Page 63 of Deadly Scandals

“Last I heard. What the fuck? I knew she was shady, but I never, ever thought she would endanger our kids. Ever.”

“Right, you said she was a good mother.”

“Show’s my judge of character.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “Hey, stop. Don’t do that. You met her in high school. How could you know any better? This is not your fault.”

His lips trembled, and I kissed them despite myself.

He kissed me back, but this kiss wasn’t full of lust. It was tinged with longing and vulnerability.

I knew that he wanted me here. That he’d begged for me to come, but I didn’t feel like I could help him. I was a mess with kids, and Mia was watching Sam. Grant had Mitch’s back. My strength was not here. It was in research.

Then like lightning, an idea hit me.

“Mitch, give me the key to April’s house. Let me go now. Sam said that ‘Grandpa’ was a friend of his mom’s. There has to be a clue there. I won’t mess up anything. Please, we can’t wait on the cops for this.”

Mitch didn’t hesitate. He reached into his pocket and slid a key off his keychain. “Alarm code is my BUD/S class number. I’m sure you know it from my file.”

Of course I did. Damn, these SEALs were so lame about their BUD/S class number. Most of them had it tattooed on their chest like a brand.

“Got it. Are you sure I’m okay to leave? Do they want to question me?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Go.” He kissed me again on the forehead. “Babe, thank you.”

A warmth radiated through my chest. Did Mitch give me butterflies?

Yes. My attraction to him was physical. That was it. And this, well anyone would do anything to find a missing child, especially an NCIS agent who had a missing sister.

“No worries. Call me if there are any updates.”

I walked over to Grant and Mia. I didn’t want to lie to them. Especially since Mitch knew where I was headed. But I didn’t want either of them to accompany me.

“Grant, give me your keys.”

He eyed me suspiciously. “Never. And why?”

I shook my head. “Mitch is allowing me to go to April’s house. To see if I can find something about Grandpa.”

Mia’s face lit up. “Oh, that sounds like a brilliant idea. I’ll go with you.”

That was a hard no. “Nope. I’m going solo. You need to watch Sam. Grant, keys. Now. No time to waste.”

Grant tossed his keys to Mia, and I could feel my anxiety take over. “I can watch Sam. I know him better than Mia does—I was there in the hospital when he was born.”

Fuck. He had me. But more importantly, Grant’s insistence that I bring Mia demonstrated a deep truth—these SEALs only trusted their own. And I was an outsider.

I wasn’t going to fight this. This was about Sienna, not my ego.

Even if I did have to be trapped in a car with Mia for five hours.

“Fine, whatever. Let’s go. But I’m in charge.”

Mia knelt down and bid Sam goodbye. And then she stood up, and Grant kissed her like he was leaving for deployment. Damn, those two needed to get a room.

We took the shuttle to the car. Mia sat in the driver’s seat, and I reluctantly sat next to her.

“Grandpa. That’s so weird. I wonder who he is.”