“Back Off, She’s With Me!”—Single Dad Ex-SEAL Protected a Stranger Who Was Actually a CEO
Chapter 9
Mason blamed himself.
He sat in the driver’s seat with both hands gripping the steering wheel.
Claire sat beside him.
“You don’t know where she is.”
“I should.”
“You can’t know everything.”
“I should have seen it.”
“You were protecting me.”
“I should have protected her first.”
Claire placed her hand over his.
“Mason.”
He looked at her.
“You’re a father.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t be a soldier and a father every second.”
He looked away.
“You don’t understand.”
“I do.”
Her voice softened.
“You think protecting people means never letting anything happen to them.”
Mason stayed silent.
“But sometimes protecting someone means trusting them.”
He looked back.
Claire continued.
“You trusted me.”
“Yes.”
“And I trusted you.”
She squeezed his hand.
“Now we find Emma.”
They traced Victor’s signal to an abandoned ferry terminal.
It was empty.
Too empty.
Mason entered first.
Claire stayed behind him.
They found Emma’s backpack on the floor.
Inside was a drawing.
Three people.
Mason.
Claire.
Emma.
And a large black bird.
Claire looked at it.
“Bird.”
Mason nodded.
“That’s the tattoo.”
A sound came from upstairs.
They ran.
A man stepped into the hallway.
Mason recognized him.
Daniel Hayes.
His former commander.
“Daniel.”
Daniel raised his hands.
“I didn’t take her.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“I don’t know.”
Mason lunged.
Daniel blocked him.
“Listen!”
“You’re connected to Atlantic.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Because I was trying to protect your family.”
Mason stepped back.
“From who?”
“Victor.”
“Victor works for the board.”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Victor works for someone above the board.”
Claire stared.
“Who?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Your mother.”
Claire froze.
“My mother is dead.”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She’s alive.”
“What?”
“She disappeared after your father died.”
Claire couldn’t breathe.
“My mother?”
“She has been controlling Atlantic from overseas.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked at Mason.
“Because Emily discovered the truth.”
Mason’s chest tightened.
“What truth?”
“Victor wasn’t trying to steal the company.”
“He was trying to expose it.”
Silence.
Claire frowned.
“What?”
“Your father created Atlantic.”
Daniel continued.
“He believed it would protect the company from enemies.”
“But?”
“Your mother turned it into a surveillance network.”
Claire shook her head.
“My mother would never.”
“Ask yourself why she disappeared.”
Daniel handed her a photograph.
Her mother.
Alive.
Standing beside Victor.
Claire’s hands trembled.
“No.”
“She believes control is protection.”
Mason looked at Daniel.
“Where is Emma?”
Daniel’s eyes dropped.
“She took her.”
“Who?”
“Your mother-in-law.”
Claire closed her eyes.
A sudden realization hit.
“She needs Emma to unlock the trust.”
Daniel nodded.
“And me.”
“Yes.”
Mason stared.
“Why me?”
“Because Emily designed the final failsafe.”
“What is it?”
“Two signatures.”
“Claire’s and mine?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at Mason.
“What happens if we don’t sign?”
Daniel answered,
“The network freezes.”
“And Emma?”
“She’s the leverage.”
Mason’s voice became cold.
“Where is she?”
Daniel handed them coordinates.
“A private island owned by the Bennett family.”
Claire looked at Mason.
“We’re going.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to come.”
He looked at her.
“I’m not letting you go alone.”
She smiled faintly.
“Good.”
They drove toward the airport.
Neither said what both were thinking.
The line between protection and love had disappeared.
And this time, they were going to face the people who had created the entire nightmare.
Together.
