Page 4 of Consume

2

Grant

First mission—getrid of any mobile tracking devices. I drove my truck to the mechanic most of the Team guys used. It was across the street from Panthers. The neon lights seemed gaudy in the daylight, and I cringed as I imagined Mia dancing on stage, praying that I would show up, knowing that I haunted that joint.

Only two weeks ago, I had met her again as Ksenya. At least twenty girls were in that club that night, but I’d been hopelessly drawn to her. Yes, she had transformed her body into my exact physical type, but it ran deeper than that. One look at her, even under the bright lights with her eyes covered by colored contacts, and my soul recognized her as mymate.

I pulled open the door to the shop, and Carlos greeted me. “Need an oil change?”

“Hey, man. Nah, I can do that myself. Can you sweep my truck for tracking devices? I think someone is followingme.”

Carlos nodded, not even fazed by my request. He was used to dealing with paranoid SEALs. “Sure thing.” He looked at my mileage. “I’ll do a service for you, too. It will take a day or so. Do you need a loaner?”

Man must’ve read my mind. “That would be great.”

He led me over to line of parked vehicles. I pointed at an older model truck.

“Keys are in the ignition. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know when your truck will be ready.”

“Thanks, man. I’m going to bring my fiancée’s car in soon, too, but not for a few days. We’re headed out oftown.”

His brow wrinkled, and he wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. “Yeah? Where you headed?”

“Vegas. I’m getting married tomorrow.” And I was. Well, I still hadn’t asked the bride-to-be to marry me tomorrow.

“Congrats. Your truck will be clean and ready by the time you comeback.”

I thanked him and climbed into my loaner truck. It smelled a bit musty, but as long as it wasn’t bugged, it was fine byme.

I stopped at the Fashion Valley Mall and purchased two new phones but transferred our old numbers. I also made sure to activate the “find my phone” app on Mia’s phone so I could locate her if I needed to. Then I went next door to the jeweler and picked out wedding bands. For myself I picked a black titanium band, which was the best option for a man in my line ofwork.

For my beloved, I chose a rose gold band with beveled diamonds.

“Can you engraveit?”

“Sure. We can do it while you wait. What do you want it tosay?”

“Worth fighting for.” She was. And I’d fight for her until my dying breath.

Then the jeweler made me an offer. “Do you want me to add a fidelity tracking device on the ring? Behind the diamonds. It’s new technology.”

My immediate thought was fuck no. I didn’t want to start my marriage by betraying Mia. And I wasn’t that kind of paranoid asshole. Any guy who would install a hidden tracking device on his wife’s wedding ring was a piece of shit. Why bother to get married if you didn’t trust yourwife?

But on second thought, the SEAL in me thought that this may be a good idea. Not to make sure she was faithful, but as a way to find her if Joaquín ever escaped and held her hostage.

I pointed at another band. Nothing fancy, just simple and gold with one diamond. “Engrave the diamond rose gold ring, no tracker. But I’ll take this ring also, with a tracker.” When the time was right, I’d present her both rings, explain why I wished her to wear the tracking one, and if we could ever put this mess behind us, we could burn thatring.

By the time I’d arrived back home, Mia was standing outside waiting forme.

Even though her roots were showing and her brow was furrowed, she still looked beautiful. “Where were you? I was worried sick. I called you and texted you but then my phone stopped working. What happened? Where is your truck?”

I was paranoid and assumed there was a camera or audio surveillance in my house. I placed my hand over her lips and went inside to change out of my uniform. Once I was in my civilian clothes, I grabbed Hero’s leash, removed her old phone from her hands, tossed it on the sofa, and then led them both outside.

“Damn it, Grant, what the fuck are you doing?” she asked, dragging her heels as I tried to urge her along.

Once we were far enough away from my home, I turned to her. “I need you to listen to me and for once, not argue. I can’t tell you any details, in fact I’m not supposed to tell you anything that was said at NCIS. Do you understand?”

She blinked back tears. “I do. I’m so sorry, I—”