But never casual.
“It’s Ada.” Bethany’s voice sounded breathless and scratchy.
Everything else faded from around Griff. Had his daughter been in an accident? Was she sick? “What happened to Ada?”
“Someone tried to snatch her today. At the park.” Bethany’s voice broke, turning into a barely contained sob.
“Is she okay?” Griff rushed. “Did they catch the guy who did this?”
Bethany sucked in a shaky breath before she continued. “She’s okay. I don’t think she fully understands what happened. The police didn’t catch this guy, though. I don’t know what to do or where to go from here.”
“Did you get a good look at him?”
“He was wearing a hat and sunglasses. It was hard to really see him. But I gave his description to the police, and they’re looking into it.”
Griff’s heart pounded in his ears. He drew in a deep breath, trying to temper his reaction. But the very thought of what had happened caused white-hot anger to surge through his blood.
“Bethany . . . I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” She paused. “But there’s more.”
“What is it?” More tension roiled in Griff’s stomach as he waited to hear what she had to say next. How could this get much worse?
“A car pulled away from the scene. Someone nearby got the license plate. Apparently, the man who owns it has been linked to a terrorist group. Maybe you’ve heard of them. The Savages?”
As soon as Griff heard their name, the blood drained from his face, and he froze. All he could hear was the thumping of his heart.
No . . . this couldn’t be happening.
He licked his lips and turned away from the glaring sun. “The Savages?”
“That’s what the police said. Apparently, this guy is on one of those most-wanted lists. I don’t know. It’s all a blur.”
Griff’s jaw tightened as he stared across the water, his mind racing. These guys were targeting his family, weren’t they? The group had been quiet over the past few months, but Griff should have known that was too good to be true. In their silence, they’d been plotting their next move.
“Where are you now, Bethany?”
“I’m at my condo. Why?”
“I need you and Ada to come here. To Lantern Beach.”
“Why would we want to do that? This whole thing was random. Right?”
He wanted to believe that, but he couldn’t. He’d seen what these guys were capable of. Death. Destruction. Darkness. “I don’t know. But you’re not safe there.”
Bethany paused, and the sound of her breathing filled the line. “Griff, you’re scaring me.”
“You should be scared. I mean it, Bethany. You’re not safe. Ada’s not safe.”
“I . . . I just can’t leave everything.”
Griff ran a hand over his face, reminding himself to stay calm. He had to convince Bethany to come here with Ada. He would go get them himself, but there was no time for that. If the Savages didn’t get what they wanted the first time, they would try again.
“You can take leave from work, right?” he asked.
“Yes, I guess . . .”
“Perfect. I can arrange a place for you to stay and people to keep an eye on you. At least until we know what’s going on. Please, Bethany. Don’t argue with me on this one. I wouldn’t ask this if I wasn’t concerned.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute, and Griff waited, fully expecting her to refuse. She had every right to be angry with him. But with Ada’s safety on the line, they needed to put that behind them and do what was best for their daughter.
Finally, Bethany said, “Okay. Fine. I’ll come to Lantern Beach.”
Relief filled Griff. But only for a minute. Having them here would allow Griff to keep an eye on Bethany and Ada. But that didn’t mean their troubles were over. No, not by a long shot.
After they discussed her arrival, Griff ended the call and stared at the ocean for another minute. He needed a plan.
Because there was no way he would let anything happen to his little girl . . . or to Bethany.
Chapter Two
Bethany parked her car under a stilted house on Hatteras Island, just as Griff had instructed her to do. Apparently, he knew the owner, who’d approved of them meeting here.
It had taken Bethany almost three hours to travel this far. She’d only taken enough time to grab some necessary items and call her boss before hitting the road.
Griff had made it clear this was urgent. He’d sounded like he wanted to come to Virginia Beach himself to pick her and Ada up, but they’d both realized that would take too much time. Instead, they’d agreed to meet halfway.
She swallowed hard and glanced around her. No one appeared to be at the two-story beach house. No cars were parked in the driveway, at least.
That didn’t stop Bethany from feeling like eyes were nearby, watching and waiting. That bad feeling she’d had all day remained—the sense that she was the prey and that a predator was just waiting to make another move.
She glanced back at Ada. Her daughter snoozed in the backseat, head resting against the polka-dotted car seat cover. Though the pink material looked sweet and girly, the marker streaks on the fabric confirmed that her daughter had a feisty side.
Bethany glanced at her watch. Griff should be here any minute.
She let out a long breath, trying to keep her emotions in check in the meantime. Panicking wouldn’t do any good right now. Instead, she began gathering her trash from their journey—leftover bags of grapes, juice boxes, some stray French fries—Bethany’s guilty pleasure and a last-minute splurge on the way here.
Bethany’s head still spun as she thought about everything that happened. It seemed surreal that she was here, that she was doing this. But Ada had almost been abducted today. Bethany couldn’t be in denial about that.
Maybe this remote island that was only accessible by ferry would keep them safe for a while. She’d heard so much about the place.
Bethany wasn’t committing to stay for any lengthy amount of time. Maybe just a couple days until she could get her head back on her shoulders. Until they could find some answers.
She glanced in the backseat and saw Ada still sleeping soundly.
Her little girl looked so much like Griff with her sparkling eyes, unwavering courage, and blonde hair that fell all around her face, giving her an almost angelic look.
The angelic part she definitely did not get from her father. Griff had been more of the bad boy. Bethany had been convinced that she could reform Griff into the committed type.
That had been Bethany’s first mistake, and her parents would never let her live that down.
But even if their marriage had been a mistake, Ada was anything but. Bethany loved this little girl like nothing else in this world.
The muscles in Bethany’s shoulders tensed as she heard a car coming down the gravel lane. A moment later, a black truck pulled into the driveway.
Her heart throbbed in her ears as she saw Griff step out and stride toward her like the brooding hero he was. That confidence had been the first thing that attracted Bethany to him.
Why did that man still have this effect on her? Bethany assumed with all the problems that they had, she’d feel nothing but contempt toward the man. But that would be too easy.
She observed him for a moment. Griff McIntyre was tall with broad shoulders and thick arms. His blond hair was a little too long. Right now, he wore a tank top with some cutoff shorts and flip-flops. His aviator sunglasses completed his look, making him appear intimidating and coolly in control.
“Bethany . . .” Griff paused in front of her. He almost looked like he was about to say something sweet, like she looked good. Instead, he said, “You look tired.”
She felt her shoulders deflate, even if just a little. His opinion didn’t matter, she reminded herself. “I am.”
He either didn’t notice her irritation or didn’t care. “Did anybody follow yo
u here?”
“No. I kept watch, just like you said. I didn’t see anyone.”
“Good.” He pulled his sunglasses up on the top of his head as his gaze drifted in through the window to Ada. His eyes softened.
It was clear to anybody watching just how much he cared about his little girl. So why didn’t Griff want to be a part of Ada’s life? It made no sense, and Bethany had nothing but time to think about it for the past year.
As if Ada had sensed Griff was near, the girl’s eyes popped open. Her gaze lit up with equal parts delight and surprise when she spotted her father.
“Daddy!” She reached her chubby hands out. “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!”
Griff’s entire face beamed with adoration as he opened her door. “How’s Daddy’s girl?”
“Good, Daddy.” Ada kicked her legs with excitement. “Daddy, can we have a tea party? Please.”
“A tea party? Who doesn’t want to have a tea party? Drinking out of little cups while raising your pinky is one of the highlights of life.”
Griff fiddled with Ada’s seatbelt, and, a moment later, Ada was free and in her dad’s very capable arms. The two embraced each other, looking like the picture of happiness.
Seeing Griff hold Ada, seeing the bond they still had despite their time apart made Bethany’s heart pound with regret. Her life was not supposed to turn out this way. Her little girl was supposed to have the happy family upbringing Bethany had.
But this wasn’t the time to feel sorry for herself. Right now, all Bethany needed to think about was keeping her daughter safe. Nothing else mattered—not even the strong dislike she felt toward Griff.
“Come on.” Griff turned back to Bethany, as if he’d just then remembered she was here. “You can leave your car here. I cleared it with my friend who owns this place. I’ll drive you back to Lantern Beach.”
Bethany hesitated for long enough that Griff paused and gave her a look.
“What?” His eyebrows shoved together. “Do you think I’m going to trap you on the island with no means of getting back home on your own?”
The thought had crossed her mind. But she knew Griff better than that. He was many things, but he was not vindictive.
“Let me just get our things from the trunk.” Bethany tried to keep her voice perky in order not to alarm Ada.
She popped the trunk. It was packed full, with suitcases, three bags of Ada-approved food, and uncountable other things.
“I can see you still like to pack light,” Griff commented drily, his eyebrows flicking up.
Bethany crossed her arms, already tired of his ribbing—and she’d just gotten here. “Very funny. We don’t have to do this.”
He held up his hand. “Calm down. I’m just giving you a hard time.”
Still holding Ada in one arm, he scooped down and picked up some bags to transfer to the back of his truck. Bethany helped until everything had been transferred over.
Griff gave Ada one more kiss on her chubby little cheek before handing her to Bethany. “Let me get the car seat situated and then we’ll be all set to go, Warrior Princess.”
Warrior Princess. That’s what Griff always called Ada. He’d said he couldn’t raise her to be a damsel in distress. She was stronger than that.
It was one thing Bethany and Griff had agreed on. Her daughter had to learn to slay her own dragons. It was a lesson Bethany had to learn the hard way when Griff left her.
As Bethany watched Griff work, she realized coming here was probably going to be the second biggest mistake of her life.
The first was when she had married Griff.
* * *
After Griff secured his truck on the ferry, he surveyed everything around him for any sign of trouble. He would continue to be on guard until he got Bethany and Ada to a secure location. So far, everything appeared clear.
The ferry was full today, with at least forty cars, as it often was in the summer. Tourists with their vehicles loaded down with kayaks, beach chairs, and surfboards waited for their dream vacations to begin on Lantern Beach.
Griff wished he was headed to the island with those same thoughts of relaxation and carefree days on his mind.
But that wasn’t the case. Protecting Bethany and Ada was his only concern. Nothing else mattered anymore.
As Ada fussed in the backseat, Bethany turned to him. “Do you think we could step out of the truck? It’s getting hot in here, and I see other people are standing near the railing looking at the water. It might be a nice distraction. Besides, Ada and I have been sitting in a car for hours.”
The truth was that Griff would prefer they all stay in the truck. That he could tuck Bethany and Ada away until danger passed. But he knew that with a three-year-old what was ideal was not always what happened.
“That’s fine.” Griff opened his door and carefully took Ada from her car seat.
If he had his way, he’d never let his little girl go. But, sometimes, in order to do what was best for a person, you had to do the hard things in life.
Like saying goodbye.
Griff’s pulse pounded at his temples at the thought.
The decision was something Bethany would never understand, and for which Ada would probably never forgive him. But deep down in his heart, Griff knew that putting space between himself and his wife and daughter had been the right thing.
Despite that, trouble had found them anyway.
“Daddy.” Ada’s fingers splayed against his cheek as she stared up at him.
“How’s my girl?” Griff murmured, his former Navy SEAL persona disappearing. He was putty in this girl’s hands, undoubtably.
He was rewarded with a big toothy grin.
“I’ve missed you, Daddy.”
“I’ve missed you, sweetheart.”
He glanced beside him at Bethany. She was just as beautiful as ever—maybe even more so. Her sand-colored hair hung halfway down her back in silky locks. Her brown eyes were big and intelligent. Her features were gentle, the kind a person could look at all day and never get tired of.
The first thing he’d fallen in love with when he’d met Bethany was her heart. She would give away everything she owned to help others. Her gentle voice spoke encouragement, and she always had a listening ear for anyone in need.
She was entirely too good for him. Griff had always known that. Yet he hadn’t been able to resist when the woman of his dreams walked into his life.
He only wished things hadn’t ended the way they did. But it was too late for regrets.
As Ada patted his cheek, Griff glanced over the railing. Water surrounded the boat, and the scent of the sea rose up around them, tempered by a balmy breeze.
“Let’s go look at the water,” he murmured. “How does that sound?”
Ada grinned and nodded. “Water!”
They wove between the cars until they reached the railing. Ada’s face lit up as she pointed at the gentle waves of the Pamlico Sound.
“Ooh, pretty,” she murmured.
“Isn’t it, though?” Griff pointed toward a small island in the distance, one with a few trees and lots of marsh grass. “See that? It’s called Seagull Island. A Native American princess was once banished to that island for falling in love with the wrong person.”
“What happened?”
“She called to the dolphins, and they came to her. She held on to their fins, and they pulled her across the water and took her home. When her tribe saw what had happened, they knew she was special. She eventually became one of the first female chiefs in their tribe.”
“Warrior Princess,” Ada said.
Griff grinned. “That’s right. Warrior Princess.”
“You two are just like each other, you know.” Bethany touched Ada’s hair, an unreadable expression on her face.
“I beg to differ,” Griff said. “Ada is not devastatingly handsome.”
“Oh, stop.” Bethany rolled her eyes and let out a puff of laughter. “You were always so full of yourself.”
“You
know you missed it.” He winked.
This wasn’t the time to joke or to give Bethany a hard time. But it came as naturally as breathing.
With his sunglasses still on, Griff glanced back, maintaining a lookout for any trouble. A figure on the other side of the ferry caught his eye. A man had been watching the three of them. He’d quickly looked away when Griff spotted him.
It might not be anything.
But it could be something.
Griff knew that was a risk he couldn’t take. If there was any chance that man was trouble, he needed to know.
Bethany’s face went still as she stared at him. “Why do you have that look?”
“What look?”
“That look that says you’re back on the battlefield.”
He handed Ada to her. Bethany could read him too well. “Listen, get back in the truck and lock the doors. Understand?”
Bethany’s face went still. “You’re scaring me, Griff.”
“Just do it. Okay?” He didn’t have time to convince her. If that guy was trouble, Griff had to act now if he wanted to protect his family.
Fear welled in Bethany’s gaze. But she listened and wove back through the cars until she reached his truck. Griff watched as she climbed inside, put Ada on her lap, and locked the door.
Now he had to find the man who’d been watching them. Until Griff knew if this guy was connected with the earlier abduction attempt, the stranger would remain a suspect in Griff’s mind. Anyone who put Bethany and their daughter in danger was officially Griff’s enemy.
He dodged several vehicles, scooted past tourists, and nodded to a member of the crew until he reached the other side of the boat.
Griff spotted the man again. Tall. Dark hair. Scruffy beard.
The man slipped behind a car, walking toward the bow of the boat.
Was he trying to give Griff the slip? Maybe.
That wasn’t going to slow Griff down.
“Hey!” Griff yelled, stepping toward him.
The man looked back. Froze.
Ripple Effect: Lantern Beach Blackout, Book 3 Page 2