Defending Morgan (Mountain Mercenaries #3)(40)
“What do you mean?”
“They want to hear from you, and I know a lot of America does too. They’ve been hearing about you for a year, thanks to your dad. They know all about your life. They feel like they know you. They’ll be relieved that you’re all right. So go out there, thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers. Tell them that you’re thankful for being found. Then explain things are tough for you right now—don’t explain how—and that you’d appreciate some space while you try to acclimate back to your life here in the States. Then smile, nod at the cameras, and leave the platform. Ignore the questions and come straight back here to me. I’ll get you out of here.”
“But I’m supposed to stay and answer questions,” Morgan said, though Arrow could clearly see the relief in her eyes.
“You don’t owe anyone anything, beautiful. Let the cops handle the questions. And your dad. He’s been dealing with the press for a year now. Trust him to keep doing it.”
Morgan bit her lip.
“What is it?” Arrow asked.
“What if he’s the one who orchestrated this?” she whispered.
Arrow dropped her hand and cupped her face in his palms. “Don’t think about that right now.”
She reached up and grabbed his wrists. “How can I not?”
“Your only job is to go out there, say your thing, and come back to me. Can you do that? We’ll talk about who might be behind it later this afternoon. Even if it was your dad, he’s not going to do anything in front of all those cameras. He loves the limelight as much as you dislike it. Just keep in the back of your mind a younger me, trembling because I was so fucking scared to talk to those head honchos in the Marines while I was hungover. And do what I did. Fake it until you make it, beautiful.”
She gave him a small smile then. “I’m good at faking it.”
Arrow couldn’t help it. The words came out of his mouth before he thought about what he was saying. “You won’t be faking anything with me, beautiful. I’ll have you so desperate, you’re begging for it.”
When her eyes widened in surprise, he swore.
“Shit, sorry. Forget I said that. Dammit, I’m an idiot. I—”
“Well, now I’m not thinking about the damn press conference anymore,” she said softly with a small grin, interrupting his self-recriminations.
Arrow was relieved he hadn’t freaked her out. “This isn’t the time or place, but . . . I like you, Morgan. A lot. I want to see where this crazy connection we seem to have can go. I know your life is up in the air, but I hope you’re ready for me to be in it somehow. Any way you’ll let me.”
“I . . . I’d like that, but I feel so off balance right now. I have no idea what’s going to happen in the near future.”
“Whatever happens, I’ll be there to help you. We’re going steady now, remember?” he asked with a grin. “I think being there to help your girl is a requirement in the going-steady handbook.”
Morgan grinned.
Arrow heard the reporters raising their voices to fire questions at Nina’s mother. The little girl hadn’t made an appearance in front of the cameras—she was in another room with her aunt—but from what Arrow could tell from the sidelines, her mom had done an amazing job dealing with the press. It was almost Morgan’s turn.
He pulled her into his embrace and sighed in contentment when her body fit perfectly against his. Her arms wrapped around his back and clutched him to her. She smelled fresh and clean, nothing like a few days ago when they’d lain together under debris, hiding from their pursuers.
“It’s time,” he told her reluctantly. “You’ve got this. Remember what I said. Short and sweet and walk away without looking back.”
Morgan took a deep breath. “Right. I can do that.”
“You can do anything,” Arrow said, then stepped back as she turned around and headed for the door that entered into the conference room. She stepped up on the small stage with her dad at her side.
The second she was far enough away, Meat stepped up next to Arrow and said, “I did some research on her boyfriend. He seems to be in the clear, but I’m not so sure about his brother. That Karen person doesn’t exactly have the best taste in men either.”
Arrow nodded, but he was only half listening. His attention was glued to Morgan. She sat in a chair behind a small table. Flashes were going off nonstop, and he hated that she had to go through this. He hadn’t exaggerated when he’d found her and told her everyone knew who she was. And because of that, everyone needed some sort of closure about what she’d been through because, thanks to her dad, in some ways, they’d been through it with her.
He’d seen it time and time again. With Elizabeth Smart, Jaycee Dugard, Shawn Hornbeck, and even Danielle Cramer. The general public was horrified by what the missing children had been through but fascinated by their stories of survival.
Arrow knew that Morgan would be no different. She wasn’t a child, but with her diminutive stature and haunted eyes, she’d be seen in the same sort of light. Not to mention her connection to Nina Scofield.
“Did you hear me?” Meat asked.
“I heard you,” Arrow said, not taking his eyes from Morgan. “But at this moment, I can’t do jack shit about it. I can’t talk about it because I need to be here in case Morgan needs me. I can’t fly to Georgia and get Lane or Lance Buswell in a room to beat the shit out of them until they tell me what they know. I can’t make Karen tell me about her asshole ex-boyfriends or whoever you found in her life that might’ve been a threat to Morgan. All I can do is trust you and the others to figure this shit out while I’m concentrating on making sure Morgan doesn’t break down into a million pieces.”