Chapter 3 - The Boarding Gate
San Diego International Airport smelled of stale espresso and jet fuel.
At Gate 14, flight UA 3251 to Bali was preparing for boarding. Alex stood by the priority lane, looking relaxed, powerful, and handsome. Clinging to his arm was Clare Lynn. She wore a breezy floral sundress—ironically similar to the one I had pushed to the back of my closet—and laughed as Alex leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
They looked like the perfect couple.
Until I stepped into the priority lane directly behind them.
"Alex," I said.
My voice was not loud. It didn't need to be. The sound of his name in my cadence made his spine snap straight with the military precision I knew so well.
He turned around. The blood drained from his face so fast he looked as though he had been shot.
"What... what are you doing here?" Alex choked out, physically stepping back, almost tripping over Clare's designer luggage.
Clare’s smile faltered. She looked at me, then at Alex, her brow furrowing. "Alex, baby, who is this?"
"I'm his husband," I answered smoothly, stepping forward. I wore a bespoke charcoal suit that cost more than Alex’s annual salary. I didn't look like the ghost who ironed his collars. I looked like the apex predator I was raised to be. "And I'm just here to make sure the Commander's travel arrangements are in order."
"Listen to me," Alex hissed, dropping his voice into the commanding, authoritative bark he usually reserved for his subordinates. He grabbed my arm. "You need to go home right now. You are making a scene, and you do not understand what is happening here."
I looked down at his hand on my sleeve.
"Remove your hand, Commander," I whispered. The absolute zero temperature of my voice made his fingers flinch and drop to his side.
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"Sir?" The gate agent, a manager wearing a gold lapel pin, stepped out from behind the podium. He wasn't looking at Alex. He was looking directly at me, his expression tight with deference. "Mr. Vanguard. Everything is prepared as you requested."
Alex froze. He looked at the manager, then back at me. "Vanguard? What is he talking about?"
