Page 70 of Her Forever SEAL

Mason turned to him, Sophia tucked to his side. “We're done,”

“Lieutenant Gault?”

“We're done.” He repeated. “Sophia and I are going home. You can talk to Agent Cruz.”

Cruz appeared in the doorway. She looked at the young agent, something passed between them, and he subsided.

“Lieutenant.” Cruz's voice stopped him at the door. He looked back at her.

Her eyes moved to Sophia for a moment, then back to him. “The minute you have something…”

“You’ll hear from me.”

He walked out with his wife.

Sophia held it together through the lobby. Through the building exit, through the heavy glass door and out into the morning air where the San Diego sun was already warm and the salt from the bay was faint on the wind.

She made it to the truck.

He got her to the passenger side and opened it, helping her in. She looked up at him with dry eyes. He knew they weren’t going to stay that way.

“Tell me what you know,” Mason said.

Her jaw worked. “They took her out in the open, right in the parking lot of the lacrosse field. One guy tried to stop him with his truck, but didn’t want to hurt Kayla, so he didn’t ram the van.” She stopped. Swallowed. “I wasn’t there, Mason. I wasn’t there.”

He put both hands on her face. Held it. Made her look at him.

“We’re going to get her back.”

“Mason—”

“Sophia.”

Firm.

Level.

Strong.

Every word landing exactly where he needed it to.

“We’re getting her back.”

Her hands came up and gripped his wrists. She held on and he let her. Around them the city moved with all its ordinary morning noise.

“Lydia,” she said finally.

“Yeah.”

“She'll have something.”

“She and Clint are probably already working together.”

“Really? How?”

“Get in the truck, and I’ll tell you.”

She got in the truck.