Page 69 of Protecting Addison
“I don’t see Brady here yet, but I think it’s fine if you guys all went and played. When you see him arrive, please come over and meet him though. All right?”
“Okay, Addy,” Artem said politely.
“Swing!” Yana yelled, the sound echoing in the confines of the car.
Borysko took his sister by the hand and helped her out of the car, then he raced her toward the swing set. Artem followed behind at a slower pace. Addison watched as he looked all around, as if scoping out the area. It was obvious his past was sticking with him a little longer than it had his siblings.
Ellory’s phone vibrated with a text, and she looked down at the screen. “Dad,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “He says he’s running late.”
Addison held back her snarky comment.
Two cars pulled into the parking lot, and Addison saw Remi behind the wheel of one and Dude in the other.
When the retired SEAL got out of his car, Addison couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Ellory was right. Dudewasa little scary. He had some dark vibes. She wasn’t scared of him, per se, but she was definitely glad he was on her side.
“Hi!” Remi said, immediately hugging both Addison and Ellory. “Are you nervous?” she asked the preteen.
Ellory shrugged. “No.”
“Right, you’ve already met Brady and hung out with him. This’ll be fun, I think. There are some benches over there, we could go sit?”
Addison nodded, but before she could walk in the direction of the seats, Dude caught her arm and said, “A word?”
“We’ll just go on over there and hang out,” Remi said cheerily.
Addison felt a little abandoned when both Remi and her daughter left her with the SEAL, but Dude dropped her arm and even took a step backward, giving her space. “I don’t mean to frighten you,” he said softly.
“You don’t.”
One of his brows lifted.
“Okay, you make me a little nervous. But that’s not the same thing.”
“You have nothing to fear from me.”
“I know.”
“I respect and admire MacGyver. We could’ve used someone like him on our team. Someone who can figure a way out of any situation. Your husband is a fucking—er…freaking genius. Smart as hell. His mind works in a way that few do. I just wanted to thank you for asking me to come with you today.”
His praise of Ricky felt good, even if it wasn’therhe was complimenting. Ricky was smarter than anyone she’d ever met. She loved that he spent time with Ellory in his garage, teaching her, tinkering with his electronics and other tools. And she loved even more that Ellory seemed to enjoy it just as much as he did. Artem and Borysko seemed more interested in toys and reading, and of course TV, more than using their hands. They might grow out of that, but in the meantime, she was happy that her daughter and husband were bonding.
“I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to come with us,” Addison countered.
Dude nodded. “Anything you want me to know about Vogel…other than what MacGyver already told me?”
“Uh…I don’t know what he said,” Addison replied carefully.
“He doesn’t like him,” he said bluntly.
“Yeah, they didn’t exactly hit it off.”
“I think it’s very magnanimous of you to agree to let your ex see his daughter. He certainly didn’t earn that right over the last twelve years.”
He hadn’t. Dude wasn’t wrong. “I feel as if it should be her choice if she wants a relationship with him. It’s true that he disappeared without a word and never tried to get a hold of me, or her, but maybe he’s changed. And I’d feel like the worst mom in the world if I didn’t at least give them both a chance.”
“I agree that a second chance is a good thing, but don’t let your guilt put blinders over your eyes.”
Addison frowned at the man. “What does that mean?” she asked, feeling a little defensive.
