“Back Off, She’s With Me!”—Single Dad Ex-SEAL Protected a Stranger Who Was Actually a CEO
Chapter 4
Claire moved into the guest room at Mason’s house.
Temporarily.
At least, that’s what they called it.
Emma called it a sleepover.
Mason called it a security measure.
Claire called it confusing.
The house was modest.
Two bedrooms.
A small kitchen.
A wood stove.
A backyard that opened toward the woods.
There were no luxury cars.
No expensive furniture.
No security system.
Yet Claire felt safer there than in the penthouse she owned in Boston.
The first morning, she woke to the smell of pancakes.
She walked downstairs.
Mason was cooking.
Emma sat at the table.
“You’re late,” Emma said.
Claire smiled.
“Good morning to you too.”
Mason glanced over.
“Coffee?”
“Yes.”
He poured it.
Claire noticed the mug.
A small photograph was printed on it.
Mason’s wedding picture.
His wife stood beside him, smiling.
Claire looked away.
“Sorry.”
“For what?”
“I shouldn’t have looked.”
Mason placed the coffee down.
“You didn’t.”
He wasn’t angry.
Just quiet.
Claire sat.
“Emma remembers her mother?”
“Yes.”
“She talks about her?”
“Sometimes.”
“What does she say?”
“That she smelled like vanilla.”
Claire smiled.
“That sounds sweet.”
“It is.”
Silence.
Then Emma asked,
“Are you going to marry Daddy?”
Mason nearly dropped the spatula.
“Emma!”
Claire burst into laughter.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“Because your dad hasn’t asked.”
Mason stared at her.
“You’re encouraging her.”
“She asked a reasonable question.”
Emma nodded.
“See?”
Mason pointed at his daughter.
“You’re grounded.”
“For what?”
“Existing.”
Claire laughed harder.
For the first time in years, Mason felt something like peace.
It frightened him.
That afternoon, Claire helped Emma with homework.
Mason watched from the kitchen.
Emma leaned against Claire.
It felt natural.
Too natural.
Then the peace broke.
Mason heard a car.
He looked outside.
Black SUV.
No plates on the front.
The vehicle stopped.
A man stepped out.
Mason recognized him.
Not Marcus.
Someone else.
Military posture.
Former operator.
Mason’s stomach tightened.
The man approached.
“Mason.”
Mason walked outside.
“What are you doing here, Cole?”
The man looked toward the house.
“Someone asked me to check on you.”
“Who?”
“Not important.”
“It is to me.”
The man sighed.
“I’m not here to fight.”
“Then leave.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph.
Mason stared.
Claire.
Walking into a corporate building.
Taken three months earlier.
On the back was written:
SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE ATLANTIC ACCOUNT.
Mason looked up.
“What is this?”
“Your problem.”
“No.”
The man shook his head.
“Your mistake.”
“You brought this to my house.”
“I brought it because someone is using your name.”
Mason frowned.
“What?”
“Someone inside Bennett Global has been transferring money through a shell company connected to your old military contractor.”
Mason went still.
“My name isn’t connected to any company.”
“Not officially.”
The man lowered his voice.
“Unofficially, someone used your former unit’s credentials to access a secure account.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
The man turned to leave.
“Mason.”
He stopped.
“Whatever you do, don’t let Claire access the Atlantic account.”
“Why?”
“It’ll expose her.”
“That’s the point.”
“No.”
The man looked back.
“It’ll expose you too.”
Then he drove away.
Mason stood in the driveway.
He didn’t understand.
Until Claire stepped outside.
“Who was that?”
Mason looked at her.
“Someone from my past.”
“What did he want?”
“Nothing good.”
She noticed the photograph in his hand.
“What’s that?”
He hesitated.
Then showed her.
Her face changed.
“I know that building.”
“What is it?”
“My old headquarters.”
Mason frowned.
The photograph showed Claire entering through a private entrance.
Below the image was another note.
Atlantic account.
Claire whispered,
“My father created that account.”
“Who controls it?”
“My board.”
“Then why is someone using it now?”
“I don’t know.”
Mason looked at her.
“Do you trust your board?”
“No.”
“Your security chief?”
“No.”
“Anyone?”
She thought.
“Not completely.”
Mason nodded.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Trust is expensive.”
She smiled faintly.
“You sound like you’ve learned that.”
“I have.”
Claire looked at the photograph again.
Then at him.
“What did your friend mean when he said it would expose you?”
Mason’s expression tightened.
“I don’t know yet.”
But deep down, he knew one thing.
His past had just collided with Claire’s present.
And someone had deliberately put them on the same path.
