Code Name: Forever & Ever (A Warrior's Challenge series Book 5)

by Natasza Waters

  “I don’t think Patrick would like this secret very much.”

  “I get the feeling it’s something that could hurt your relationship. Am I right?”

  Marg nodded. “He needs to know.” Because Lydia wasn’t asking any details, Marg felt a kinship with her. Trusting her seemed easy.

  Lydia covered her hand. “When the time is right, you’ll tell him. But for now, why don’t you come over for dinner. We’re having pizza tonight. The girls love it, and I don’t have a pile of dishes to clean.”

  “I’d love to, but I’ve got a shoot early tomorrow morning.”

  “I thought about dabbling a long time ago. Instead, I went to college, but never really used my degree, except on my children.” She chuckled. “It must be so much fun to be a model.”

  Marg grinned. “It’s not bad. It pays the bills.”

  Thirty minutes later, Lydia put a few dollars on the table. “I’ve got this. Here’s our address.” She wrote her number on a piece of the newspaper and tore it off. “Six o’clock, and I’ll apologize now. Having six girls makes my place drama central.”

  “I have two sisters. I’m used to drama.”

  * * * *

  Marg opened her mailbox and found two bills and a letter. She turned the envelope over. Her name and address were on it, but no return address. Sitting on the lobby bench, tucking the other mail under her arm, she ripped open the envelope and slid out the single sheet of paper.

  Marg,

  I hope you’re waiting for me. I think about you all the time. You’re my wet dream.

  Marg’s brow furled. This didn’t sound like Patrick!

  I can’t wait to see you bent over my couch with your gorgeous ass in the air and my tongue licking your slit, bringing you pleasure.

  Her eyes raced past the next few lines to the bottom. It was signed, Don’t be surprised. I love you. Thane. She shoved the letter back in the envelope and into her purse, then hurried upstairs. Whoever this was, it wasn’t Thane, but the author had her address. Her fingers tapped the wall of the elevator. After unlocking the door to her condo she stopped and listened.

  Dialing Bruce’s number on her cell, she tried to make sense of the letter. Bruce didn’t know Thane, but she couldn’t be sure her father hadn’t hired someone to keep tabs on her.

  She didn’t wait. When Bruce answered, she said, “Did you send me a letter?”

  “Marg? Hey, this is a nice surprise.”

  “Bruce, did you send me a…descriptive letter?” She nibbled on her bottom lip.

  “No, why?”

  She stepped to the patio door and checked it with a tug. It was still locked. “You’re sure?”

  “You sound a little freaked. What’s going on?”

  Marg roamed around her apartment. Checked the closet and behind the bathroom shower curtain. Sitting at her kitchen table, she said, “I just got a letter. It’s weird and graphic.”

  “Graphic how, exactly?”

  The music in the background quieted. “Are you in your car?”

  “Just on my way home, but it sounds like I should head down to San Diego.”

  “No.” Marg pulled the envelope from her purse and turned it over. Nondescript in every way. “I’m going out for dinner with a friend I met today at the local veteran’s mission. Her husband is in the Navy.”

  “Have dinner and I’ll come by afterwards.”

  “That’s not necessary. I just wanted to take you off the list of who might have sent this to me.”

  “Will you read it to me?”

  “No way.”

  “Marg, if some guy is stalking you, that’s not good. I’m turning around. I’ll be there by eight.”

  The letter bothered her. “Maybe it’s just something that I’ll have to get used to. Modeling kind of puts me out there.”

  “It doesn’t mean somebody can send you graphic letters. Don’t destroy it. I want to see it.”

  “Don’t tell my father.” When he was silent, she said, “Bruce, I mean it. Don’t tell him.”

  “All right, but you’re giving me that letter and I’ll have it checked out.”

  “Okay.”

  Huddled on her couch, she watched the clock, waiting to leave for Lydia’s. She tried to read her new book, but kept reading the same line and slammed it shut. Drinking two cold glasses of water didn’t help to stop her fidgeting nerves, either. When her phone rang she jumped.

  “Marg?”

  “Patrick,” she squeaked with relief.

  “Marg, are you okay?”

  “Why do you ask that?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  She held her breath for a moment. “It’s not a big deal, I just got a letter. How are you? Are you still in Georgia?” The sound of men’s voices hummed in the background.

  “What kind of letter?”

  “Graphic. It’s probably just some crazy who saw my picture in a magazine. Are you okay?”

  “I’m coming home tomorrow. We’re flying out at oh-seven-hundred hours. I’ll be home by one. I want to see you by one minute after one.”

  “Can I pick you up?”

  “Be landing at San Diego International.”

  “Oh God, I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Me, too. Now tell me what that letter said.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yes, you do.”

  She read it to him, but omitted the signature. He remained silent for too long. Finally he said, “Is there a postmark on the envelope?”

  “I can’t make it out.”

  “Find a magnifying glass.”

  “I don’t have one, but maybe Lydia does. I’m going to her place for dinner.”

  “Lydia?”

  “Lydia Redding, her husband is—”

  “Alpha Squad’s lieutenant. I know. I met him. He’s a good man. Well respected. Both Thane and I want to serve on his team.” He paused. “How well do you know her?”

  “We just met today. I’m volunteering at the military veteran’s mission in town.”

  “Sweetheart, there’s all sorts of people who go to those places. Good and bad. Maybe you shouldn’t.”

  “Patrick, they need my help. They need funds to keep the people fed. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” She smiled at his concern. “How did you know I was upset? Or were you just calling to tell me you’re coming home?”

  “Call it instinct.”

  “I feel better talking to you. Can’t wait to see you.”

  “Go straight home when you leave Redding’s place and call her when you get home.”

  “Patrick, I’ll be fine.”

  “Not comfortable being this far away from you. Keep your eyes and ears open. Promise me.”

  “I do.” She smiled at his protectiveness.

  He caught her little innuendo and chuckled. “I do, too. See you tomorrow, beautiful.”

  She hung up and sighed, feeling so much better.

  When she got to Lydia’s, she walked straight into a screaming fight between two of her daughters. Lydia didn’t look phased and blinked a few times before calmly saying, “Girls, I’d like you to meet Marg. She’s a friend of mine. I want five minutes of silence before all hell breaks out again?”

  The two sisters who had been yelling gave Marg a narrowed look while a little girl with pigtails and peach tinged cheeks scrambled over to her. “Mommy says you’re nice. Want to read with me?”

  “That’s my youngest, Marie. Incorrigible like her father. No sense of people’s space and never stops talking,” Lydia said proudly. “She started first grade this year.”

  “I love school,” Marie said backing up her mother’s comments.

  “I loved school, too. I also love pizza,” Marg said, sitting on the couch and the little girl scampered up beside her.

  “Me, too. Momma, is the pizza ready yet?”

  “It will be when the delivery boy gets here. Everyone wash up for dinner. Hands and faces,” she ordered, and the girls grumbled but shoved themselve
s off the furniture and headed down the hall.

  Marg couldn’t believe how in control Lydia seemed. “Lydia, do you happen to have a magnifying glass?”

  “Sure, in the kitchen. Follow me.” When she handed her the magnifying glass, she asked, “What’s it for?”

  Marg pulled the letter from her purse. “To see where this postmark came from.” She squinted as she held the letter under the glass. Fort Benning, Georgia was stamped across the postage. That’s where Thane and Patrick had started their jump school. Lydia watched her. “Just some crazy person sending me a letter.”

  “Crazy?”

  “Sick.”

  “Any idea who sent it?”

  She did have an idea now that she knew where it came from, and Patrick would not be happy. “I have no proof.”

  “No, but you’re a woman, and you have a sixth sense.”

  “It’s from Fort Benning. I only know a few people in Georgia, and the signature is not the man who wrote it.”

  “Jump school is located in Fort Benning,” Lydia said.

  She nodded. Patrick’s class is there to start their SQT’s.

  “You think it’s one of his team mates?”

  “I do. He’s not a nice guy. In fact, he scares me a little. Patrick nor Thane like him. Don’t think the other guys do either.”

  “Who is he?”

  “His name is Kit Harper.”

  Lydia didn’t blink with any recognition. “May I see it?”

  “Don’t think you want to read this,” she said, tapping the edge against her palm, but I need to make a phone call. I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll hold that for you while you’re gone,” Lydia said sternly.

  Marg begrudgingly put it into her open hand. She stepped outside on the patio to call Bruce and tell him not to come. She had a pretty good idea where the letter came from. She was also going to burn it because if Patrick found out, he’d go after Kit for sure. And if he did something stupid, his future in the SEALs would be finished. Bruce put up a fight when she asked him to turn around. That was until she said Patrick would be home tomorrow and take care of things.

  “How serious are you about this guy, Marg?”

  She smiled. “Are you asking if I’m in love with him? Because if you are, the answer is yes.”

  “Lucky guy. Hope he knows how lucky he is.”

  She shrugged, looking over the Redding’s backyard. Bicycles spilled on the lawn with pink streamers tied to the handlebars. A plastic swimming pool sat next to a swing set. “Thanks for caring, Bruce.”

  “Guess I shouldn’t be pestering you, even though I want you to change your mind.”

  “You’re sweet, but I’m never coming back to L.A. San Diego is my home now.”

  “If you do, give me a call.”

  “See ya.”

  Marg wandered back into the kitchen and smelled the pizza. Her stomach gurgled.

  Greasy fingers and smudged faces looked up at her while Lydia doled out the slices. She stopped for a moment. “Once the girls are finished and doing their homework, we need to talk.”

  She nodded.

  An hour later, curled up in two chairs, both holding cups of tea, Lydia turned the conversation back to the letter. “The letter is signed.”

  “It’s not Thane. He wouldn’t do something like this.”

  “How do you know?” Lydia asked, setting down her teacup.

  “Because we—agreed we were only friends. Thane is a great guy. A manwhore, but a great guy.”

  Lydia paused. “Is he, by chance, the impetuous moment you spoke of?”

  Marg hesitated and then nodded.

  “And it turned out that Thane and Patrick are swim buddies.”

  She nodded again.

  Lydia grinned. “You met Thane first?”

  “Exactly. I’d just arrived in San Diego with a big chip on my shoulder because my parents hate anything to do with the Navy. I was at St. George’s and Thane introduced himself. Have you seen him?”

  “Not yet,” Lydia answered.

  Marg chuckled. “He’s hot. Really hot. He acts like a tough guy, but he’s got his soft spots.”

  “But he’s not Patrick.”

  “Not at all. They’re so different, but the one thing Thane won’t ever do is hurt Patrick. He’d never write a letter like that to me.”

  “Do you know anyone else outside of their class in Georgia?”

  “No one.”

  Lydia crossed her legs and folded her hands together. “I graduated college majoring in psychiatry. I was six months pregnant with our first daughter when my priorities changed from having a practice to diapers. This letter is more than disturbing, and I don’t think you should take it lightly. You need to go to the police and give it to them.”

  “Kit’s an asshole, but I don’t think he’s dangerous. He came to my apartment once, but Patrick intervened. Kit’s scared of him. He hates Thane for some reason, but the feeling is mutual.”

  “This is not the mark of SEAL material,” Lydia said waving the letter, then handed it back to her. “Are you going to tell Patrick?”

  Marg shook her head. “I thought about that, and no, I don’t want him doing something stupid. I’m not even sure it is Kit, but he’s foul mouthed and pushy. I wouldn’t put it past him.”

  “Neither is stalking. And a letter is the first step. He’s fantasizing about you, but he’s making it real by writing that letter. If it is Kit, he’s not stable. I think you’re wise not to tell Patrick. I know it’s another secret, but this could throw him off track.”

  She nodded. “Maybe I’ll tell Thane.”

  Lydia cocked her head. “Why him?”

  “He could talk to Kit, or at least come with me to talk to Kit.”

  “Don’t confront him by yourself, Marg. Let the police do that.”

  “Patrick and Thane are coming home tomorrow.”

  Lydia smiled. “Then you better get some rest. He’s going to want all your attention when he lands.”

  She walked over to Lydia and gave her a hug. “Thank you.”

  Lydia walked her to the door. “Call me when you get home and I’ll see you the day after tomorrow at the mission.”

  “I will, thanks for everything.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Marg paced the gate at San Diego International by twelve forty-five pm. Patrick’s plane was on time according to the arrivals board. Instead of jeans and flip flops, she’d dressed to the casual nines, with a tight sky blue, curve-hugging miniskirt and high heels, but not high enough to tower over Patrick. She wanted him to smile when he saw her after three weeks of Jump School training.

  Her stomach burst into a flock of butterflies when the doors opened and a mass of people swarmed into the terminal toward the baggage carousel. Men wearing Navy blue camo attracted her attention, and she scanned every face. She saw Stingray and then Thane, who spotted her, and right beside him was the man of her dreams. A huge smile spread over Thane’s rugged mug, but Patrick’s remained stony. His footsteps faltered. He stared until Thane nudged him in the ribs with his elbow, and then she saw the smile. It grew and grew, just like her heart, ready to burst.

  If it were the silver screen, their reunion would have been epic reel material. She flung herself into his arms and he kissed her into a beautiful distracted mess. She loved his smell. She loved his embrace. She loved this man.

  “Hey now, that’s just not fair,” Thane said, waiting for them to finish. “I want some welcome home, too.” He opened his arms and Marg gave him a hug, but no kiss. When he tried, she smacked him.

  Patrick pulled her into his arms. “Explain to me, why I have to share with you.”

  A wicked grin grew on Thane’s expression meant to taunt the hell out of Patrick. “Cause I’m your best friend, man.”

  “I’m not sharing her with you, ever,” Patrick said, landing another kiss on her lips.

  They all laughed, but when she darted a quick glance at Thane, he looked just as guilty
as she felt.

  “I’ll drive you guys home,” she said. “I’d love to meet your family, Patrick.”

  Walking toward the carousel to get the guys’ bags, his step paused with her suggestion. Thane kept going, but he shot a look over his shoulder she didn’t understand.

  “Why don’t we head to your place?” Patrick said. “I can catch up later with the family.”

  Marg shook her head. “No, you need to see your mom.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I want to get to know her.”

  “Come on, let’s get the bags.”

  Walking to her car, she said, “I made dinner. For both of you, but after dinner, you’re gone, Thane. Unless you have other plans for dinner?”

  “Thanks, Marg, but Mom and Dad want to hear all about me jumping out of an airplane and living to tell the tale.”

  “You both passed, didn’t you?” she asked, watching Patrick as he opened the trunk and tossed in his seabag.

  Patrick nodded. “We start Advanced Demolitions training on Monday, but it’s here in Coronado.”

  She flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “I promise, I won’t distract you.”

  He chuckled and wrapped a strong arm around her body. “You already are, beautiful.”

  Marg strolled to the driver’s door and Patrick rounded the car and got in the passenger seat. She tossed her purse onto the console, but it fell onto the floor by his feet. She paused, distracted. Strutting across the pavement was none other than Kit Harper. Asshole extraordinaire. He wore shades, but she had no doubt he watched them when his head turned in their direction.

  “Something wrong?” Thane asked quietly beside her.

  “We need to talk. Soon.”

  “What about?”

  “Him,” she said, wanting to give Kit a piece of her mind.

  Kit gave his head a jerk in their direction. With his brother walking beside him, she wouldn’t confront him now. She still had the vulgar letter from Georgia and every intention of giving it to the police as Lydia suggested.

  “What the fuck?” Patrick vaulted from her car. He turned with a seething glare directed at Thane.