“Mom, Dad, Garrett, Jason, I’d like you to meet the man who rescued me, the man I love and the man I hope to one day share the rest of my life with, Ben Grant.” She gave him a watery grin and winked at him.
The four looked at each other for a moment before launching at Ben, hugging him and thanking him for bringing her home. “Of course, we know Ben. You used to follow him around like a lost puppy.” Garrett teased her. Hannah stayed at Ben’s side as her family ushered them in. Together they knew they could accomplish anything. Hannah would take a few days with her family and spend the rest of her life with the man she loved. Life was perfect.
Benwas shocked at how easily her family accepted him. He always assumed he wasn’t good enough for her in her parent's eyes. Rescuing her had probably changed their way of thinking. Hannah’s misconception of her family not caring about her had all been in vain. Her family had poured thousands of dollars and used all their resources to find her, but always came up empty handed. Her parents and brother Jason admitted they stopped looking when all their leads dried up, but Garrett never stopped looking.
They were about to sit down and eat whenBen’s phone went off. He stepped outside when he saw it was Hound calling.
“What’s up, Brother.”
“Commander Brady is dead. Killed in the hospital.” Hound told him without preamble.
“What? How?”Bensaid in shock. “He was surrounded by guards.”
“All the guards were killed, and the Commander was strangled to death. It’s a warning Midas.”
“From who?”
“Alejandro. Security footage shows him and a large number of his army in the hospital. Please tell me Hannah is staying up in Portland for a while.”
Bentried calming his racing heart and tried to think logically about their next move. His first instinct was to get Hannah out of the country or into a fortified bunker, but he knew his Goldilocks would never stand by while others were in danger. “She’s planning on staying here a few days to get to know her family better. I might be able to convince her to stay longer.”
“Do. Alejandro looks like he’s setting up shop down here in California.”
“I’ll head back tomorrow, and we’ll take the son of a bitch out for good,”Benvowed. Never would he see fear in Hannah’s eyes. She was his main priority. He didn’t care what it took, one way or another Alejandro would be behind bars, locked up for the rest of his miserable life and never come near Hannah again.
“What’s going on?” Hannah asked him from behind.
“I’ll call you later with details,”Bentold Hound before hanging up on him. “Nothing, why don’t we go back inside and visit with your family.”
“Tell me the truth, Ben. If it concerns my safety or that of my family, I have the right to know.”
“I will I promise. Right now, let’s go back in and eat with your family.” He tried ushering her back towards the house, but she planted her feet and refused to budge. He loved her stubbornness but right now.
“Don’t brush me off,” she warned jabbing him in the chest with her index finger.
“I’m not,” he promised her. “This is just an important day for you. Your seeing your family for the first time in over a year. I don’t want to overshadow that. I will tell you, tonight, I promise.” Ben wrapped his arms around Hannah, breathing in her scent. As worried as he was about Alejandro and killing several MP’s, holding Hannah made time stop and his worries disappear. “Please just trust me.”
Hannah tilted her head back, smiling at him. “Of course, I trust you. That was never a question. I just don’t want to be kept in the dark, especially if it concerns my safety.”
Ben leaned down, kissing the tip of her nose. “Tonight, Goldilocks. I’ll tell you everything. Let’s get back inside before your dad thinks I kidnapped you.”
Hannah giggled but quickly sobered. “That’s not funny.”
“Just a little.” He laughed holding his thumb and index finger apart an inch.
“What’s going on out here?” Charles, Hannah’s dad, yelled out to them from the doorway.
“Nothing, daddy, just a quick conversation.” Hannah quickly assured her dad, racing back up to the house.
“Good, thought you might be trying to escape.” He said gruffly.
“Not a chance,” Hannah kissed her dad on his withered cheek before heading back inside.
Charlie blocked Ben from walking back in him. Here it was. the set down he had been expecting. Charles was just being nice for his daughter’s sake, but now that they were alone he was going to tell him to leave his daughter alone. It wasn’t going to happen, but he was prepared for the speech.
Charlie looked at him with a hard, calculating eye. Ben widened his stance showing he was intimated in the least. Without warning, Charlie launched himself at Ben and wrapped his arms around him. Ben stood stunned as Charlie, how-bit awkwardly, hugged him.
“You brought my little girl home to me.” Charlie chocked.
