Page 41 of Stone (Claimed and Protected #3)

S tone

“Thank you for being okay with me barging in,” Tyler said as he hoisted his duffle bag higher on his shoulder.

“You’re welcome,” I told him. Nothing had ever felt so fucking awkward before.

We’d spent hours together and I couldn’t shove aside the emotions or the questions I had.

Not only about him. The burning need to confront Bradford was stronger than ever.

The funny thing was that Tyler hadn’t broached the subject of an extended family.

Did he not know or had he been told not to bring up the subject?

“I know you have your life, Tyler, but you have a home here. Or just a place you can crash.” I tried to laugh off my awkwardness.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He held out his hand, his body stiffer than before. “I enjoyed getting to know both of you.”

While I shook his hand, I had the desire to pull him into a bear hug, but even that didn’t feel right. As if I wasn’t allowed.

He nodded and turned toward Dani. There was a flood of emotion on his face when he looked at her. I could see the feelings rolling through him, the uncertainty and questions that he continued to have yet hadn’t asked. “You’re very beautiful, Dani.”

She laughed the same way she always did when she was nervous. “That’s very sweet of you, but I’m not certain I can live up to that right now.” She took a step closer, wrapping her arms around him. “Take care of yourself and tell your parents thank you for me.”

“Sure. I’ll do that.” He finally slid an arm around her, holding her for just a few seconds.

When Dani pulled away, she tried to hide her emotions, but I could tell she was close to breaking down. She hid her reaction to him leaving by pulling out her phone. “At least allow me to get one picture of the two of you together.”

“Okay,” Tyler laughed. “That would be cool. Maybe you could send me a copy.”

“She’s like this all the time. It’s the artist in her.”

“I do the same thing. It drives my mother… I mean my adopted mother crazy.”

“She’s your mother,” Dani quickly said and fussed with the two of us until she had us exactly the way she wanted. “And I’ll be happy to send you a copy.”

I could tell his request brightened her mood. At least we’d exchanged information. I wasn’t certain if that would mean anything. It wasn’t like the kid was prepared to alter his entire life.

With more than one photograph taken, the passengers were being ushered toward the door.

Dani sighed, nodding to both of us as her face illuminated the storm clouds I knew were capturing her mind.

“I’ll see you around,” Tyler said.

When he was several feet away, she squeezed my hand and rushed toward him. I remained where I was, both confused and uncertain why the truth had been kept from us.

What dark and ugly secrets were crawling beneath the surface? Gray had yet to call and that pissed me off as much as everything else had.

I’d never felt more like we were sitting ducks than I did right now. What I knew and hadn’t elaborated on with Dani was that if Tyler’s father had easily discovered my whereabouts, why should I think my location and address wasn’t common knowledge by now?

People talked.

Especially those who kept secrets and told lies. Eventually, they caught up with you.

Dani finally said her goodbyes, remaining where she was. I allowed her time alone as I debated contacting Gray or waiting. I’d also considered demanding a call with the great vice president, but had a feeling I wouldn’t be allowed to get through to him.

Maybe I’d hunt him down myself. Apparently, I was damn good at that.

I tried to ward off the angry ideas swimming in my head. At least I’d had a full twenty-four hours with my flesh and blood. It still amazed the hell out of me.

Family.

I had a family.

Not just memories shared from years before when growing up in Virginia or even with the men in my unit who would die in order to protect what we shared. But a family that included a son.

A few seconds later, I walked closer to the window where she remained staring out at the tarmac where Tyler’s plane remained. She was tense, her muscles stiff, and I could tell she was more emotional than she’d allowed herself to be the day before.

“What did you say to him?”

She shrugged, even pulling her sunglasses from her purse. “I told him I hoped he knew his birth mother had loved him from the day he was born.”

“Did he ask you why you gave him up?” We’d talked about the situation causing his adoption, but for everyone, questions remained.

Dani tilted her head. “No and even if he had, I don’t know what else I would have told him.

How do you tell your son that his biological grandfather hadn’t wanted him and had lied and arranged for him to live with another family?

How do you do that? If Tyler thinks I gave him up or we gave him up and that protects him, then so be it. ”

“That’s very unselfish of you.”

“Not unselfish. Just realistic. There’s no need to ruin a young man’s life like mine was. I hate my father and would like to see him crushed, but I won’t be cruel to our son. Not under any circumstances.”

“You’re an amazing woman, Dani Vale.”

She turned toward me, shaking her head. “No, I’m not. I’m not even certain who I am any longer.”

Sadly, I wasn’t certain where the time spent with Dani would lead.

She was still strangely distant, her eyes filled with the kind of sadness that even learning about her son’s existence couldn’t erase.

But even her despair couldn’t change the fact we’d created a life and from what I’d seen, a pretty cool one at that.

One thing I knew. I wouldn’t be another person to keep her from achieving her dream.

No matter how much letting her go would crush me.

As I watched the plane rolling down the tarmac, I also was faced with the understanding that families could be taken away in an instant.

Just like my parents had been.

“Are you okay?” Dani asked. It was only the second time she’d asked, the first being on the beach.

“Better now that I’ve gotten to spend some time with Ty.”

“He’s very much like his father.”

“You think so, huh?”

She turned toward me, rubbing her hand over my tee shirt. “A big, strong, strapping kind of guy. Highly intelligent. Charming. Well, gruffly charming.”

“You must have me confused with someone else.”

“No, I don’t think so.” She glanced at the small plane as it lifted off. “And don’t worry, he’ll return one day.”

“Maybe he won’t. Maybe seeing us was too much for him.”

“He loved being on the boat. Snorkeling. The dinner you made. He mentioned he’d like to come back.”

I took a deep breath as she rolled her hand over my shoulder. “But things were tense, Dani. I’m no fool. To be honest with you, I think the kid was overwhelmed.”

“First of all, he’s no longer a kid. He’s a grown man. Second, what did you expect? He doesn’t know us. He’s far away from home and his typical protective unit. He’s a stranger filled with questions and emotions.”

“I guess you’re right.” Nothing felt right.

I gathered her into my arms and as usual, I had difficulty finding the right words to say, but I needed to establish a baseline, to let her know where I stood on her career.

“Dani. Don’t push aside this opportunity you have with the tour. You’ll regret it if you do.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yeah, I think I do. You placed so many wants and needs on the backburner because of your father and the pregnancy. But now is your time to fly. I won’t stand in your way.”

“You’re not standing in my way. I can paint anywhere.”

“Are you trying to tell me you’d like to stay?”

When she faltered, I knew she remained conflicted. “I’m thinking about it. If you’d like that.”

“I’d love to have you, Dani. These last few days have been…

incredible.” I laughed as I brushed my fingers across her cheek.

She looked so damn beautiful. “But you will regret missing the opportunity of a lifetime and the last thing I’d ever want is for you to blame me for standing in the way of your dreams.”

“I would never do that.”

“Not on purpose, but I know how it feels when you can’t breathe because of your longing for the past, wishing you could make decisions differently. I won’t push you, but I also won’t be the single reason you lose out on everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

She studied me for a few seconds, allowing her eyes to dart back and forth across mine. When she rose onto her tiptoes, pressing her lips against my cheek, the swell of emotions racing through me was crippling.

We were close to the end of this fantasy. Now it was time to push the endgame. Questions needed to be asked. Answers given. And my instinct told me it was only a matter of hours or days before everything came to a head.

“What now?” I asked her.

“Why don’t we go home, grab a glass of wine, and take a walk on the beach?”

“I’d like that.”

“Besides, I have a phone call to make.” With her eyes now piercing mine, I knew better than to try to sway her.

The woman was definitely an inspiration.

Maybe it was time I finally ended the chapter of my life that had also haunted me.

I’d loved being a SEAL. I’d been driven since I was a kid to serve and protect my country.

I was grateful I’d been provided with the opportunity and had even excelled enough to be selected for such an honor.

And I wouldn’t change a thing.

Except I would have found a way to deal with the continuous disturbances in my mind.

Dani was right. I’d sheltered myself from everyone for far too long, pretending as if I could handle my near psychosis myself.

With my parents dying and my return to service by helping Gray, Maddox, and Kage, I’d been confronted with the same fears.

Yet I’d changed.

It was time to let go of the past, including with the woman I loved more than life itself.

Yes, her leaving would crush me, but at least I’d be giving flight to the most incredible and perfect creature I’d ever met.

What was the saying? When you truly loved something or someone, you had to let it go?

That’s what I was prepared to do. Maybe her courage was rubbing off on me.

She was ending one chapter of her life while preparing to begin another.

And yet again, I couldn’t be prouder of her.

“This is bigger than both of us,” Gray said. I was surprised at the level of stress I could hear in his voice.

Another phone call.

Another way of hiding the facts.

“I don’t care, Commander. I’ve spent far too much time hiding below the surface. That ends. Dani and I both deserve the truth. My son deserves the truth. If you can’t see that or if Bradford Vale won’t provide it, then we have nothing left to talk about. Nothing.”

“I understand. I wish I could provide you with the answers, but I can’t.”

“You can’t or you won’t?”

“At this point, they’re one and the same.”

How many bitter laughs had I experienced over the last week?

Too many to count. “If you say so, Commander Jenkins. For the record, I enjoyed and was honored to serve in your command. I valued your tutelage and support and still do. I appreciate you trusting me enough after all these years to provide assistance on a dangerous mission. But I’m finished playing soldier. Please don’t contact me again.”

“Stone. Don’t overreact. You’re right in that the past needs to be left in the shadows. That’s the only way for you to move on with your life. I’ve seen what harboring questions and tense anxiety can do to a good soldier. Or to anyone. I don’t want that for you. Plus, Matis has yet to be caught.”

What I hadn’t told him or Dani was that I had a feeling Matis would suddenly appear. Since my name and who I was to Dani and her father was somehow out in the open, my gut told me it was only a matter of time before a conclusion and needed answers were reached.

“I’m not overreacting, Commander. I’m simply facing the truth my way.

And I assure you, I will handle it my way as well.

You can tell Bradford one last thing for me.

Tell him I love his daughter and my son and will do everything in my power to protect them.

No matter the cost. No matter what lengths are necessary to make that happen.

That’s the least you can do for me. And for the woman I love. ”

He took a deep breath. “I’ll be happy to relay your message. Just hear me. Don’t close all doors at least to your friends.”

“I have no intention of ending friendships. But I know who I can place my trust in. If I don’t talk to you again, enjoy the rest of your life.”

With that, I ended the call and a chapter of my life.

Yeah, Dani Vale, the most courageous woman in the world, was rubbing off on me.