Her Vigilant Seal (6 page)

“Honey, can you answer my question?” His thumb stroked her cheekbone again. It felt so good.

“Maybe ten or twelve hours in the last four days.” His other hand came up, and cupped her other cheek, his touch so gentle. How could blue eyes be so soft, so warm, so inviting? He brushed a soft kiss across her lips. She kept her eyes open, staring into his. Little lines fanned out at the corners of his, and he smiled.

“Honey, I think you’re adorable, and I really, really do want to go out on a date with you. Do you want to know something else that’s true?” She nodded.

“I’m scared to death if we go downstairs Drake will say another dumb shit thing and you’ll run away again.” She smiled, knowing he was probably right. “You have to promise me when we’ve found your brother you’ll go out with me, no matter what Drake says or does.”

“But…” He cut her off before she could say no.

“Sophia, I’m only allowing you the one time mistake of putting yourself down because you’re obviously sleep deprived. Honey, the reason I call you that is because you’re so sweet. I have never called another woman honey.” God, she wanted to believe him. Then she had a flashback to her dad and pulled away from him.

“That sounds really good but I don’t believe you,” her voice trembled though she wanted it to sound firm.

“Again, I’m going to put this down to sleep deprivation. In the meantime, you have two SEALs at your disposal. We’re not leaving. So you might as well make use of us.” His determination was obvious, and she really needed help to find Billy. He had been missing for five nights. She couldn’t stand the thought of her brother out there alone for a sixth.

“Thank you.” She smiled up through her lashes.

“You’re welcome ‘honey’.” She wished she didn’t like it so much when he called her that.

As they got into the truck, Mason tried to get Sophia to take the front seat, but she wouldn’t, insisting Drake needed the leg room.

“She’s right man, I do.” Mason scowled at his friend.

“Can we stop at the phone store?” The question was asked so quietly he almost missed it as he started the engine.

“Damn Sophia, I should have thought of that. I had to go yesterday since mine was lost. Yours was damaged wasn’t it?” He looked over his shoulder and saw her nod.

“I wouldn’t ask, but I left Billy’s picture with the missions and shelters, and they said they would call me if he showed up.” She was holding her broken phone in her hand as if she were willing it to ring.

“Sure, let’s go.”

After they got her a new phone they headed into the city. Mason was familiar with many parts of San Diego since he’d bought an old house in Lincoln Park and started renovating. His dad had done construction, so doing the work on his home in San Diego made him feel close to his dad. His house was in an older part of town that was full of good hard-working people. He would work late into the night restoring the floors or the woodwork, and then go for long walks to work out the kinks. He hated to admit he’d also had trouble sleeping, so he understood where Sophia was coming from.

It never bothered him walking through Encanto even though it was considered one the worst parts of San Diego. He often brought a couple of extra sandwiches to give to some of the homeless. That’s what he’d had been doing when he came upon Sophia. It still scared the hell out of him to think what would have happened if he hadn’t been there.

“Billy stayed at the Union Mission last night,” Sophia said as he parked his truck in the park’s parking lot. “I just got a text.”

“That’s great, I know where that is.” He started the engine and headed towards the mission. Drake had been abnormally quiet the closer they had gotten to the park. Mason was worried what was coming, and as they pulled up to Union Mission, Drake let loose.

“Where in the hell are we? This can’t be part of San Diego. Jesus, Sophia, you’re not allowed to be out here during daylight hours let alone at night,” he roared.

Mason looked up at the sky praying for help.

“Do you have sisters, Drake?” Sophia asked.

“Yes, I have three of them,” he automatically snapped out an answer.

“And you’re still living? I’m shocked.” Mason roared with laughter. Help had come. He knew Sophia had a backbone when protecting others but he’d worried she would never stand up for herself. Apparently his prayers had been heard.

“Are you calling me overbearing, little girl?” Drake drawled.

“I’ve been calling you many things in my head, Drake, overbearing is probably the only one that is fit for public consumption.” Both men laughed.

“But seriously, this is not safe, you can’t be out there. You’re lucky you’re alive.” Drake seemed to be on the fence, his expression half dictatorial, and half wheedling.

“Drake, my brother is only twelve years old. He’s been out there for five nights. The police haven’t found him, what other choice did I have?” Her green eyes filled with tears. Drake looked at Mason, clearly at a loss.

“We’ll find him for you, honey.” Mason stepped in.

“Don’t you have to be at work?” she asked pulling at her hair.

“We go in for training tomorrow morning, but we just got done with an operation so right now we’re not active. We have time to help.” Hell, Mason would just ask for leave until Billy was found, there wasn’t a chance in hell he would risk Sophia’s life letting her search for her brother alone again.

When they got inside the mission, Sophia made her way over to the desk at the back. There was an older man sitting at it who immediately got up to greet them.

“Sophia, I’m glad you warned me about your injuries over the phone or I would have had a heart attack. I told you to stop coming to this neighborhood at night,” he chided her. He took her left hand into both of his and held it.

“Reverend, I have to find Billy,” she said as she leaned into the old man.

“Well you’re in luck, I told him I would call you and you would be here for dinner. He promised to be back.”

“I don’t understand, if he wasn’t avoiding you to begin with, why didn’t he just call you?” Drake asked.

The preacher and Sophia looked at one another. Sophia finally looked at the two men. “Billy knows I can’t keep him right now, so he keeps running away to find our father. Dad lives down here in San Diego, that’s how he ended up in San Diego Foster Care instead of Orange County.”

“Where is your father?” Drake demanded.

“An old neighbor of ours said he thought he saw dad in Mission Hills. Billy’s foster parents are in Rancho San Diego. I’m amazed he makes it as far west as he does,” Sophia said, as the preacher put his arm carefully around her shoulders.

“Why isn’t your father in the picture?” Drake wanted to know.

“He took off when my mom got so sick. They weren’t happy for a long time and the cancer gave him an excuse to bail.”

“What a fuckwad,” Drake said.

“Please watch your language,” the Reverend admonished. “Sophia, introduce me to your two friends.”

“Drake Avery and Mason Gault, please meet Reverend Langley.” She smiled fondly at the reverend and Mason.

“Let’s get you a seat before you fall down, girl.”

“I’m fine. What can I do to help before dinner?” The reverend looked at Mason and rolled his eyes, and Mason chuckled. Apparently he wasn’t the only one who ran into her stubbornness.

“You can sit down and take care of yourself. You brought me two recruits who I will put to work, you’ve done enough.” And with that said, the reverend took him and Drake to the kitchen and put them to work with two little ladies making dinner for over a hundred people.

“Hey buddy, I’m going to step out for a few. Can I have the keys to your truck?” Mason knew exactly what Drake was up to and threw him the keys. He kept peeling carrots and talking to Mrs. Wilson.

An hour later Drake was back with his arms full of groceries. “Is there more in the bed of the truck?” Mason asked.

“Yep,” Drake said sheepishly.

“Oh, this is wonderful,” Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Cavendish said as they started unpacking the bags.

Mason stopped on his way to the truck when he saw Sophia sitting cross-legged on the floor with four children around her and a toddler sitting on her lap as she read them a story. She didn’t see him, and he listened in. It was about a princess of course, and how she couldn’t sleep because her bed was uncomfortable—something about a pea under her mattress. Mason was as enthralled as the children with the way she told the story using different voices.

“Dude, what’s the…” Drake tried to interrupt.

“Shhh.”

“We’ve got to get…” Mason handed the keys back to Drake and motioned him away.

“You’ve got it bad.” Mason nodded and made the motioning movement again. He didn’t move until she said ‘the end’. She saw him, and immediately blushed.

“How long have you been there?” Sophia asked as she bit her lip.

“Just for a moment,” Mason replied easily. “I thought you were going to take it easy.”

“How much easier could I take it than reading stories to children?” The little boy pushed out of Sophia’s arms, causing her to gasp in pain. Mason was over by her side in two strides. He wrapped an arm around her ribs and lifted her off the floor. She gasped again. Damn it, he’d forgotten her ribs been injured as well.

“You need to be careful,” he admonished.

“It’s really nothing.” She gave him a bright false smile.

“I’ve had knife injuries before and it hurt worse than when I was shot.”

“You were shot?” Her eyes got wide. “Are you okay? When did you get shot? Should you be sitting down?” He looked at her in disbelief. She was one hundred percent serious. Nobody but his mom ever showed so much concern for him. At least genuine concern.

“Settle, honey. I’m fine, it was a couple of years ago.” He maneuvered her to the threadbare couch, nodding to Drake as he brought in yet another load of groceries. Drake gave him a knowing smirk.

“What about the knife wound? Did it heal okay? When was that?” Mason sat next to her left side so he could sit close without hurting her. He looked down and saw her soft blue denim clad thigh next to his and groaned inwardly.

“What did you ask?” How could he possibly be expected to remember her question when he was sitting so close to her gentle curves?

“Are you healed?” she asked again.

“You do realize what I do for a living, right? We go into dangerous situations. Hell, I get injured during normal training.” He chuckled. “Imagine doing a little hand-to-hand against Drake.”

She looked at Drake as he made his way back to the truck. Damn, how much food had the man purchased, Mason wondered.

“He’s huge. I hadn’t thought about you guys scrimmaging.”

“You’re adorable. We call it training.” She blushed, and he wished she didn’t have any bruises marring her creamy complexion. Every time Mason pictured her delicate face being hit by fists he saw red. He needed to call the police officer and see what the status of the charges were against the animals who hurt her.

“Are you okay? Why are you looking angry?”

“I was thinking about the bastards who laid hands on you. After we pick up Billy, let’s go by the police department and see what the status is on your case.”

“I’d rather we didn’t.” She played with the hem of her blouse.

“Okay.” He’d stop by himself.

“You’re not going to ask me why?” she asked in surprise.

“If you don’t want to it’s good enough for me.”

She looked at him and smiled. “Thank you Mason.” He brushed her beautiful honey gold hair out of her face and gently caressed her cheek. A movement caught his attention and he turned. He was looking at another set of green eyes that mirrored Sophia’s, and they were staring back at him filled with distrust.

“I think your brother is here.” She jerked around and once again gasped in pain. “Slowly, girl.” He helped her off the couch, and she rushed over to her brother.

The boy looked like hell. Sophia opened her arms and reached for him, but Billy sidestepped and she gave an audible gasp of emotional pain.

“Billy, why can’t I hug you?” she cried.

“I’m dirty,” he said, his eyes filling with tears.

“Oh sweetheart, that’s nonsense.” She pulled him into her arms, and he squeezed her tightly. She didn’t say a word, just squeezed him back.

Mason knew even if the hug was rubbing bone on bone Sophia wouldn’t protest so he stepped in. He tapped Billy on the shoulder.

“Go easy on her Billy, she’s hurt.”

Billy stepped back and looked at his big sister.

“What happened to you?” Billy demanded.

“It’s nothing really, just some bumps and bruises.” She smiled at her brother, and then quickly looked over his shoulder and glared at Mason. Billy caught on and turned to look at Mason, then looked back at Sophia.

“No you’re not fine. Did he do that to you?” He asked motioning to Mason.

“Of course not. He saved me.” Sophia pulled Mason to her side. “This is Mason Gault and he saved me from the men who attacked me. Mason, this is my brother, Billy Anderson.”

Mason held out his hand and finally the boy took it. “Thank you for taking care of my sister. She’s really special.”

“She really is. It’s nice to meet you, Billy.”

“Billy, you know it could have been you that got hurt. You have to stop running away. I was so worried about you,” Sophia spoke in calm tones, and it was obvious she was used to acting like the parent.

“I’m fine. I couldn’t find Dad. Can I stay with you for a few days before you turn me in again?”

“I’m going to call the Bards and let them know I’ve found you. Not only are Mr. and Mrs. Bard worried, but so are the twins. They’ve all been worried sick. I’m sure they’ll be okay if you stay with me a night or two before we contact DHCS. But I’ll only agree if you tell me where you’ve been for the last five nights.” Yep, Sophia was clearly in parent mode.