Page 26 of Shadow Redemption

“Would you have shot the driver who tried to run us down?”

“If I didn’t have another option, yes. I would have done anything necessary to protect you. I always will.” He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth and got them moving toward the front door. “I’ve already checked the windows and doors. Everything is locked down. Do you leave a light on when you’re out of the house?”

“The living room light.”

After turning on the lamp and setting the alarm, Ben ushered Ruth from the house and escorted her to the SUV. Once she was inside, he stored her luggage in the back of the SUV and circled to climb behind the wheel.

The journey into Nashville was uneventful. Ben drove to Fortress headquarters and parked in the underground garage.

“Why are we here?” Ruth asked.

“I need to restock my supplies and since we have a little extra time, I’d rather do it now. This will take about five minutes. Do you want to visit with Zane while I go to the weapons vault?”

“Is it against the rules to show me the vault?”

“You want to see it?”

“I do.”

He gave her a considering look. “All right. Whatever you see inside the vault can’t be discussed with anyone.”

“I’m a vault with secrets.” She smiled.

Ben chuckled as he exited the vehicle.

Success. She’d made the taciturn man laugh. Her job was done for the moment. Her new mission was to bring a little laughter into his life. He deserved that and so much more.

After a short elevator ride down two levels, they arrived at a floor with multiple steel doors on either side of the corridor. “You weren’t kidding about calling them the vaults, were you?”

He shook his head. “The vaults are exactly what the name implies. They hold Fortress weaponry and medical supplies as well as uniforms and tactical boots.”

“Uniforms. The black cargo pants and shirts?”

“We have lighter-colored camouflage if the terrain calls for it. Most of the time, Shadow doesn’t need it. We do much of our work at night.” He carded in, keyed in a code, and submitted to a retinal scan before opening the door of the closest vault.

“Is this the only floor with the vaults?”

He shook his head. “There’s another floor below this one.” Ben slid his bag from his shoulder and led Ruth inside.

She slowly scanned the shelves and hooks filled with weaponry of all types. “This is incredible. You could start a war with the supplies inside here.”

“Not hardly. We could stop a skirmish if we were careful.”

She’d never seen so many weapons in one place. “Do you know how to use everything in here?”

“We’re well trained.”

A non-answer, but it was telling enough to know that he could utilize everything in this vault. She continued her perusal as Ben restocked his equipment bag, amazed at the variety of weaponry on display. How much money had Fortress spent to arm the operatives?

Her gaze shifted to Ben. How much of his work required this kind of heavy artillery? She worried about the cost to Ben mentally and emotionally. The big, tough SEAL might deny that he paid a price for his work. She knew better. Considering that he was always awake when she called at odd hours of the night or early morning, Ben didn’t sleep much. That wasn’t good for his health.

She knew her lousy sleep habits impacted her body. Photographers harped at her constantly now. Before Hugo, she’d rested well. Now, nightmares invaded her dreams and jarred her awake, skin clammy and heart racing.

Ben was the one she turned to when memories pressed too close. He always took her calls, a true gift from what she’d learned from Bridget. Ben didn’t hand out his personal number to anyone but his teammates and a few select colleagues from Fortress.

Ben turned, an unspoken question in his eyes when he caught her watching him.

She shook her head. “Sorry. I was thinking about...things.”