Page 6 of Shadows Relived
Callen drummed his fingers against the steeringwheel, slowing just enough to keep one eye on the bars flickering in the screen's corner. Still nothing.
So he let his thoughts wander, because really, what else was there to do?
It’d been years since he let any memory of Meaghan Harrington drift this close to the surface. Always with scraped knees and defiant eyes, a ponytail swinging like a banner as she dared the world to catch up. She’d been all elbows and spitfire then. Smart-mouthed, too curious for her own good. She always had her nose stuck in some mystery novel under her desk while the teacher droned on about colonial America. She never asked for help, even when she needed it.
The sort of girl who could knock the wind out of a guy without even trying. He knew, because she had done it to him several times.
He remembered the last time he saw her before everything went sideways. They were twenty. Bonfire night out at Parrish Lake. He’d stolen a beer. She’d stolen his hoodie. And somewhere between the second verse of an off-key country song and the warmth of her pressed into his side beneath the stars, he’d known—just known—he’d never stop thinking about her.
And then he left.
It broke his heart as much as it had hers, but there was no way he would force her into the life that had been laid out before him. She deserved stability, something she could rely on, rather than the chaotic schedule of a military man. He had argued with himself about what to do as soon as he hung up on the senator, doubt nagging at theback of his mind. However, he simply didn’t trust politicians.
The phone rang several times before a familiar voice answered. “Callen, what’s the word, my friend?”
“The word is silence.” Callen shook his head. Blaze was young and full of too much energy and not enough caution. “I need a favor, and for now, I want you to keep this on the quiet side. Depending on what you find, will determine if I go to the others. It could be nothing.”
“All right, but you know how that went for me. Just be careful. Being on Dane’s bad side isn’t fun. Now, with that said, what do you need?”
“Don’t worry. Dane already knows something’s up.” Callen filled him in on the situation, keeping the details, as well as his connection to Meaghan, vague, but emphasizing the urgency. “So, I need you to dig into any threats made against Senator Harrington or his family. Anything you can find, no matter how small.”
“You got it. Want it text or email?”
“Email will be fine. Thanks. I owe you one.”
Blaze laughed. “Don’t we all kind of owe each other by now? Talk soon.”
The younger man wasn’t exactly wrong.
As the miles rolled by, Callen’s mind drifted to the past, to a night years ago that still haunted his dreams. Meaghan. Her name alone was enough to send a jolt through his system.
He could still see her as clearly as if it were yesterday. The way the moonlight had played across her features, the softness of her skin beneath his calloused hands. They had denied themselves for so long, dancingaround the feelings that had simmered beneath the surface through high school and into college. But that night, with his deployment looming, they had finally given in to the passion that had always existed between them.
His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he recalled the bittersweet morning after Meaghan had been willing to change everything for him, to put her dreams on hold and follow him wherever the military might send him. But he couldn’t let her do that. He had seen the fire in her eyes when she talked about her aspirations, the potential for greatness that burned within her. How could he ask her to dim that light for him?
So he had done the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. He had walked away, leaving her with nothing but memories and what-ifs. He told himself it was for the best, that she deserved more than the uncertain life of a military spouse. But in the quiet moments, in the dark of night, he wondered if he had made the biggest mistake of his life.
Now, over a decade later, he was racing back into her life. He harbored no illusions about the reception he would receive. Meaghan had every right to hate him for how things had ended. However, a possible threat against her meant he would be damned if he let anything happen to her, regardless of how she felt about him.
As he approached the school where Meaghan worked, his heart rate quickened. He parked across the street, scanning the area for any signs of danger. Her father assured him the threat was real, but he failed to say how immediate it was. The afternoon sun beat down on the pavement as he watched students file out of the building,their excited chatter filling the air.Enjoy it while you can, kids.
And then he saw her.
Meaghan stood in the car loop, efficiently directing students to their waiting parents. Time seemed to stand still as he drank in the sight of her. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, her chestnut hair swept back in a neat ponytail, her face animated as she spoke to the children waving to the parents as she opened the car doors.
His breath caught in his throat as he watched her bend down to help a young boy with his backpack. The simple act of kindness was so quintessentially Meaghan that it made his chest ache with longing and regret.
Sucking in a deep breath, he stepped out of his car and made his way across the street. As he approached, Meaghan’s head snapped up, her eyes widening in recognition, and then narrowing as she must have realized why he was there and who sent him. When he finally reached her, she remained silent, glaring at him. It was about what he expected.
“Hello, Meaghan.” He stopped a few feet away from her, resisting the urge to close the distance between them, to pull her into his arms and never let go. “It’s been a long time.”
Her eyes narrowed a little more, and Callen could see the walls going up. “What are you doing here? As if I need to ask.” Her tone was clipped. Professional. Icy.
He glanced around, acutely aware of the curious stares from nearby parents and students, even thefaculty who had noticed him approach. “Is there somewhere we can talk privately?”
She shook her head. “I’m working. Sorry. I can’t simply abandon my post.”
Pressing his lips into a thin line, he gave a curt nod, understanding her reluctance. “You probably can guess why I’m here. After your father called you last night, he called me. He’s worried about you.”
