“Back Off, She’s With Me!”—Single Dad Ex-SEAL Protected a Stranger Who Was Actually a CEO
Chapter 8
Victor didn’t wait.
They received a message before noon.
ONE PLACE. ONE HOUR.
THE OLD BENNETT HOTEL.
COME ALONE.
Claire read it.
Mason shook his head.
“It’s a trap.”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I said no.”
“And I said yes.”
They stared at each other.
“This isn’t about pride,” Mason said.
“I know.”
“It’s about survival.”
“I know.”
“Then listen.”
She stepped closer.
“I’ve spent months running.”
“You should keep running.”
“No.”
She touched his chest.
“The whole reason they keep winning is because I keep reacting.”
Mason said nothing.
“It’s time they react to me.”
The words surprised him.
He smiled.
“That’s the CEO talking.”
“You just found out?”
He almost laughed.
They went to the hotel.
Mason positioned two trusted local officers nearby.
He didn’t tell Claire.
The hotel was abandoned except for the ballroom.
Victor stood in the center.
Three men surrounded him.
“Claire.”
“Victor.”
He smiled.
“You look tired.”
She stared.
“Where’s my uncle?”
“Safe.”
“You mean hostage.”
“Semantics.”
Mason stepped forward.
“Where is Emma?”
Victor looked at him.
“I knew you would come.”
Claire stiffened.
“How does he know?”
Victor laughed.
“Because you’re predictable.”
Mason’s hand moved toward his weapon.
Victor raised a finger.
“Don’t.”
A screen turned on.
Emma appeared.
She was sitting in a room.
Mason froze.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“If you hurt her—”
“I don’t want to hurt your daughter.”
Victor looked at Claire.
“I want her to open the trust.”
Claire stared.
“What does it contain?”
“Everything.”
“Money?”
“Power.”
Mason stepped forward.
Victor’s men aimed their weapons.
Victor continued.
“Your father believed he could control the network.”
“He was wrong.”
“Very.”
“Who controls it now?”
Victor smiled.
“Your board.”
Claire’s expression changed.
“My board?”
“Not all of them.”
He looked at Mason.
“Some are controlled by people from his past.”
Mason’s face hardened.
“What does that mean?”
“Your military commander’s office was paid from Atlantic.”
“Daniel?”
Victor shook his head.
“Not directly.”
“Who?”
“You’ll find out.”
Victor turned toward Claire.
“Sign the transfer.”
“No.”
“Then your daughter stays where she is.”
Claire looked at Mason.
He gave the smallest shake of his head.
She understood.
Don’t give him what he wants.
She looked back.
“I need proof she’s alive.”
Victor pressed a button.
Emma appeared again.
“Daddy?”
Mason’s heart broke.
“I’m here.”
Victor laughed.
“Perfect.”
Emma looked toward the camera.
Then said something.
“Daddy, the man who brought me here has a tattoo.”
Mason froze.
Victor turned sharply.
“What?”
Emma continued.
“It’s a bird.”
Mason knew immediately.
One of Victor’s men.
Former special operations.
The same man Mason had seen at his house.
The man who had delivered the photograph.
The man who had warned him.
Mason smiled.
“You made a mistake.”
Victor frowned.
Mason moved.
The room exploded into chaos.
Two men went down.
Claire ducked behind a table.
The hidden officers entered.
Victor ran.
Mason chased.
They reached the hallway.
Victor fired.
Mason returned fire.
Victor disappeared through a service door.
Mason stopped.
He heard footsteps.
Then silence.
Claire ran toward him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“Not mine.”
She grabbed his arm.
For a second, neither spoke.
Then Claire whispered,
“You came back.”
“Always.”
She looked into his eyes.
“Why?”
Mason touched her face.
“Because I couldn’t leave you.”
They almost kissed.
Then his phone rang.
A video appeared.
Emma.
She was gone.
Victor had taken her again.
And beneath the video was a message:
You should have protected your daughter better.
