Page 86 of SEAL of Valor

It feels an awful lot like I’m standing in an airfield in one of those military movies, while I watch soldiers say goodbye to their loved ones.

Which, I suppose, isn’t that far off from where we are now.

“War is coming our way.” That’s what Weston said.

War.

A fight that might end horribly.

It all seems so surreal when I think about it. After all, how can someone like that operate here in our country? Why haven’t the authorities caught her yet? Will they? Or will it end just the way Weston thinks it will? In bloodshed?

“Okay, time to go.” Zane takes Tessa’s hand and faces the group, who have all fallen silent. “Everyone has their routes. Keep in mind, Brenda may put a tail on any one of us. If you see one following you⁠—”

“We’ll lose it, Cap,” Sawyer says.

Zane nods. “This is hard, but it’s the only way to be sure.”

My mom crosses over to me and wraps an arm around my waist. “I wish you were coming,” she whispers. “But I understand why you won’t.”

I look over at her and smile. “I’ll be fine, Mom. And better now that I know you’re safe.”

“There’s not a doubt in my mind that you will be. It’s him I’m worried about.” She nods toward Weston, who hasn’t said a single word since everyone got here fifteen minutes ago.

“I’ll keep him rooted.”

“I’m counting on it. Love you, Sugar.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

Ryker crosses over and rubs his hands together. “Your chauffeur is ready, Mrs. Faye.” He holds out a hand, a charming smile on his face.

“Why, thank you.” She takes his offered hand, then looks back at me. “Stay safe.”

“You, too.” As I watch my mom walk away with Ryker, and the rest of the team leave with their loved ones, an emptiness settles over me. How long will it be before everyone can be together again? A week? Two? A month?

I glance over at Weston, not at all surprised to see guilt written all over his handsome face. He’s beating himself up over this because, in his mind, if he would have stayed and done what Brenda wanted, no one would have to leave.

“Stop.”

He raises his gaze to mine. “What?”

“Blaming yourself.”

“It’s hard not to.”

“But it’s not your fault. And I’m going to remind you of that every single chance I get.”

He pushes off the wall, movements still a bit stiff. “I need to head into town.”

“I’ll grab my purse.”

After running upstairs and getting my purse, I slip my shoes on. “You stay and be a good boy, Aragorn.” I pet the top of his head, then smile as he follows me down the steps and toward the back door, where Weston is waiting, his cowboy hat on.

Even with the danger lurking around us, the sight of him in his cowboy hat makes my stomach twist into knots of desire. It’s hard to go from being married to a man and knowing him as well as I knew Weston, to becoming strangers.

But this falling in love all over again? I can’t say I dislike that feeling at all.

“Church?” I question as I study the front of the small white church situated right off the beach.