Page 47 of Protection for Nichole

“I’m sorry for whatever happened with them.”

“She lied to me, using me for her own gain. It really fucked with my head.”

She nodded. “Relationships can be harsh, especially when one person is using the other.”

“I don’t want you to take advantage of Jay.”

It was still weird when the guys called him Jay. She got that they all had nicknames, but she preferred Jesse.

“I don’t want anyone to take advantage of him either. I’m not working on anything involving the military. That’s not my specialty. I stick to crimes.”

Apple frowned and shook his head. “What if you knew something was happening on base?”

Her lips twisted up to the side. “If something illegal was happening on base, I would hope you guys would step up and try to get it to stop.”

Apple’s expression went blank. “I guess I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I’m sure you don’t want the reputation of the Navy tarnished because someone is being a jerk, doing something illegal on base.”

Apple shook his head. “No, I don’t want that.”

“So the thing your girlfriend tried to expose. Was it actually illegal or something she didn’t like?”

Apple crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not something I’ve talked about before.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“She didn’t like a policy. I don’t know if anyone was doing anything illegal. Honestly, I didn’t want to know what she’d done. It was intimidating. I was just starting out, and it could have ended my career.”

Curiosity made her want to dig, but she wasn’t going to make Apple her enemy. It wasn’t something she was already looking into, and if it was bad, surely it would come out eventually. “I get that. I’m glad you didn’t get kicked out. It must have scared you.”

Apple blew out a harsh breath. “I know it was only a couple of years ago, but I felt so stupid. Like I didn’t belong.”

Jesse clapped him on the back. “Buddy, you belong. You prove every day you belong. You’re one of the best. I know you’re young, but I see a bright future for you.”

“Thanks. I—” Apple turned back to Nichole. “Listen, I don’t know you yet. And I’m sorry I was such a dick, but I don’t want to be betrayed again.”

“I won’t betray you. If something comes up that involves the Navy, I’ll talk to Jesse.”

Apple snorted. “I can’t get used to you calling him Jesse. Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you. And yeah, if you bring it to Jay’s attention, he’ll probably want to discuss it with us.”

“That’s reasonable. And about the lying to that stranger. I don’t want to ever put you people in danger. Telling a total stranger a fib about where I am or where I’m living doesn’t make me feel guilty. Maybe I should have told her everything, but she wasn’t someone I’ll ever see again. Also, I don’t know what her intentions were. I don’t want her to reveal where I live or who I hang out with. She doesn’t deserve that information.”

Apple nodded. “I guess I get that. I just don’t like lying.”

“I understand. And in my real life, like things that matter, I don’t lie. But strangers at the beach, I don’t owe them anything.”

Apple shook his head. “That’s so weird.”

Jesse took a swig and shook his head. “You know, Apple, that’s how we operate.”

Apple’s eyebrows pinched together. “What do you mean?”

“We don’t tell people the truth. We keep our jobs, where we go, what we do when we’re over there, and all that other stuff secret. No one, not even other men and women in the Navy, gets information from us.”

“Huh.” Apple took another swig. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

Nichole didn’t want to rub it in Apple’s face. They’d come to some sort of truce, but Jesse was right. They were doing thesame thing. “I think it’s great that you’re here talking to me. We can come to some sort of an understanding. I understand why you wouldn’t trust me. I really care for Jesse, and I think we’re going to be together for a long time.”

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