“Back Off, She’s With Me!”—Single Dad Ex-SEAL Protected a Stranger Who Was Actually a CEO
Chapter 5
They drove to an old warehouse the next morning.
The Atlantic account was connected to a storage unit registered under a company Mason had never heard of.
Claire recognized the address.
“My father used this place.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know.”
They entered through a side door.
Dust covered everything.
Old computers.
Boxes.
Accounting records.
A locked steel cabinet.
Claire found an old key taped beneath a desk.
She opened it.
Inside was a file.
The cover read:
PROJECT ATLANTIC
Mason looked at her.
“Your father knew about this.”
“Yes.”
She opened the first page.
The project had been created twelve years earlier.
It was supposed to provide private security contracts for international shipping companies.
But then she saw a list of names.
Several belonged to former military contractors.
One name stopped her.
Mason Cole.
She looked up.
“You’re on the list.”
Mason read the page.
His name was followed by a number.
“No.”
“What?”
“I never worked for them.”
Claire turned the page.
“Maybe someone used your name.”
The documents showed payments.
Monthly.
For four years.
Into an account Mason had never heard of.
He felt sick.
“Someone has been pretending to be me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who had access to your military files?”
“People with clearance.”
Claire looked at him.
“Could this be connected to my company?”
“Maybe.”
They continued searching.
A photograph fell from the file.
It showed Claire’s father standing beside Mason’s former commanding officer.
Mason stared.
“I know him.”
“Who?”
“Captain Daniel Hayes.”
“My father trusted him.”
“I did too.”
“Did you know they worked together?”
“No.”
There was something on the back of the photograph.
A date.
And a single sentence.
When the daughter takes control, Atlantic activates.
Claire swallowed.
“What does that mean?”
Mason turned to another page.
Her father’s signature was there.
Then Claire’s name.
“Your father planned for you to take over the company.”
“I already did.”
“Not completely.”
She frowned.
The file contained a hidden clause.
If Claire became sole CEO, Atlantic would automatically release financial control to a private trust.
A trust controlled by her father.
And there was one beneficiary.
Mason looked at the page.
“That’s impossible.”
Claire’s face went pale.
“Who?”
She read it.
Then froze.
Emma Cole.
Mason stared.
“What?”
Claire looked at him.
“Your daughter.”
“My daughter has nothing to do with my company.”
“I know.”
“Then why is her name here?”
Claire shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Mason’s voice became sharper.
“Someone planned this.”
“Yes.”
“And they knew about Emma.”
Claire nodded.
He immediately closed the file.
“We’re leaving.”
She grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Claire.”
“Your daughter’s name is in this.”
“Exactly.”
“Then we need to find out why.”
Mason looked at her.
“This is my daughter.”
“I know.”
“I’m not risking her.”
“Neither am I.”
They stared at each other.
Claire lowered her voice.
“I came to Greyhaven because someone inside my company was trying to kill me.”
“And now?”
“Now they’re threatening your daughter.”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
“You should go.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“I won’t.”
“Why?”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Because I’m already involved.”
Silence.
He couldn’t argue.
That evening, they returned home.
Emma was drawing at the kitchen table.
She looked up.
“Did you find treasure?”
Mason smiled.
“No.”
Claire sat beside her.
“Something better.”
“What?”
“Answers.”
Emma nodded seriously.
“Good.”
Mason watched them together.
Then he noticed something on Emma’s drawing.
A small symbol.
A black anchor.
The same symbol appeared on the Atlantic file.
Mason picked up the paper.
“Emma.”
“What?”
“Where did you see this?”
She shrugged.
“Daddy’s old box.”
“What old box?”
“The one under your bed.”
Mason’s face went pale.
He had never shown Emma that box.
Claire looked at him.
“What is it?”
Mason stood.
“I don’t know.”
He went upstairs.
Under his bed was an old military storage box.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph of his former SEAL team.
And on the back was the same black anchor.
Underneath were three words.
Protect the heir.
