Her Vigilant Seal (11 page)

“You’re right she was young and I worry for her too, honey. But there’s more than just that. What else has you nervous?”

“It’s stupid.”

“Is it about those men being out of jail? Because it sure as hell makes me mad.”

“But it makes sense. It should make you mad. It should make me mad.” Both of her hands gripped his shirt.

“Ah, baby.” He shifted so he could look into her eyes. “Are you afraid those men can find you?”

“Can they?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“I don’t think they tell your identity until the D.A. has to tell the defendant’s lawyers. When do you meet with the D.A.?”

“They want me to come in this week or early next week.” He hated the defeated sound in her voice.

“We’ll go together.”

“We will?” She looked at him with a hopeful expression.

He smoothed her hair. “Yes we will.”

“Damn, I forgot. They need to take your statement too.”

“I would have gone whether they needed my statement or not.” He bent and brushed a kiss against her forehead. He wasn’t quite sure how it happened but from now on when Sophia Anderson needed something he was going to do his damnedest to provide it.

****

They left the house while it was still dark and drove north on the Five Freeway up to San Onofre. Mason checked and the surf was going to be perfect for Billy, who hadn’t been on a board for over three years.

When they got to the beach Billy ran way in front of them. Sophia wasn’t worried because she’d heard the rules Mason had laid out. Billy stood up straight, listened intently, and nodded to everything Mason had to say. One of the big no-no’s was going into the water without Mason watching. There was absolutely no doubt he led men in the military.

“He’s a good kid. You’ve done a great job with him.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Sophia asked, genuinely perplexed.

“You’ve really been a mother to your brother for quite a while and he’s a great boy. I really like him.” Sophia blushed.

“I do too. I can’t wait for the day he can move in with me.” She’d been toying with the idea of getting another job on top of the one at the diner so she could save up faster for the apartment. She mentioned it to Mason.

“What are you thinking of doing?”

“During my sophomore year of college I had a job as a paid intern at a call center for a cable company. I would need to find another job with even more of a swing shift.”

“How many hours a week are you thinking of working in total?” Mason asked. He helped her down a particularly rough spot on the trail.

“No more than seventy to save up the money. Then I would have to cut back to fifty when Billy came to live with me.” They were at the beach and the sun was just peaking over the horizon. Billy set her blanket on the first table available in a haphazard manner. She laughed. When she looked at Mason to see if he found it amusing, he looked dark and forbidding.

“What’s wrong?” Sophia almost lost her footing, unused to seeing that kind of expression on his face.

“I want to talk to you about your work schedule idea after we drop Billy at the Bard’s.” Sophia’s tummy fluttered.

“Well okay.” Then she thought through what he’d said. “You have to work I’m going to drop him off by myself.”

“I took the day off and we’re dropping him off together,” his tone brooked no argument. He helped her sit on the table with her feet settled on the bench. She had a thin coat she’d brought when she had packed to go to Mason’s, and she wrapped it tight around herself. Mason dropped a thick coat over her shoulders. She looked up in question.

“It’s mine. I knew you didn’t have one. It’s big enough to act as a blanket so you should stay warm.” He smiled at her. Sophia snuggled into the shearling coat. Even though it was April in California, dawn at the beach was damn chilly.

“Okay you guys, I expect to be impressed. I brought my phone so I’m going to be taking pictures.” And with that, the two of them were off. She watched as they raced towards the water. Billy ran at a manic pace Mason could have easily surpassed, but he kept at Billy’s side. That’s how the entire morning progressed. Mason would keep a keen eye on Billy’s abilities and slow his pace to match. She watched him lean over and provide pointers.

There were a few times Billy rode the waves and it was a wonderful sight to behold. After two hours they came in for a break. Sophia had juice and breakfast burritos ready for them. They ate and rested for a while before they went back into the water. Billy came out and then they both watched Mason surf.

Finally there was a huge swell and he rode a big wave.

“Look at that, Soph, that’s rad.” Billy even stopped midway from finishing a piece of pie to comment. Rad wasn’t the word she was thinking more like magnificent. Especially now that she knew what was hidden beneath the wetsuit.

Mason stayed out for another half hour before he finally headed in. He flopped down beside Billy and looked over at the basket of food and then at her.

“Did Billy leave anything?”

“Nope, growing boy. There’s nothing left.” Her brother laughed.

“She’s lying. She made enough for the two of us and three others.”

“Now he’s lying. I bet my last dollar there won’t be anything left.”

Mason peered into the basket and pulled out two burritos. “I’m not going to take that bet.” He lay back on his elbows and they all lounged about, watching the surfers, the water, and the colors of the sky. By the time they got up to leave the basket was empty.

****

The next morning at the diner Sophia was still marveling over the fact that not only had Mason gone with her to the Bard’s, he had followed her back to the diner to make sure she made it home safely. What kind of man did that? For God’s sake, she was twenty-two, she drove all over by herself she didn’t need a keeper. But he hadn’t made her feel weak instead he made her feel cared for.

After the breakfast rush, Margie insisted she take a break and they sat at one of the tables near the back. Frannie DeLuca came over from the food pantry as well.

“Spill,” Frannie said as soon as the food was on the table.

Sophia knew she was going to get the third degree, so she’d been considering exactly what she would, and wouldn’t, disclose. Kisses, she would admit to kisses. She wouldn’t admit to having him sleep in the same bed with her. That was just too intimate.

She explained how Mason and his friend Drake helped at the mission.

“You’ll love this,” her voice filled with glee. “Drake bought enough groceries for at least one day’s worth of meals for the entire mission, it was unbelievable.”

“You mean the man with the sexy southern drawl?” Margie asked, her eyes wide, as she reached over for the jelly packets.

“I don’t know who he is but I say he’s the man you should be with,” Frannie said emphatically. Sophia blushed.

“Oh no, you should see the sparks fly between her and Mason, Fran. He’s the one who rescued her. He’s an honest to God knight in shining armor.” Margie put her elbow on the table and sighed.

“Sophia, it’s about time you caught a break.”

“I don’t know, part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I keep pinching myself like it’s too good to be true, you know?”

“How’s the sex?” Frannie asked, as she bit into her egg white omelet.

“Frannie!” Sophia’s cheeks burned at the question. She was immediately reminded of how he comforted her after her nightmare. Part of her wished they’d made love but most of her was thankful they hadn’t. It would have been too much, too soon.

“All right I’ll give you a pass. But Margie explained the level of hotness and I’m not sure I could have held out.”

Margie snorted. “You know damn well you were a virgin on your wedding night, Francesca DeLuca.”

“It was a different time,” Frannie defended herself.

“I think it’s sweet. I wish I would have waited for the right man.” Sophia sighed.

“Is Mason the right man?” Margie asked, motioning for Sophia to eat.

“I’m beginning to think so and it scares the hell out of me because God knows I’m not the right woman.”

“That fink Lewis sure did a number on your self-esteem. I wish I could meet
him
in a dark alley.” Sophia visibly shuddered.

“Fran, what are you thinking bringing that up?” Margie admonished. “Child are you sleeping at all?”

“I slept okay over at Mason’s house. I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight. I’ve been having nightmares. I felt safe knowing he was there, you know?” The two ladies looked at one another.

“What?” Sophia asked, the fork midway to her mouth.

“Maybe you should keep sleeping over at his house,” Margie suggested.

“No way, I’ve inconvenienced him enough. I’ll see him on Friday and then we’re going on a date on Saturday.”

“Why are you seeing him on Friday?” Frannie asked.

“We have to go give statements to the D.A.” She put down her fork knowing she would have to force herself to eat after thinking about Friday’s meeting.

“You let us know if you need anything. I want to know if you have nightmares, all right.” Frannie gave her a hard stare. Sophia laughed. Frannie’s bossiness no longer intimidated her after having dealt with Mason. Now
he
was a force to be reckoned with.

“Eat up girlie the lunch shift starts soon. I don’t want to see you lifting any trays this time.”

“But my arm is feeling much better,” Sophia protested.

“I don’t care. Resting it will help it heal. I don’t want to see you ripping open any of those stitches.” Margie was probably right. Her arm did kind of throb after carrying some of the larger trays.

“Okay.”

“At last she’s showing sense. Our little girl is growing up, Frannie.”

“You look beautiful, Sophia.” She always looked pretty but now she looked absolutely beautiful.

“Do you need glasses? It’s the third time you’ve said that, Mason. Have you not noticed the bruising on my face? It’s green.”

“It matches your eyes and it almost matches the color of your suit.” It was the suit, hose and heels really doing it for him. When he originally complimented her on the outfit, she immediately told him she bought it at a consignment store. Like that mattered.

He opened the door for her as they entered the lobby of the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego. He noticed her clenching her fist. He snagged it and brought it to his lips. She looked up at him in confusion.

“You have nothing to be scared of.”

“I’m not scared,” she said as they got to the elevators. “Well not exactly. I’m nervous. I called and Mrs. Porter said they wouldn’t be here.”

He knew she was talking about her attackers. It was a damn good thing they weren’t going to be there because he would be tempted to murder them. Looking at her poor face and the way she still favored her ribs and shoulder about killed him.

“You really didn’t have to come,” she said for the fourth time. As soon as she found out the D.A. wanted to speak to them separately, Sophia said she didn’t need him to come.

“I wanted to be here.” She was clutching his hand tightly, so he thought she needed him with her as well.

When they got to the correct floor, they were ushered into the office of a middle-aged woman named Hannah Porter.

“Thank you for taking time off to come and see me Ms. Anderson. Who is this with you?” The woman was in her mid-forties and exuded competence.

“This is Mason Gault. He’s the man who rescued me.”

“Lieutenant Gault, I don’t have you coming in until Tuesday.” Mrs. Porter frowned up at him.

“I’m here to support Sophia.”

“I see.” Mason knew she did. He could tell very little would get past this woman and it made him seriously happy.

“Lieutenant, you’re going to have to wait somewhere else. I don’t want to taint your account of the events by listening to Sophia’s. There’s a cafeteria downstairs,” she suggested.

“I’ll just wait in the outer office.”

“This could take an hour or two,” Mrs. Porter warned him.

“That’s not a problem, ma’am.”

“Very well.” Sophia and Mrs. Porter waited as Mason stood and left the office, leaving the two of them alone to discuss her statement. She’d given him an apologetic look as he stepped out of the office.

Mason glanced around the small outer office and took a seat. There was only one magazine and it was about golf. He didn’t golf but at least it was something to read. By the time the door opened he’d read it cover to cover. Twice.

Sophia came out red-faced, with her eyes swollen. It was obvious she’d been crying. He looked at Hannah Porter who had an arm around Sophia’s shoulder.

“You did really well. We’re going to get those bastards. Thank you for coming in today. I’ll let you know when the trial date is set. They already have their attorneys.”

As Sophia walked two steps forward into the outer office Mason took her into his arms. He couldn’t help it.

“Mrs. Porter, did Sophia ask you when you’ll be disclosing her information to their attorneys?”

“I will be today. They sent me a request for all of the discovery documentation.” Sophia turned in his arms to look at the assistant D.A.

“So the men who did this will have my contact information?”

“Their attorney will. The defendants, Krill and Dooley, will only have your name. Their lawyer is the only one who will have your contact information. He will advise his clients not to get in touch with you because to do otherwise will endanger their case.”

“But they could, couldn’t they?” she asked. Mason could feel her trembling.

“If they do their bail will likely be revoked until their trial. They won’t want to risk it.”

“Seems to me that’s a little too late,” Mason growled.