
Mason,
I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to tell you this.
If something happens to me, don’t let Emma grow up believing love means sacrifice.
Mason’s eyes filled with tears.
The letter continued.
She deserves someone who chooses her every day.
He looked at Claire.
She was crying too.
Emily had written another paragraph.
And if there is ever a woman who can make you laugh again, don’t run from her.
Mason laughed through his tears.
“She knew.”
Claire smiled.
“Apparently.”
He folded the letter.
“Would you have come anyway?”
“To Greyhaven?”
“Yes.”
She thought.
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
“Because I think I was already looking for you.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then he noticed something at the bottom of the letter.
A name.
Sarah Cole.
Claire frowned.
“What?”
Mason read it.
“Your aunt?”
“Yes.”
“Emily had instructions for her.”
They called Sarah.
She came the next morning.
She handed Mason a sealed envelope.
“Emily wanted you to have this only after Atlantic was destroyed.”
“What is it?”
Sarah looked at Claire.
“Something about your father.”
Claire opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Richard Bennett.
But beside him was another man.
Mason recognized him.
His former commander, Daniel Hayes.
And another face.
Someone neither Claire nor Mason had seen before.
On the back:
This man started Atlantic.
Mason turned the photograph over.
A name was written underneath.
Nathan Reed.
Claire stared.
“Who is he?”
Sarah went pale.
“Your father’s oldest business partner.”
“Is he alive?”
Sarah hesitated.
“Yes.”
Mason looked at Claire.
The entire nightmare might not have ended.
It might only have changed shape.
But Claire didn’t look frightened.
She looked determined.
“Then we find him.”
Mason smiled.
“Together.”
