Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

Aiden and Chalisasaid goodbye to everyone the next morning after breakfast. He was surprised how difficult it was to say goodbye to the Magnites, especially Kingston, Stuart, and Wes. Little Hope tugged at his heart. She complained that they hadn't played or seen the flowers or the puppies. Watching her cry as Reagan pulled her away from Chalisa was another jab. Chalisa obviously felt worse than he did leaving her niece. If only he could settle down on this idyllic island with the even more idyllic Chalisa.

The thirteen-hour plane ride with a stop for refueling and a break for Paul went much too fast. Normally, he'd work. He didn't even open his computer. If there was a fire Nick and his other capable people couldn't handle, Paul would've told him about it.

He'd turned his phone on but only to request that Nick find a way to meet them at the airport and bring the best fellow specialist he could. It was telling that he would have Nick, his top guy, come watch over Chalisa. Aiden had promised to keep her safe and Nick was almost as well-trained as he was. The problem was Nick had to go on his own reality show stint tomorrow. He and Nick could brainstorm about it. Right now he was focusing on Chalisa.

He and Chalisa talked, laughed, ate, and slept, but they didn't kiss or cuddle. He could feel the tug of his purpose and path the closer they got to Southern California. Somehow he'd say goodbye to Chalisa and somehow he'd turn and walk away. Then he'd be so busy maybe it wouldn't gouge him apart from the inside out to not be close to her.

She was dressed simply in a V-neck T-shirt and pink joggers. The Maquech Beetle necklace was nestled right below her throat. Everlasting love. Those words were a dagger to the heart right now. He'd never have everlasting love. The perfect woman for him was within arm's reach, and he couldn't be with her.

Nick and Dallin met them at the airport in an Escalade. He and Chalisa said goodbye to Paul and hello to his two men.

They drove to her condo much too quickly. Why did it have to be Sunday afternoon instead of rush hour? Why was everything moving so fast today? Why hadn't he held and kissed her the entire flight?

She said goodbye to Nick and Dallin, and Aiden carried her suitcase up to her condo door. He set it outside the door. Chalisa slid her laptop bag off her shoulder. She didn't open the door and invite him in.

"Nick and Dallin will work out a schedule to watch over you," he told her.

Leaning against the door, she looked up at him. "Why?"

"I promised I'd keep you safe."

Chalisa let out a soft sigh that might have been filled with frustration. She grabbed his T-shirt, fisted it in her hands, and drew herself up onto tiptoes.

"Whoa." Aiden hadn't seen her this feisty.

"I want you to keep me safe," she said fiercely.

"Ah, Chalisa." Aiden wrapped his arms around her lower back and cradled her close.

She released his shirt and laid her head in the crook of his neck, sinking back onto her heels. His neck was quickly damp with her tears.

He was the biggest jerk he knew. Why couldn't he have kept his distance this week? Now they were both in agony. He'd never in his life had a problem with his self-control. His dad had probably warned him so often to avoid relationships because he knew it would be his weakness. Chalisa was his weakness.

If she prayed for him, would his dad really send a sign from heaven that his vow could be altered to include her in his life? She'd talked about Reagan's vow being fulfilled by their mom.

No. His vow was different. He was just scrambling in his mind because this hurt so much. He wasn't going to break his promises.

Chalisa blinked up at him, her blue eyes sad and achingly beautiful. "I know you can't be with me," she said. "But I'll keep praying that you'll be safe and happy and someday, somehow, you'll find your way back to me."

He wanted to beg her to pray every spare moment, but that wasn't right. "Chalisa." He slid his hands up and cupped her smooth jawline. "Don't waste your time praying over me. Move on. Find …" His voice cracked, and he had to clear it. He was eons from the smooth and charming Captain Aiden Porter. He didn't care. He only cared about her. "Find someone who can be there for you and make you happy."

There. He got it out. He remembered how he couldn't even stand to watch Captain Jagger Lemuel flirt with her. How could he tell her to find someone else?

He didn't know if she'd punch him, slap him, or just shove him away. Of course his sweet Chalisa did none of the above. He shook his head in wonder at how incredible she was.

"No," she said softly. "Everlasting Love." She lifted her necklace, then dropped it and wrapped her arms around him again. "I love you, Aiden. Only you. In the most special way a woman can ever love a man. You make me happy. You are the right one for me. No one else will ever do for me. I will pray and work long hours to help others and to pass the time. My service will be fulfilling, but if you never come for me …" Her voice cracked this time, and she broke off.

Aiden had no clue what to say, how to make any of this right. He selfishly bent his head and claimed her lips with his. The kiss was full of need, desperation, but also love. She clung to his upper back and kissed him like she'd been lost in the Sahara Desert and he was her first drink of cool water.

He loved her. Completely.

She broke from the kiss, let out the most heartbreaking sob, pivoted and typed in the code on her door, and then flung it open.

She flung it so hard it bounced back toward her. Aiden caught and held the door. He lifted her suitcase and bag inside, then eased back to hold the door and not be in her way.

Blinking up at him, she had tears rolling down her silken cheeks. He wanted to tell her he loved her. Could he?

No. He had to stay strong.

Since he hadn't stayed strong at all the past week.

Protect, serve, fight for the innocent, others before self, and never let your guard down.

Giving up his selfish desires to protect others was all he knew how to do. But right now, letting Chalisa hurt felt like the most selfish and stupid move he'd ever made.

Chalisa slipped past him and into her living room. It was darker inside with the blinds drawn, and he couldn't see her very clearly. He should release the door, but he couldn't move.

"Goodbye, Aiden," she whispered.

He didn't repeat the goodbye. He tilted his chin up to acknowledge her words, but if he said one thing he'd probably cry or beg her to not give up on him. He'd promised himself he wouldn't ask her to wait. But she'd volunteered to. Did that make it any better?

Stepping back, he forced himself to let the door go.

Turning and walking away was every bit as excruciating as he knew it would be. He'd raced across a cobblestone street yesterday with Chalisa riding on his back, and he'd soared. Right now, each step on the smooth concrete jarred him from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Nick waited outside the Navigator. "You okay?"

"No," he admitted. He squinted back at her condo. It was still dim inside, but the blinds were up and her shape was in the window. She was watching him go. He swallowed and muttered, "Work out a schedule with our most qualified ops to keep watch over her. If you need more help, let me know." And he'd race back here. No. He'd send other ops to help.

"Is she in danger?"

"No, but I promised to keep her safe."

And she wanted him to keep her safe. If only.

"Okay. I'll take the first shift tonight. Dallin will run you to the Westin in Carlsbad. Paul checked in. He needed to sleep. He decided that would be easier than driving to your house in Newport."

"That's great." How had he forgotten his pilot couldn't just keep flying? "Thank you."

"I'll work out a schedule and install cameras and sensors before I fly out to meet Mercedes in the morning."

"Thank you again."

"That is a very impressive lady," Nick said.

"I know." He nodded and climbed into the vehicle. Not even his trusted man needed to tell him how impressive Chalisa was. He knew. He'd actually rather forget. Or would he? He rubbed at his chest.

Thankfully, Dallin didn't want to chat on the way to the hotel, and Paul already had a room set up for him. He checked in and before he knew it, he was pacing the luxurious hotel suite.

He kept pulling his phone out, not to respond to the hundreds of texts and missed calls and thousands of emails, but because he wanted to check in with Nick and see how she was doing. Then he'd groan and slip it back into his pocket and do some more laps around the room, staring without seeing as the sun sank into the ocean and the pool lights and walkway lights came on.

The tenth time he pulled his phone out, he scrolled through recent calls, and then he hit Sutton's number.

As soon as it rang, he realized it was almost midnight. Sutton answered. "Aiden." His voice sounded pleased and not tired at all.

"Sutton …" Why had he called? Though he revered the man, Sutton wasn't his dad.

"Everything all right?"

"No," he admitted.

"What can I do?"

Aiden felt emotional. He had the plan in place to take over Sutton's spot as the security expert. Sutton didn't care one bit about that. He cared about Aiden. Why had his dad cared so much about the path and the plan? Enough to train Ike and Aiden from childhood and force Aiden to take the vow and repeat it on his deathbed? His dad had loved them. He'd been trying to protect them from heartache. Heartache like he felt right now.

"I fell in love," he heard himself say. He started pacing again, semi-humiliated he'd admitted that to Sutton, but his icon was obviously in love with his wife.

"Congratulations," Sutton said heartily. "Who is the lovely and blessed young lady?"

"Sutton," Aiden groaned and then he rushed out what only Ike and Chalisa knew. "I made a vow to my dad at eighteen and renewed it on his deathbed to never form emotional attachments or get in a relationship. I promised to only focus on my purpose and path of protecting and serving others."

"Pardon me?" Sutton actually sounded … upset. Usually nothing could ruffle him. "Eisenhower did what to you?"

"You know how he trained Ike and me. You know what he envisioned for us."

"Certainly, but I never imagined he'd take away your opportunity to love and be loved, to have a family and true happiness."

Aiden's neck grew warm. There was a reason he didn't tell people about the vow he'd made. It could sound extreme to someone who wasn't part of the family. Ike thought it was extreme as well. Chalisa had been understanding but that was Chalisa. He sank onto a couch, leaned his head back, and blew out a breath.

"Aiden." Sutton's voice was the calm, smooth Brit again. "Your dad was gutted when your mum died. I can understand the damage done to him emotionally could cause him to exact such a vow from you, but I don't feel you should take that as binding. He was brilliant and incredible, but in certain areas he was never right in his mind after he lost your mum."

Aiden sat straight up and clung to the phone. "You think my dad was … off?" If anybody but Sutton had said those words, he would've found them and beat them at any style of fighting, he'd let them choose the manner in which he decimated them.

"You don't?"

Rubbing at his chest again, Aiden thought through millions of interactions with his beloved father. Eisenhower was brilliant with sparring, swords, pistols, protection details, military maneuvers. He'd been kind and loving with Aiden and Ike. But … his eyes had taken on a maniacal light when he talked about avoiding relationships and locking their hearts, keep their emotional barriers impenetrable.

"I don't know what to think right now," he admitted. His world was spinning.

"I knew your dad well," Sutton continued. "He loved you and Ike. You were his entire world after your mum died. He loved your mum deeply. That's why her death was so devastating. Do you really think he saw things clearly? He's healed now, and I don't believe he or your mum would want you to dedicate your life so completely to security jobs that you'd miss out on a family, on happiness, on everlasting love."

Had he really just said those words? Everlasting love. Chalisa. Aiden jumped to his feet and paced again.

"But …" he tried to protest. "This is easy for you to say. You had already achieved the top security specialist spot when you married Liz. Once I reach those goals, then I could feel my vow was fulfilled and incorporate marriage and family into the path."

"Aiden." Sutton laughed his deep, rich laugh. It was irritating. "You've got it all wrong, chap. I would've married Liz as a scrawny twenty-three-year-old with no accolades to my name. Our path was long and excruciating and not the choice either of us would've made. And you don't ‘incorporate' marriage into your path. Liz is my path. She's the goal and the dream. She and our family mean everything to me. With Liz and God on my side, I can do anything. Without them, any ‘accolade' would be empty."

Aiden tried to process that. It was too much. He already felt the same about Chalisa. With her, the goals and the plan could be incredible. Without her, they'd be meaningless. It was like she'd said; she'd work hard in her hospitals and centers and help so many people, and the service would be fulfilling, but without their love it would be a sad life.

He still didn't know how to break the vow and deathbed promise to his dad, even if his dad hadn't been in his right mind regarding relationships. Aiden had still sworn.

And of course Sutton would bring heaven into it. Was Chalisa praying for him even now?

His phone buzzed with an incoming call. He startled and glanced at the screen. Ike. His heart thumped hard against his chest. What were the odds?

"Sutton. Ike's calling."

"I'll sign off. Liz and I will pray for you."

"Thank you," he managed. Prayer. He'd never needed or asked anybody to pray for him. Now Chalisa, Sutton, and Liz were all praying for him. He needed it now. For the first time in his life, he was in a desperate situation that he couldn't escape from or battle brilliantly on his own.

"Cheers."

Aiden pushed a hand through his hair.

A man is only as good as his word.

His dad had been his world, and he'd promised him.

Chalisa was consuming his mind now. Was that wrong? He didn't know how to drop his pride and pray like everyone else seemed wont to do.

He accepted Ike's call.

"Aiden!" Ike called through the phone. "You're back."

"We just flew in."

"I thought you'd have your phone today. Bro, I could hardly wait to tell you ..." Ike paused and Aiden thought it was odd if he ‘could hardly wait to tell' why he was pausing.

Ike cleared his throat and admitted, "I'm in love."

His brother didn't even sound like himself. What was happening? Was his dad groaning from heaven, or was he with their mom and directing them both to find love?

"Myra?" Aiden managed. He wanted to hear all about his brother's love and happiness, even if he never figured out how to have his own.

"Yes, Myra." Ike's voice calmed a bit but still was much too … happy. It was a stark contrast to how Aiden felt about his own life at the moment. "I can't wait for you to meet her. Are you in Long Island?"

"No. The Westin in Carlsbad, actually. The woman I did the reality show with … I flew her home to Oceanside."

"That's great. We're in Dana Point with our friend Beau Alexander."

His friend? A lot had changed in a week. Ike was in love with Myra and friends with a famous quarterback.

"Can we meet up in the morning?" Ike asked.

"Sure." His people had been running everything without him for a week. He'd be back to work soon enough. That thought startled him. His work was his life, not something he pushed away. "Tell me about Myra and how it happened." It was the right thing to say, and he would be happy for his brother no matter what.

Ike told him the story, the pretending to be dating to keep her safe from Beau while she pretend-dated Beau, then realizing Beau was a great guy who was in love with Bermuda Gray, who he didn't cheat on with Divine Destiny. The story went on. Aiden listened, amazed. His brother was truly in love, and Myra sounded perfect for Ike. He was happy for them. Very.

But he heard himself say, "Ike, I'm tremendously happy for you, but what if something happens to her like Mom or Sadie?"

"I'll be devastated," Ike admitted.

Exactly. This was what their dad had been helping them avoid.

"But I won't live my life in fear."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't you find it ironic that the man who taught us to fear nothing, to be stronger than anyone, also taught us to let fear rule us?"

"He didn't …" Aiden trailed off and studied the windows.

"Are you sure? What do you feel when you think about getting into a serious relationship?"

Fear. There was no denying it. It brought the terror of living a life that meant nothing in the end. His father had ingrained it deeply. Relationships and love were monsters you didn't mess with, the only thing that could break a man.

"Listen, I'm going to be happy and love Myra, and I refuse to live in fear of something happening. ‘The brave might not live forever, but the cautious don't live at all.'"

"Richard Branson," Aiden said quietly. "Dad quoted that."

"Exactly. Aiden…" Ike's voice was suddenly serious. "I want you to forget about the oath you made to Dad and find love and happiness for yourself. Don't let his pain from losing Mom and his fear of us experiencing the same rule your life any longer. His suffering and the mental instability losing Mom caused shouldn't last throughout the generations."

Aiden's mind spun.

"You can still fulfill all your goals to protect and serve," Ike continued. "Look at Sutton. He told me he's stronger because of Liz. I know I'm stronger and happier because of Myra."

Aiden sank onto the couch again. "Ike … I did find the love of my life. Everlasting love."

"What?" Ike almost hollered into the phone. "Who? When?"

"Chalisa Anderson. She was my partner for the reality television show. She's the sweetest angel I've ever known." Someday maybe he'd tell Ike the whole story, but he was drained right now. Saying the words ‘sweetest angel' to his brother was more than enough.

"Aiden. That's the best news I've ever heard. Do you realize we basically fell in love in the same week? You can't claim that isn't heavenly intervention."

"Heaven," Aiden groaned. "Don't tell me you're praying for me too."

"Always," Ike countered.

Aiden should've realized that. The most important people to him—Chalisa, Sutton, and Ike—were all praying for him. What did it mean?

"An angel broke through your barriers." Ike's voice was filled with wonder.

It was a miracle, Aiden realized. Nobody but Chalisa could've broken through to his heart.

"Aiden," Ike continued, "don't miss out on love. Dad was broken emotionally by mom's death. You know I'm right. He was brilliant and loving in every other area, but when he demanded we not make emotional attachments or form relationships, a little crazy was always in his eyes."

Aiden swallowed. A little crazy. He'd always thought of it as zeal or passion. "Sutton said the same thing."

"He would've recognized it."

"I told him about the vow. He was upset. He thinks Dad is with Mom in heaven and neither of them would want me to keep the vow."

"He's right. A vow exacted by someone in an altered mental state isn't valid. Dad loved us and wanted us to excel at all costs. He thought he was protecting us from pain with the never letting down emotional barriers garbage, but that's living in fear. Dad's happy and whole and with Mom again. He wouldn't want you hurting and alone and missing out on Chalisa. No way."

Aiden listened. Internalized the words. They felt … right. Just like he'd felt when he held Chalisa.

"The fact of the matter is," Ike continued, speaking more than he ever did. "You've already given your heart away. You've already destroyed your emotional barriers and broken your vow."

Aiden hadn't thought of that, but it was true.

"But by falling, you win. You drop your pride and a twisted vow, and you turn to Chalisa."

Aiden's breath came in short pants. Chalisa. He could truly be with Chalisa?

"What would be worse?" Ike asked. "Living without Chalisa now that you love her, breaking both of your hearts over and over again, or realizing one of you might die, but at least you'll have whatever time God gives you together and the love and bond will carry into the next life?"

Aiden surged to his feet. Every word was exactly … right.

"You're right," he admitted.

"I know I am." Ike's voice was happier, less serious. "Go find her."

"Already on my way." Aiden slid into his shoes, grabbed his wallet, knife, and 1911 and rushed for the door.

"And you'd both better meet us for breakfast in the morning."

"Pray we will."

"Done." Ike hung up.

Aiden grinned. Grinned. His older brother was in love and so was he. He was going for Chalisa. Happiness surged through him. His dad loved him. He'd want him happy. He and his mom were watching over him from heaven.

Aiden could still excel at security, protect and help many people, beat Sutton out someday.

Man, he loved Sutton. He loved his brother.

And he loved Chalisa. He had to tell her.

Bursting out the door, he needed to call for a car. Dallin would come back for him, but he didn't want to wait.

His phone buzzed before he could call the front desk or pull up the Uber app.

"Dallin? How'd you know I needed?—"

"Sir," Dallin interrupted. He'd never interrupted before. "Miss Anderson is missing."

"Excuse me?" Aiden rushed to the elevator and pushed the button. Chalisa was gone? Where?

"I stopped to eat because we hadn't had time earlier. Then I drove back to check on Nick and leave him the vehicle. I planned to get an Uber to the rental house. Nick didn't respond, so I tracked him. I found him inside Miss Anderson's apartment, bound, gagged, and beaten up. When I pulled the gag out, he yelled that Jorge had come?—"

"Enough backstory!" Nick yelled. There was a scuffle for the phone, then Nick's voice. "Aiden. He took her. He said to tell you …" It seemed to hurt him to get it out. "When you find her body, you can thank him."

"No." Not Chalisa. No! "Jorge's in prison."

The elevator came. Aiden didn't dare step inside and drop the call.

"I saw him with my own eyes. He had five guys with him. They ambushed me."

Six against one. Nick would've fought to the death, utilizing all his skill, but it hadn't been enough. Chalisa was gone. "Any clue where?"

"No, sir."

"How long ago?"

"Twenty minutes."

"I'll find her."

The silence was deafening. Nick thought what he feared. Jorge had probably already killed her. Yet if he'd wanted to kill her, he would've done it at her condo and left her body for Aiden to find and mourn. Right?

"Find out which HOA maintains the exterior of Chalisa's condo complex. They'll have security camera footage on the parking lot."

"Yes, sir."

"I'll be in touch."

Aiden would find her.

But how? He had no clues, no direction, no hope. He couldn't waste time. Radio silence. Where to turn? Who could help?

Aiden crumpled to his knees. He wasted time he didn't have, and for the first time in his life, he knew he couldn't do it alone. He had no hope of finding or saving Chalisa. He dropped his pride, and he begged, "God. Everybody claims You care. Not for me, but for Chalisa … Please help me find her. Please don't let Jorge hurt or murder her. Amen."

When I am weak, I am strong.

With God, nothing is impossible.

Aiden heard words he'd heard Ike say before. A sense of peace and direction filled him. He needed help. He stood and punched Ike's number again.

"Hey, bro," Ike answered.

"Ike … I need you."

"Anything."

He knew that word was true.

"Drive toward Oceanside. Deploy anyone who's in the area. All hands. Chalisa's been taken by Jorge." He hung up. Ike would understand.

He pressed the next number. "Sutton," he burst out before he could say hello. "I need … a lot."

"Anything," Sutton repeated Ike's response.

Aiden had no idea how they'd find Chalisa, but he would deploy his men, Sutton's ops, and Ike and his handlers Charli and Fitz and whoever they could mobilize. They'd comb every inch of this world for her.

He could only pray she wouldn't be dead before they found her.