Page 12 of Huck Frasier (Seals on Fraiser Mountain #5)

Frasier

T he call came in just after lunch.

One of our own needed backup. It was bad. The kind of mission you don’t come back from clean—if at all.

I told Axel I’d go.

I didn’t think.

Didn’t even pack yet.

Just turned around on instinct and said yes.

And then I walked outside and found Marley leaning against my truck, arms crossed, like she already knew.

“You’re leaving.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

“How long?”

“Don’t know yet.”

She looked away, blinking hard. “Don’t go.”

That stopped me cold.

“Marley—”

“You’re not supposed to be the one risking everything.”

“Says the woman who snuck into a cartel compound with a fake press badge.”

She ignored that. “Lark and Axel made me stay safe. They made me. And now you think you get to waltz off and do the same damn thing without me even getting a say?”

“I’m not asking for permission.”

“Well, I’m not giving it.”

She stepped forward, furious and beautiful and shaking.

“I can’t go with you. I’m not trained. I know that. I get it. But don’t stand there and pretend like walking away from me won’t cost you something because it will. It is. ”

My chest tightened.

“Marley,” I said, quiet now. “I have to go.”

She shook her head. “No. You choose to go. Just like I chose to leave Tunisia. Just like I chose to leave the next morning, and now I hate myself for all of it.”

She exhaled, broken.

“I just found you again.”

And in that moment…

I wanted to stay.

More than anything.

But someone needed help. And I was still the man who showed up when the call came in.

Even if it hurt like hell.

I stepped close, cupped her face, kissed her slow—like goodbye.

“I’ll come back,” I whispered.

“You better.”