Finding the Way Back: A Stealth Ops Novel

by Sahin, Brittney

  “So reach for me. I’m here.” She let her clutch fall to the floor when he pulled her into his arms.

  His lips were so close to hers, but he didn’t kiss her this time.

  He held on to her, staring into her eyes as if he were seeing her as a woman right now and not the teenager who’d lost her mom.

  “You know how much I care about you?” His hand slid up her bare back while his other shifted to palm her cheek.

  “I think I have a pretty good idea.”

  “When this is over, I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

  “I trust you,” she whispered and brought her lips to his, needing to be his right now. And every moment after that.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “Mr. Foster, it’s good to see you.” Knox extended his hand, but Adriana’s dad pulled him in for a hug. “I know the event is formal, but like hell are you gonna shake my hand.”

  Her dad kissed Adriana on the cheek after, then gathered her in his arms. “Hi, sweetie, and don’t you look beautiful.”

  Knox took in the sight of the ballroom, hating to be in a crowd of elitists, the press, and politicians.

  He didn’t belong in that world anymore. Probably never belonged there even when he was growing up.

  Where are you? His dad and mom had yet to show. He had no idea what to expect tonight. Would his dad forgive her? Would he drop out of the race out of fear she’d be exposed?

  Knox brought his attention back to Adriana’s father.

  Her dad had light hair to her dark. His eyes were brown to her green. She’d taken after her mom. Her hair. Eyes. Full lips and cheekbones. Her heart, too. Her desire to serve.

  He was certain that one of the reasons Adriana had originally chosen to teach criminal justice instead of joining the academy was because she’d been scared something would happen to her, and she’d leave her dad the way her mom had.

  She’d let go of those fears, though. And looking at her now, even if it terrified him to think of her in danger, she’d made the right choice.

  “How are things going?” Knox asked.

  “I’ve started teaching at a local community college in Atlanta. Mostly night classes.” He reached for Knox’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

  Her father had lost so many jobs over the years because of his drinking, and he really hoped this was it for him. Adriana deserved a father she could depend on.

  “You took care of my girl when I couldn’t,” her father said, surprising him. “And I’ll never be able to repay you.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, sir.”

  “How many times have I told you to call me Bobby?”

  That’d be like calling his father by his first name, and he wasn’t sure if he could do it, so he tipped his head and smiled, then looped his arm with Adriana’s without thinking.

  If the press saw them together as a couple, it could paint a target on her head in so many ways. But he couldn’t seem to let go of her.

  Eva, Sam, Emily—they knew the risks that came with marrying their husbands, but Adriana had no idea how dangerous it could be to stand at his side.

  “You’re finally together,” her father said, a gleam in his eyes. “About damn time.”

  “Dad,” she said with a laugh.

  “I hope the next event I go to is a wedding. Nothing would make me happier than to walk my baby girl down the aisle to you, son.”

  “Dad, we, um . . .”

  “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.” Like hell would there be any man other than him greeting her at the end of that aisle. He’d always known that, hadn’t he? He’d never had the guts to admit it, even to himself, though. But the idea of her marrying another man . . . he would’ve been the one to stand up in the church and yell object, for sure. Thank God it hadn’t come to that.

  He felt Adriana’s eyes on him, curiosity there, but he did his best not to look at her. He wouldn’t be able to stop himself from kissing her.

  “Your mom’s old partner is here,” her dad announced. “He’ll be speaking before you go up there, honey. If you want to talk to him, I can bring you over.” He pointed to a man in a decorated uniform off to the side of the stage talking to a few other officers.

  Knox had met him at her mother’s funeral when he’d spoken about Patricia Foster with tears in his eyes. He was a good man from what he remembered. “If you don’t mind me asking, when did my father first approach you about honoring your wife?”

  “About four months ago. He said whether he won the primary or not he wanted to have this event,” he answered.

  “So, this wasn’t a last min—”

  “Adriana was a late addition,” he cut him off and added a nod. “When your father called me, he asked if Adriana would like to attend, but I’d been worried with her busy schedule she wouldn’t be able to come. I’m sorry I made the assumption.”

  Relief struck him.

  “I, uh, probably would’ve been busy. Guess I still am. But never too busy to honor Mom.” She shifted her focus to Knox, and he could see what was in her eyes. An apology.

  She’d also assumed Knox’s dad had invited her to try and rope Knox into coming. He didn’t blame her for thinking that since he sure as hell had jumped to the same conclusions.

  “Speaking of your father, it looks like he’s arrived.” He pointed to Isaiah Bennett entering the room.

  Knox’s mom was at his side in a stunning navy gown, looking every bit a secret spy from an old Bond film in his eyes now.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Knox said, his nerves moving into his throat with the anticipation of the conversation to come.

  Adriana pulled her arm free of his but then wrapped a hand over his uninjured forearm and lightly squeezed, offering him her support.

  He strode across the room, dodging the guests who attempted to talk to him as he made his way to his parents.

  His dad spotted him and cocked his head to the left, signaling to follow him out of the main room.

  Secret Service paved the way for them to exit the ballroom and go to an area designated for hotel staff only. The double doors were promptly closed for privacy behind them.

  “You came.” His father’s hands were hidden in the pockets of his double-breasted tuxedo jacket, his eyes on Knox.

  “I came for Adriana,” he admitted, almost forgetting the fact his dad hadn’t used her to get him there. “But now I’m also here for you.”

  He tilted his head as if surprised by Knox’s statement. There was a warmth in his dark eyes he’d never noticed before. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to notice, because he’d spent so much of his life wanting to be angry at him.

  “Are you okay?” He couldn’t help but worry how things went down between his parents after he’d left their suite earlier.

  A brief, closed-mouth smile met his dad’s lips, his broad chest stretching with a deep inhale.

  “I’m sure it can’t be easy,” Knox added, “but I hope you’re not considering dropping out of the race.”

  “I’m no quitter, and you know that.” His brows drew together. “Just like I’ve got a feeling you never really quit the Navy.”

  Knox opened his mouth to speak, but his father held up a palm as if to say No need to explain.

  Knox’s gaze fell to the tiled floor, his mind spinning. Did he know? How was it possible?

  “Do you forgive her?” Knox kept his focus on the floor, his voice low. He wasn’t ready to see the look in his father’s eyes—to discover whether he’d forgive him, too.

  “It’ll take some time. When you’ve been with someone for thirty-nine years, it’s tough to find out they didn’t trust you. She couldn’t come to me with intimate details about her life.”

  He cringed. Would his dad feel the same about him when he learned the truth?

  “But we sat and talked after I cooled down, and now I understand that wasn’t the case.” Any other man and emotion would’ve choked his words and strained his voice, but his dad had experience in dealing
with curveballs.

  “So, you forgive her?” He seized a breath as he waited for a response, not ready to let go of it until he heard the words he needed to hear.

  “Yes,” he said, and Knox allowed himself to exhale.

  “In all honesty, it sounds to me like she’s a hero.” His voice did break this time, and when he cleared his throat, Knox looked up. “She didn’t do it for the credit. No recognition at all. She silently served but then left that life for me.”

  “What would you have done if she told you the truth before she quit?” His heartbeat picked up as he waited. As his father contemplated.

  “I wouldn’t have asked her to make a choice between me and the job.” He grew quiet again. “But I don’t think I would’ve been able to be with her if she was in such a dangerous job. The worry and stress. You saw how I got when you joined the Navy. I’m a different man now, though.”

  He swiped a hand up the back of his neck a few times as he grappled with his father’s words.

  “You really think Glenn Sterling tried to kill her?” His dad’s voice grew grave, a rush of intensity hardening his tone.

  “Unfortunately.” Knox allowed the truth to stretch between them before adding, “Sorry.”

  “I can’t imagine he’d betray us like this.” He shook his head in disappointment. “But I guess you never really can know a person, can you?”

  And that was the truth. The sad damn truth.

  “I’m going to end this, though. I promise.” He stepped closer to his father. “No one dies on my watch. I won’t let anything happen to you or Mom.”

  “I don’t want you risking your neck for me, Son.” He kept his voice level, even though his eyes shone with tears on the verge of escaping.

  “The country needs you. You’re a better man than I ever gave you credit for, and for that, I’m sorry.”

  His dad pulled him in for a tight hug, and Knox buried his face in his dad’s shoulder, fighting to keep it together.

  His dad had been worried that his mom had nearly taken a bullet because of him, and as it turned out, he almost took a bullet because of her. His world had flipped and then flipped some more.

  “I love you, Son,” he said, his tone strained.

  His father’s words caught him by surprise. At that moment, Knox broke down and became a son rather than a sailor. Not a man who harbored hate and secrets. “I, uh, love you, too, Dad.” He pulled back and caught his dad brushing away a tear.

  “We should go back in there, I suppose.”

  “Dad?” he called after his father had turned toward the ballroom doors.

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you for including Adriana’s mom tonight. She died a long time ago, but the city still remembers her sacrifice. It means a lot to the both of us.”

  The two agents stepped back and opened the doors to the ballroom.

  “I saw you two come together, and I’m hoping you’ve finally taken your head out of your ass and admitted to her how you feel.” He paused in the middle of the doorway, ignoring the many voices calling out his name.

  Knox approached, and he couldn’t help but smile. “It’s been firmly removed, sir.”

  His dad slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Thank God,” he said when they entered the main room. “Your mom was worried you’d never give us grandchildren.”

  Before Knox could respond, the governor approached. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk, so he made a quick exit in search of Adriana.

  She stood off to the side of the main stage, which was draped in bright lights. Rodriguez and Calloway were talking to her, but she must’ve felt Knox’s eyes on her because she pivoted to find him in the crowd.

  He navigated the throng of people drinking and talking to get to her, once again dodging questions and comments on his way.

  After arriving at her side, he took her elbow and whispered into her ear, “Did I tell you how incredible you look tonight?”

  “I believe you got tongue-tied earlier and forgot.”

  “Bennett,” Calloway said, redirecting his focus.

  “Calloway,” he returned in an equally firm voice then nodded hello to Rodriguez.

  Rodriguez brought the mic tucked in his sleeve to his mouth. “Hawk and Hummingbird will be heading to the stage in three minutes.”

  Calloway and Rodriguez were in tuxedos, probably to blend in with the guests, but the coil wires spiraling up the sides of their necks to their earpieces gave them away.

  “How’s your dad doing?” she asked softly once the men had left, and her gaze traveled across the room to where his parents stood in conversation with the governor. “And your mom?”

  Knox took them in for a moment. He could tell his dad was working hard to maintain a brave face. His mom, on the other hand, remained stoic.

  A spy. It’d take a lot more than a day to absorb that bit of truth. A couple lifetimes maybe.

  “They’re good, I guess. He’s going to forgive her.” He found Adriana’s eyes, wishing he could tell her the truth now, too. “You ready to go up there?”

  “A bit shaky.” She held out a hand between them, and damn, there was a tremble. “And I know when I go up there my heart will pound so fast it’ll make talking difficult.”

  He leaned in. “You’ve got this. Picture everyone naked.”

  “Your dad? Calloway?” she teased.

  “Scratch that.” He smiled, flashing her his teeth. “Only me.”

  “Well.” She brought her finger over her lips and tapped a short nail there. “I’ll be rendered speechless then.”

  “Oh, trust me, when I have my way with you, you’ll be a lot more than at a loss for words.”

  Her emerald green eyes greeted his, and all he could think about was how close he was to taking her that morning in her room. The way she’d responded to his kiss—the feel of her in his arms.

  “And what will I be?” she rasped in a sensual voice.

  “Mine,” he responded without hesitation.

  Her gaze wandered south of his belt buckle and to his crotch, and it was as if she’d known he was ready for her despite being surrounded by a crowd. “It’s been twenty long, long years.”

  “You don’t think I know that?” She arched a brow and pointed to the stage. “Your dad is about to make introductions.”

  He hooked an arm around her back, and they advanced toward the stage. He didn’t bother hiding his erection since the place was so crowded. But at the sight of his father and mother on the stage—yeah, that was a boner-killer for sure.

  His dad said a couple more words to the crowd, his eyes catching Knox in the audience for a brief moment. “This room is filled with many brave and special men and women,” he continued. “Men and women who’ve helped this city in different ways. Whether you’ve served in combat abroad, or on the streets at home . . . or in the classrooms to educate our youth, so many of you have made great sacrifices for this city.” He pivoted to face the man who’d been Adriana’s mother’s partner. “It’s an honor to be here with you all. I know we’ve had problems in the country. This city, too. Division. But I truly believe we can all come together and be united as one. And I’d like to highlight some exceptional men and women here tonight who have fought to create a strong sense of community here.”

  His father continued to speak for a few more minutes and then turned the mic over to Mike, Adriana’s mother’s old partner. And now it was Adriana’s cue to join the stage. Knox forcefully shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing he were at her side as she climbed the steps to get to the stage.

  “Patricia Foster never wanted to be a detective. She wanted to remain on patrol,” Mike began. “She said she didn’t want to solve crimes, she wanted to prevent them.” He smiled. “Patricia was optimistic. Compassionate. A woman who cared about her community. She believed in equality for all, and she fought tooth and nail to make sure everyone in the city was treated fair. She used to say that the badge is only as good as the trust people have in it. And trust
was something she had from the people.” He turned to view Adriana. “She’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become.” His eyes met the crowd briefly. “I’d like to introduce you all to Adriana Foster.”

  Adriana took the mic, and when she stepped closer to the podium, the lights overhead basked her in soft tones, as if the lights were her mother embracing her.

  “Thank you, Mike.” Adriana hugged him and directed her attention toward the audience. “I’m humbled to be here. I’m grateful for all that you do.” Her eyes connected with Knox. “Whenever I’ve thanked officers or veterans for their service, so often they say to me, ‘don’t thank me, just be the kind of person worth protecting.’ I believe my mom felt the same way, too.”

  Her words reached inside and touched his soul, and a tightness stretched across his chest.

  “A little over seven years ago, I learned my mother had considered joining the Secret Service when she was younger. She chose to stay with the precinct, and I’d thought that choice had been because she’d had me, but standing here now, I think I was wrong.” She took a breath as if fighting to keep her voice from faltering.

  She turned to Knox’s dad off to the side of the stage.

  “As important as it is to protect people in your position,” she began, directing her words toward Isaiah Bennett, “I think my mom was where she belonged. Her home was Atlanta.” She held her free hand open. “When she died, I was a heartbroken fifteen-year-old kid. I wanted to blame myself. Blame the world. The shooter. Absolutely everyone for her loss.”

  He couldn’t see the tears in her eyes, but he knew they were there. He could hear the emotion in her voice.

  “But she wouldn’t have wanted that,” she said, a tremble in her tone. “She’d want me to focus on something—more like someone else. You see, my mom died so another could live. Actually, so two people could live.” She sniffled. A tear slipped. “The woman my mom saved was pregnant. She’d gone to the convenience store in the middle of the night because an ice cream craving had hit her.” She forced a tiny smile on her face. “My mom was on her way to pick me up from a party, but she’d promised to pick up my favorite kind of candy bars on her way.”