Page 4 of Shadows Relived
“You want me to send Elvis or Hawk with you? We’re pretty slow right now, so we can spare them.”
He took a long pull from his cigar. “No. At least not yet. I’m fairly certain this is going to be a bust, so no sense calling out the troops until I know more. Meaghan’s always been stubborn, so the odds of me convincing her to go to her father are slim to none.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind, or the situation changes, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Callen assured the man he wouldn’t and then dropped the phone in his lap. Dane had been an excellent man to work for ever since he formed his own company, Garrison Security Innovations, and several times, the team had pulled each other's asses out of the fire. Hell, just last month, they saved Sage from getting in toodeep with her ex. Of course, now the redhead was snuggling in at night with her ex’s younger brother, but hey, love worked in mysterious ways. Regardless, he knew if his back was against the wall, one phone call would have a slew of former Navy SEALs, Rangers, and S.W.A.T. come busting through the door, and no one wanted to take that on.
Draining the last swallow of whiskey from the glass, he stood and stretched out his cramped muscles. He took one final drag from the cigar before snuffing it out in the ashtray on the table beside him and took a deep breath, feeling the tension seep from his body. Whatever was going on, he intended to get to the bottom of it. He already planned on calling Blaze tomorrow morning for help. And if she was truly in danger, like her father suspected, well, he would do whatever it took to make sure she was safe until the senator or the FBI or whoever eliminated the threat.
A wry smile tugged at his lips as he turned to go inside and start packing. He was used to traveling for work. It came with the territory. However, this adventure took him back to his past, and he wasn’t sure he was ready to dig into that after all this time. He only hoped she would listen to him, rather than racking him in the family jewels.
CHAPTER 3
THE WARM AROMA OFfreshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloped Meaghan as she stepped into the cozy café on her way to work. It was a morning tradition for her Monday through Friday and helped set the tone for her day. And today, she needed a reset to her mood, especially after her father’s demands and insane warnings ringing in her ears. Who the hell did he think he was?
She scoffed at her own question. He knew who he was. The problem was he expected everyone to accept his godlike role in their lives, even in her own as well. She didn’t accept it, however. No way. She had put up with her father’s demanding nature growing up and halfway through college. Once she had enough, she refused his help with tuition and paid her own way. She refused to give him something to hold over her head. She had even offered to pay him back for the first two years he had paid for, but he refused to take it. That didn’t stop her, however, because she simply sent the money to her mother. What her mother did with it, she had no idea, nordid she care. She counted it as her father being paid back and left it at that.
She moved to the queue, pushing thoughts of her father out of her mind and allowing a sense of carefree joy to wash over her from last night’s karaoke with Ronette and Andy. There had been plenty of laughter and impromptu singing that had filled the air, a temporary escape from the stresses of everyday life. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she recalled belting out her favorite songs, unabashedly indulging in the moment.
When it became her turn to place her order, Miley smiled at her and then immediately turned to make her caramel macchiato, guaranteed to kick-start her day. “So, last night was Wednesday,” Miley said as she worked. “Get your singing on?”
Meaghan laughed as she leaned on the counter. “I did. Went all the way back to the eighties for some Air Supply and Journey. Ronette did some Commodores.”
Miley glanced over her shoulder, smirking. “And let me guess. Andy had to sing American Pie, right?”
Meaghan bobbed her head, laughing. “Every Wednesday night.”
The young woman turned back around to finish the drink. “One of these days, I’m going to make it out there to hear you sing. It’s just that by the time I get off from here, I’m whooped.”
“I can’t blame you, but take a nap and come out. We’re there until midnight most times.”
“I’ll have to do that.”
As Miley finished the drink and then started preparing Meaghan’s bagel, Meaghan allowed her gaze to do a lazysweep across the café, taking in the diverse array of patrons scattered around the bustling coffee shop. As she did, she noticed a tall man, wearing jeans and a dark hoodie, sitting alone at a corner table, his eyes fixated on her with an intensity that made her shift uncomfortably. She averted her gaze, suddenly self-conscious, her heart rate quickening ever so slightly. As she took a deep breath, she scolded herself. It had to be her imagination. Her father had wound her up, and now she was imagining things she would normally ignore.
She allowed her gaze to drift to the mirror up by the ceiling behind the counter, and her pulse quickened as she noticed that the man still stared at her.
“Here you go, Meaghan.” Miley’s voice snapped her out of her growing panic as the younger woman stood behind the counter, offering Meaghan a smile as she handed over the steaming cup and a small white bag.
Meaghan forced a polite nod as she took the drink and food, her fingers curling around the comforting warmth of the cardboard sleeve. “See you tomorrow morning.”
Just as she was about to make her way to the exit, trying her damnedest not to race out of there, the man from the corner table left his seat and approached her, a purpose in his stride.
She wanted to run, to scream, and she almost did when he dipped his head and smiled at her.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but didn’t I see you at Lily Pad’s last night? You sang several numbers with your friends, right?”
She opened her mouth, a stuttering breath whooshing out of her, and then had to close her mouth againto swallow. A slight chuckle bubbled out of her as she nodded. “Yes, actually, I was there. I’m sorry I didn’t see you.”
He laughed, waving off her apology. “Oh, I don’t sing. I just go there because the bartender has a heavy hand with pouring drinks, but I do love listening to people sing. Well, most of the time, anyway. And yours was outstanding. I just wanted to tell you.”
She felt a flush creep up her cheeks, equal parts embarrassed and flattered by the unexpected compliment. “Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Singing is one of my… well, one of my outlets. I tend to get a little carried away sometimes.” She clutched the cup a little harder, as if it could shield her from the unwanted attention.
The man offered her a charming smile, seemingly oblivious to her discomfort. “Well, you have a remarkable talent. Have you ever considered pursuing singing professionally? I think you’d do amazingly at it if you did.”
Meaghan forced a polite chuckle, her eyes darting toward the exit. “No, no, it’s just a hobby. I’m actually a kindergarten teacher, and I love it. As a matter of fact, I really should go before I’m late. Thank you again for the kind words. They made my day.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and hurried out of the coffee shop, her heart hammering in her chest. As she made her way to her car, she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that had taken root, her father’s warnings echoing loudly in her mind. A growl slipped out of her because she had allowed him to rattle her so much.
