Chapter 3
MITCH JOLTED FROM a deep sleep as an alarm buzzed from somewhere across the room.
“I hate that ringer,” Ashley mumbled, patting his chest with her hand. “Where’d I leave my damn phone?”
“I don’t remember you having it last night.”
Her body tensed. “Please tell me I’m dreaming.”
“You’re dreaming,’ he whispered, carefully rolling her to the side as he slipped from the bed on a mission to find the phone and shut off the constant ringing. After that, he figured he’d slip out of her room, satisfied he’d been a total gentleman, making sure he honored all of his promises and ensured her safety.
Thankfully, she’d gone back to a deep sleep.
Her clutch purse, that she’d dropped in the hallway, twice, rested on the chair next to the window, and it seemed to be the source of the sound. Sure enough, her phone had been tucked inside.
He let out a long sigh when he saw a reminder to meet her father for breakfast at eight. It was ten minutes to eight.
“Guess I’m having breakfast,” he mumbled, tiptoeing to the bedside and resting her index finger on the lock button. He felt like he was prying, but he’d only click on the calendar event, hoping it would have the information of the restaurant.
Only as soon as he unlocked the phone, a text message appeared from her dad.
Room 202. Don’t be late. I heard Derek showed his ugly face. I’m sorry. But I hope you didn’t do anything crazy. He’s not worth it and Valerie is a big girl. If she doesn’t want to know the truth, that’s on her.
And that was way too much information.
Mitch jotted down a note, leaving it on top of her phone so she’d know to check her messages and that he went to meet her father.
Even if he thought he could wake her, based on the light snore, he suspected she might still be a tad drunk.
Best to let her sleep until right before the wedding.
He paused at the door, and in a bold tactical maneuver, he snagged her room key, shoving it in his back pocket.
Making a quick run to his room to brush his teeth and change his shirt, he found himself tapping on the commander’s room at three minutes past the hour.
“You’re late, young lady,” the commander said, pulling back the door, his smile quickly turning into a frown. “May I help you?”
Mitch swallowed. When he’d met the commander a few years back, he’d found the man to be personable.
But intimidating as hell.
How Ashley’s father tolerated Derek was a mystery.
“Don’t I know you?” the commander asked, before Mitch could utter a single word.
“Yes. I’m Mitch Harrison, a SEAL, and we met on a joint mission—”
“I remember.” The commander nodded his head as his face relaxed. “How did you know I was here?”
He couldn’t say Ashley told him, because she hadn’t, and the truth might get him punched. “Could I come in for a moment?”
“Is everything alright, son? Did something happen to Ashley?”
“Yes and no,” Mitch admitted, as he stepped into the room. In front of the window a continental breakfast had been set up with various pastries and a fresh pot of coffee that reminded him he needed a good shot of caffeine.
“I don’t like riddles, you should remember that from our brief time together.”
Mitch nodded. “To be short and to the point, Ashley had way too much to drink last night after a run-in with Derek. Actually, she’d been blindsided by his presence. Anyway, I’d promised her I’d look out for her and make sure she didn’t do anything stupid, except I did let her get too drunk.”
“She’s a lightweight, two drinks will put her on her ass. What else happened?”
Mitch appreciated the commander’s candor, but it didn’t ease the knot in his stomach. He’d never done well with the meet the parents date with any woman he’d ever dated. “Nothing really. She and Derek had words, I took Ashley to her room and made sure she was safe.”
“Coffee?” The commander waved to the table. His facial expression remained tight, though not angry.
At least not that Mitch could tell.
“Yes. Thank you.” Mitch took a seat and collected his thoughts while the commander poured the rich brew. The steam carrying with it a hint of almond. Mitch had done nothing wrong. Only he felt like a kid sitting in the principal’s office trying to explain how he had a bag full of panties that he’d really collected from the kid who’d gone through the girl’s locker room during gym class.
Mitch had always intended on making sure no girl was humiliated, only he’d gotten caught first. One of his more embarrassing moments in life.
“Have you talked to Ashley this morning?” The commander peered over his mug as he blew, pushing the steam away from his mouth.
“Not in so many words.” Mitch shifted in his seat. “This wasn’t a couple of drinks too many. I didn’t know she’d started before I sat with her at the bar.”
“So, you’re sitting there telling me you spent the night with my daughter?”
Mitch coughed. “Commander. Sir. I can’t stress how drunk she was. It would have been irresponsible for me to leave her alone. When I left this morning, she was still passed out. I suspect she’ll be hung over right through the wedding.”
“We fought together, you can call me Riggs like everyone else.” Riggs nodded toward the food on the table. “And, as I recall, you’re the Navy SEAL who testified in front of my peers on my behalf over the incident with Derek.”
“Yes, sir.” Mitch couldn’t believe that Derek had filed an official complaint against the commander.
“You never told them the extent of the disagreement between me and Derek, protecting my daughter’s reputation, but you said enough that got me off the hook, and him off my team.”
Heat rose to Mitch’s cheeks. He hadn’t seen the pictures, but just talking about them made him ill at ease for both Ashley and her father. “I told the truth, as I saw it.”
“I’ve never forgotten what you did. You’re an honorable man.”
“Thank you, sir.” Mitch tried to hide the crack in his voice. He didn’t think he was any more admirable than anyone else.
“Stop with the sir, crap. It’s Riggs.” He buttered a bagel. “It must have been hard to grow up with such a notorious mother—”
“Excuse me?” Mitch gripped the armrests, his hands turning white as he held on as tight as he could, controlling his anger. It’s never good to get into it with a man who outranked you.
Or the father of the woman you were determined to have some kind of meaningful relationship with.
“Relax.” Riggs put his hand up. “During the investigation into the incident, it was brought up by the idiot representing Derek, trying to discredit you.”
“That information is supposed to be sealed,” Mitch said, biting down on the inside of his cheek. “The government has jumped through hoops for me, making sure my real identity is protected.”
“It has been. All they knew was that there was a confidential file on you. They had no idea what it was, but they sure as shit tried to find out.”
“How’d you find out?” To Mitch’s knowledge, only half a dozen people knew he was the daughter of Renee Nuniez, head of one of the largest drug cartels.
“It doesn’t matter.” Riggs leaned back in the chair. “I helped make sure that information was buried so deep, it would be nearly impossible for even the president to find.”
Mitch willed his pulse to slow as he relaxed his muscles. “I appreciate it.”
“Personally, I’m impressed by what you’ve done with your life. You’re a good man. I mean that, in spite of who your mother is.”
“My mother is a dangerous woman and in all fairness, if she knew where I was, or what I’ve been doing with my life, she’d probably have me killed.” Mitch hadn’t discussed his mother in years. She still haunted his dreams, and he often worried the longer he stayed in the states, the sooner she might find him since he knew no way did she believe he’d disappeared without a trace.
Actually, Marcus Nuniez, his former self, died when he’d turned eighteen in a raid on one of his mother’s drug factories after setting his mother up.
Only, she got away, and he went into protective custody. It was there, someone suggested he hide in the military.
The rest was history.
“That’s a tough way to live.”
“I don’t think about it much. It’s been twelve years, and not once has there been any reason for her to believe I wasn’t blown to bits,” Mitch said.
“I hope it stays that way.” Riggs wiped his mouth with the napkin and tossed it on the plate. “How did you meet my daughter?”
“I had an injury a few months back. She was my physical therapist. I hadn’t seen her in three months. I had no idea she’d be here.”
“Suzie Pendleton’s father and I were college roommates,” Riggs said. “Are you back to full duty?”
“I was,” Mitch admitted, rubbing his knee. “I pushed too hard and ended up having to have a second surgery, and my days in the field are over.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but if you haven’t seen Ashley in months, then I take it you went somewhere else for your PT?”
Mitch’s palms grew sweaty, the guilt eating him alive, which was crazy. “I did.”
Riggs laughed. “I bet she didn’t like that.”
“No. She didn’t, and I had to admit to making a big mistake by not going back to her, but it wouldn’t have changed the outcome. The damage was too extensive.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I honestly don’t know yet. I planned on spending this weekend thinking about my options.”
“And instead, you ended up babysitting my daughter.”
Mitch wouldn’t call it that. “It was a tough night for her all around.”
“I appreciate your kindness, and I’m sure my daughter does, too.”
“Speaking of her, I think maybe one of us should go check on her. It’s been almost an hour since I left.”
“She’d be pissed if I went, so you go. Tell her to call me when she gets a chance.”
“Yes, sir…I mean Riggs.”
Riggs stood, and Mitch followed him to the door, trying to keep from limping, though he failed miserably.
“I can tell you like my daughter.” Riggs took Mitch’s hand, and squeezed a little too hard. “Hurt her and I’ll do more than break your nose.”
“I think she’ll be the one breaking my heart.”