Chapter 265 Chapter 265

Chapter 265 Chapter 265
Daniel had been outside Emma's building since five that morning.
Pathetic he knew, that's what he was. Sitting in his rental car like some stalker, watching the entrance, waiting for a glimpse of the woman he'd destroyed.
A week. Seven days since she'd told him to leave. Since she'd looked at him with those eyes full of pain and rage and said she wasn't sure she could ever trust him again.
He didn't blame her, how could he? He'd made his choice and faked his death. Let her grieve him for three months while he played spy with CID, gathering evidence against Vance.
Worth it, he told himself. She was alive. That made it worth it.
Except looking at her last week, seeing what he'd done to her, the hollowness in her eyes, the way she'd flinched when he'd tried to touch her. Daniel wasn't so sure anymore.
Kyle had sent him photos. From the memorial. Emma in a black dress, barely able to stand, Grayson holding her up. Her face wrecked.
Daniel had stared at those photos for hours. Memorized every line of pain on her face. That was the price she'd paid for his decision.
He'd thrown up after. Twice. Then punched a wall hard enough to split his knuckles.
She'd wanted to die. That's what she'd told him. Standing in that hallway at Grayson's place, surrounded by her family and friends. She'd wanted to die because he was gone.
And he'd been alive the whole time. Letting her suffer. Letting her go through hell. If he could reach his own ass, he would kick it.
Now it didn't matter that it had been for her own good. To keep her safe.
The justifications rang hollow now.
His phone buzzed.
Text from Kyle: MPs got another one. Simons still in the wind. Keep her covered.
Daniel typed back a quick acknowledgment. Simons. Vance's second. The last piece of shit still out there who might come after Emma to make him pay for taking them down. He had thought it safe enough to come back after most had been caught. He could protect her and be with her. But she hadn't wanted him.
The whole irony wasn't lost on Daniel. He'd faked his death to protect her from Vance. And now she needed protection because of what he'd done.
Movement at the entrance caught his eye. Emma, leaving the building. Byrnes, her bodyguard, a few steps behind. Good. The guy was solid, ex-Delta, one of Nate's best. He had been talking to Nate even if no one else wanted to have anything to do with him.
Daniel watched them walk toward the street, heading in the direction of the cafe where they'd agreed to meet. Safe place and Emma's choice.
He gave them a five-minute head start, then followed.
The cafe was busy. Lunch rush. Daniel scanned the room automatically, making sure nobody was paying too much attention to Emma or him.
Emma sat at a corner table, hands wrapped around a coffee mug, staring at nothing. She looked exhausted. Dark circles under her eyes, face pale. She was early but so was he.
She looked like he felt.
Daniel's chest tightened. He'd done this to her, all of it. He thought about kicking his ass again.
He crossed the cafe, Emma's eyes found his, and something flickered across her face. Too fast for him to read.
"Emma." His voice came out rougher than he'd intended.
"Daniel." She gestured to the seat across from her. "Please."
He took a seat. The silence stretched between them, heavy and awkward.
"You look tired," Emma said finally.
"So do you." Daniel studied her face, looking for some sign, something to tell him she was okay. She wasn't. "How are you?"
"That's a loaded question." Emma looked down at her coffee. "I'm managing. Therapy helps. My family helps. Byrnes drives me insane, but he's good at his job."
"I'm glad Grayson and Nate sorted that out." Daniel glanced toward the door where Byrnes stood watch. "He's one of Nate's best. You're in good hands."
"So, I've been told." Emma met his eyes, her eyes narrowing, realizing he knew more than he should. "You wanted to meet, to fill me in. So, fill me in."
Right. Business first. Maybe that was safer. Daniel leaned forward. "The MPs arrested everyone in Vance's crew over the last few weeks. They followed his paper trail, tracked the money. Got confessions, evidence, the whole thing. It's airtight."
"Everyone?" Emma asked.
"All but one." Daniel's jaw tightened. Simons. The bastard had vanished the second the arrests started. "Guy named Simons. He went to ground before they could grab him. But they're looking. It's only a matter of time."
"So, I need Byrnes until then."
"Yeah." Daniel's hands clenched on the table. "I'm sorry, Em. I know you hate this. But Simons is dangerous. He was Vance's second. If he's going to make a move, it'll be at you. To get to me. To make me pay."
"Great." Emma laughed, but it sounded bitter. "Just what I always wanted. A target on my back because my fiancé, my dead fiancé, decided to play hero."
The words hit like a physical blow. Daniel flinched. "I know you're angry—"
"I'm furious." Emma cut him off. "But that's not new information, is it? You knew I'd be angry when you made the choice. You did it anyway."
"I did." Daniel met her eyes, forced himself not to look away. She deserved honesty, at least now. "And I can't promise I wouldn't do it again. If it came down to your life or your anger, Emma, I'd choose your life every single time. Even if it meant you hated me for it."
He watched her absorb that. Saw the flash of pain across her face.
"I don't hate you," Emma said quietly. "I wish I did. It would be easier."
"I know." Daniel's voice was soft. "I can't imagine what you're going through. What you went through. I saw the photos Kyle sent me. From the memorial. You could barely stand, Em. And I did that to you. I made that choice, and you paid the price."
Emma's throat worked. "I'm not cut out for this."
"For what?"
"I told you last week, being a military wife." The words came out flat, final. "I thought I was. When you deployed, I told myself I could handle it. The worry, the fear, the not knowing. But then they told me you were dead, and I—" Her voice cracked. "I fell apart, Daniel. Completely apart. And even now, knowing you're alive, I can't…I don't think I can do it again. The deployments. The danger. Wondering every day if this is the time you don't come home. I wish I was made of stronger stuff, and I think the women and men who are able to do it need a medal of their own. But I… I can't. I know that sounds terrible. But I lived through it once don't want to do it again."
Daniel nodded slowly. He'd expected this. Didn't make it hurt any less. "I understand."
"Do you?" Emma searched his face. "Because this isn't just about the last three months. It's about all the months and years that come after. I can't live like that. Always waiting for the knock on the door. Always wondering if today's the day I lose you for real."
"You won't have to. If you give me another chance." The words came out before Daniel could stop them. "My tour is almost up. Another month, and I'm done. It's unlikely they'd deploy me so close to the end."
Emma blinked. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'm thinking of leaving the Marines." Daniel held her gaze, let her see the truth of it. "Nate offered me a position on his team. Private security, bodyguard work, that sort of thing. I can't say it will be risk-free, but like you said last week, crossing the road can be dangerous."
"You'd do that?" Emma's voice was barely above a whisper. "Leave the Marines?"