“We are so making whatever that was happen, little girl,” Max told her.
She nodded. Not trying to deny anything, Saylor slipped her hand into his. She loved this feeling. Having someone in her life who made all her fantasies reality and cared about her was a dream come true. She forced herself to walk sedately next to him when she wanted to skip with happiness. Soon they would be home, and she could let her little side out.
“Good morning. I need to change my beneficiary forms,” Max announced. Spacing out, Saylor glanced around the office as he stood at the desk filling in the paperwork.
“I’ll need your ID, ma’am,” the clerk said to her when Max finished.
“My ID?” Saylor repeated as she fumbled with the small phone wallet she carried for her driver’s license.
“They need to confirm who you are, Saylor,” Max told her.
Confused, Saylor glanced at the form in front of them. Her name jumped out at her. “You made me your beneficiary?”
“Yes. And my next of kin. The military can talk to you now if anything happens to me,” Max explained quietly.
“Here you are, ma’am,” the clerk told her as he handed back her license before looking back at Max. “Anything else, sir?”
“No. Thank you.”
A blare sounded, and a voice came over the intercom. “All service members evacuate the west entrance.” Instantly, everyone moved.
Max grabbed Saylor’s hand and tugged her from the office. “Come with me, baby. I’ll get you somewhere safe.”
They hadn’t taken five steps when his phone rang. Max grabbed his device and read the message as they ran. “Fuck. Change of plans, baby.”
Almost immediately a second announcement rang out. “Take shelter away from the north and west entrances.”
“What is going on?” Saylor asked.
“They’ve got a bomb threat at both entrances. The base has one team always on duty. One is taking the west. I’ve been called to the north.”
Fright like she’d never felt before made her blood turn to ice. Not for herself like she’d felt in the bank robbery, but fear that something would happen to Max. “Your team isn’t here.”
“They wouldn’t be with me anyway, little girl. Here.” He pressed a code into a side door and pulled her inside. Lockers lined the walls. Saylor met the surprised glance of a ripped serviceman dressed only in a towel. She looked up at the ceiling immediately.
“Make way!” Max roared. Saylor heard bodies hit the lockers with thuds as everyone stood back, creating a path for them.
“Sorry!” she called as he pulled her through a doorway into a large gym area.
“Our lockers are here with my equipment.”
“I’ve got your equipment locker unlocked. I’ll watch out for Saylor.”
Relief flooded Saylor as she met Hank’s gaze. In a flurry of activity, Max strapped equipment to his back and filled his arms. He stopped to pull her close for a hard kiss. “Be safe. Do what Hank says without argument.” He was gone before Saylor could even answer.
She turned in shock to look at Hank. “Is he going to be okay?”
“He’s really good at what he does, Saylor.”
Hank had reassured her without ensuring Max’s safety. Tears gathered in her eyes, clouding her vision. Blindly, she walked forward into Hank’s arms. He gathered her gently against him and patted her back.
A few minutes later when her trembling calmed, he said, “We’re safe here. Let’s sit down.”
Her legs shook as he guided her over to the bleachers on one side of the open area. When she sat, Hank settled next to her. His presence reassured her.
He talked softly. “This base is the safest place in town. Everyone is trained to handle any threat or emergency.”
“Do you have something you need to do?” she asked, hoping he could stay with her.
