Page 50 of Protecting Maggie
For a split second, Preacher wondered ifanythingMaggie had told him was true. Yes, Adina had vouched for her…but was she telling the truth about the drugs found in her car not really being hers?
Almost as soon as he had the thought, Preacher dismissed it. Maggie wasn’t lying. He’d bet his SEAL career on that. Whoever her ex was, he was obviously smart. Knew how to masterfully impersonate others. How to manipulate.
He needed to call Kevlar. And maybe Wolf. No…Dude. The former SEAL had asked him to call if he needed assistance. And the older man knew the rear admiral, sometimes worked with him to arrange training sessions with the newer SEALs.
Maybe Preacher would even call Tex.
Between all of them, they’d get to the bottom of this. Figure out who was gaslighting Maggie and put an end to it once and for all.
Maggie was sitting on her couch, knees drawn up to her chest, stewing about what had happened earlier that day. She’d lied about the meeting with her probation officer—but that wasallshe’d lied about. She knew in her bones that the Roman Robertson she’d dated was the same person Shawn knew. She just had to prove it.
Analyzing their conversation again and again, she reluctantly admitted she’d reacted emotionally instead of rationally. She shouldn’t have kicked Shawn out so fast. She should’ve done more right then to make him believe her. In her defense, she’d been so blindsided by his immediate denial that they weren’t talking about the same person. But he was an honorable man—Shawn, not Roman. Of course it would be hard for him to believe something so horrible about someone he admired and looked up to. If someone had told her that Roman was as much a dick as he was when they were dating, she probably wouldn’t have believed them either.
The man had everyone snowed, which was how he’d gotten away with everything he’d done for so long. Hewasn’t stupid, he knew how to work the system. But he also felt he was untouchable, and sooner or later, he’d screw up. Maggie just had to hope it happened before he landed her back in prison.
Sitting up, she reached for her phone. She needed to apologize to Shawn. Admit that she’d lied about the meeting and ask him to come back over, or offer to meet him somewhere. She’d be calmer the next time they spoke. She’d share the phone recording. Let him hear the threats. Maybe he’d recognize the man’s voice. She’d do whatever it took to convince him that Rear Admiral Roman Robertson wasn’t a man to be looked up to.
Pressing on Shawn’s number in her contacts, Maggie waited impatiently for him to answer. Disappointment filled her when it went to voicemail. Taking a deep breath, she left him a message.
“Hi, Shawn. It’s me. Maggie. I wanted to apologize, because I lied about having a meeting with my probation officer today. I needed some space after it was obvious you didn’t believe me about my ex. But I understand. I know it’s hard to believe. Trust me, it was a surprise to me too that such a highly respected man could be such a heartless animal. I have a phone recording of his threats…against me, and against you and your team. I can give you the address he had two years ago, and I’ll even go online and show you pictures of him. It’shim, Shawn, and I’m worried about you. And myself, now that I’ve told you. He said that if I ever told anyone abouthim, that I’d pay. Please. Call me back. Thanks…um…I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
Maggie’s stomach rolled as she hung up. She’d been about to tell him how much she loved him…but that would be crazy, right? It was too soon. Way too soon. Look what happened with Roman. She’d leaped into that relationship and ended up a convicted felon as a result. Thankfully, she’d caught herself in time, but the worry in her gut didn’t dissipate as she waited for Shawn to call her back. She had to convince him…for both their sakes.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Preacher felt nauseous. He hadn’t felt this way since the first day of BUD/S. He’d talked to Kevlar. Then Dude. And finally Tex. Now he was pacing one of the conference rooms on base, waiting for the rest of his team to arrive. It probably wasn’t the best place to meet, especially if Maggie’s ex reallywasRear Admiral Roman Robertson, but the room was secure. It had to be, considering the missions that were planned in there.
Everyone he’d talked to had been utterly shocked to hear that Rear Admiral Robertson was the man Maggie claimed was her ex. The man who’d thrown her under the proverbial bus. Who was currently threatening her with a return to prison.
Preacher didn’t want to believe it.Couldn’tbelieve it. And yet, even though all his friends had agreed with his skepticism…a niggling doubt lingered.
Maggie had sounded so sure. And he couldn’t shake the look of betrayal and sheer disappointment in her eyes when he’d said she was wrong. When he’d instead suggested her ex was actually impersonating the rear admiral.
What if she was right andhewas wrong?
It would be a huge scandal for the Navy…and every mission the SEALs had been sent on—all of them, not justhisteam—would be scrutinized to make sure they were legit. The ramifications of the rear admiral possibly sending SEAL teams out on missions for his own agenda would be far-reaching and long-lasting.
Not to mention the drugs and the threats against Maggie. If it was true, if hewasMaggie’s ex, there was no telling how many other women he’d conned, or wascurrentlyconning. Leading on. Using.
Hence the nauseous feeling in Preacher’s gut.
The door opened and Kevlar entered, followed by the rest of his team.
Smiley didn’t beat around the bush. “Is it true? Is Rear Admiral Robertson Maggie’s ex?”
“That’s what she says,” Preacher answered.
“Fuck,” Blink muttered.
“This isn’t good,” MacGyver added.
“Not good at all,” Safe agreed.
“Everyone take a breath. There’s a chance someone out there is impersonating the rear admiral,” Kevlar said.
“How much of a chance?” Flash asked.
Kevlar sighed. “Twenty percent?”
