AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He gave her a skeptical look and chuckled, tightening his arms around her. “Semantics, babe. Just semantics.”
She pushed back her hair and made a face at him. “Yeah, well. He doesn’t have to know what I do in my private spare time.” She snuggled back against him. “Speaking of that. I am having a hard time with what’s going on at the palace.” She pushed up away from him and settled against the headboard. Something akin to distress flashed in her gaze. She leaned down off the bed, her sweet, heart-shaped ass thrust into the air. He admired it until she popped back up and donned his T-shirt. She turned her body sideways and once again leaned against the headboard.
He raised a brow, both intrigued and concerned by her statement. Whatever her problem, it seemed serious, and he wasn’t about to shut her down without hearing what she had to say first.
“Fabrice is a close friend of mine. I think she and her husband are in trouble, which automatically puts Kenzy in danger, too. He’s just a baby and Fabrice is so young.”
It was good to see another side to her personality, not the consummate professional, the sex kitten teaser, or the dutiful daughter, but a concerned friend.
Shark watched her. Only the outline of her face and the glint of her eyes were discernible in the fading light, but he could tell her expression was serious. Wondering what kind of Pandora’s Box Maddy was about to open, there was a slight hesitation before he asked, “What are you thinking?”
“That I should get in to see her on a one-to-one basis, maybe find out what’s going on with her husband,” she went on, her tone frustrated.
“That’s not a bad idea,” he said, rubbing his hand along his unshaven jaw as he studied her. “But I don’t think the prime minister is going to go for it.”
“I’ll invite my mom along.” She absently tucked back a strand of silky chestnut hair brushing along her cheek. “She’s the ambassador’s wife, and I’m his daughter. He won’t see us as a threat. First off, we’re women, and second, I’ll be leaving soon. I don’t believe he knows that Fabrice and I are close friends.”
“Do you think she’ll talk?” They needed intel regarding what was happening in the palace to keep the ambassador and the embassy safe. If something was going on, then it was imperative that they find out. A simple lunch with the first lady wasn’t going to turn any heads or upset any apple carts, and it could be valuable in the end.
Maddy bit on the corner of her lip, then met his gaze. “Yes, I do think she’ll talk to me.” Her hair was in a tumble around her shoulders, and he loved the way she looked in his T-shirt—adorable. The thought of her going into the palace was daunting. He decided she wasn’t going to that meeting alone. But he was reluctant to give in without first getting permission.
Maddy’s concerns were believable and warranted. “Then we’ll need to talk to your dad and my LT before you attempt to meet with her. Get their take on it.” His statement was as blunt as it was steadfast.
Her face brightened, her expression hopeful. “That’s a deal. I think it will be very productive, and we’ll know how to help her.”
Shark wasn't going to dismiss any possibility. With that settled, they ordered dinner, enjoying it with the open view of the beach and ocean. Then they fell asleep in each other’s arms. The morning dawned quick and bright, and they packed up and headed back to the residence and their proposal to the ambassador, his wife, and Tex. He planned to get back just in time for PT.
After exercising and before his shower, he set his go bag on his bunk. Twister looked over at him. “So, you had a nice little excursion with the feisty ambassador’s daughter.” Everything in Twister’s expression told him that he was needling Shark.
He grinned. “You’re just jealous,” he said.
Twister laughed. “That I am, bro.”
Shark swallowed and before he could think twice about what he was going to do, he said, “Twist, I need to talk to you.”
Twister looked up at Shark’s serious tone. “What’s up, brother?”
“I’m well aware of how I act toward all of you. How I keep my distance.” He sat down on the bunk, needing support. “I just don’t want to let you all down, and I feel that I have by my actions.”
“What? Are you kidding? Correct me if I’m wrong. Wasn’t it you who saved Easy from drowning and brought him back? Wasn’t it you who had Easy’s back in Bolivia? Undercover on the fly, recruiting a guard from the prison, shadowing our brother who was in danger, along with his protective charge?”
“Yes, I guess it was, but Twist, I want to tell you about why I acted like I did.” Before Shark knew it, he was pouring out his story to Twister, who to his credit listened intently and didn’t interrupt. He finally got to the point of all this information. “I didn’t come into the Navy like you all did. I was forced by the court system to choose between prison and the military.”
“All the more reason to admire you, Bale. You are the one who changed your life and are now a productive member of our team. I don’t care about what you did in your past. I only care about what you do on this team, on our missions, and that's to show us every goddamned time that you have our backs.”
The tension left Shark’s body and the knot in his gut unraveled, but in its place was this…pride and determination to continue to be what Twister saw in him. He blinked rapidly, his throat tight.
“Thank you. That means so much to me.”
Twister nodded. “So, what other secrets are you hiding from us?”
Shark shifted. “Ah, I write poetry,” he said.
Twister sat up taller, his brows lifting, and a small smile touching the corner of his mouth. “No shit. I didn’t expect to hear that coming out of your broody mouth. Let me see it.”
“Now?” That knot reappeared, even tighter than before. “No one’s ever really read it before.”
He dug in his bag and grabbed his notebook. “This is one I wrote for Maddy.”
