Page 36 of The SEALs' Single Mom Baby Surprise

I cringe inside at where the bed likely came from. I hope she checked it for bed bugs.

Walking over to the window, I peer outside. The view showcases a small pathway between buildings, the other brick structure mere feet away. A lot of neutral stone and weeds. No fire escape. The window is painted shut.

Still, I check that the window is locked before I turn back to Reese. She’s watching my movements, and I catch that small flash of fear in her brows. It’s the same look her mother’s hiding.

“You’re safe. Get some sleep.”

Reese keeps my gaze for a few seconds, and I see that curious, dogged intelligence in her already.

Another nod has her curling up on her side as I slip out of the room and close the door softly behind me. I’m glad she seems to trust me.

Sloane, however, stands in the middle of her apartment with her hands on her hips. She’s been standing off with the boss again, but it doesn’t keep her from pegging me as I come out of her bedroom.

“You guys cannot just invade my life like this.” The crack in her voice means the shock is wearing off. So is her carefully maintained façade.

Everything in me screams to go wrap her up in my arms and hold her until she feels safe enough to get some rest. But I stay in place, waiting her out.

“We’re going to do worse than invade your life. We’re taking over until the threat is neutralized.” Boss is firm, and it’s hard to argue with him when he’s like this, especially when he’s testing the new door handle he’s just installed.

He closes the door and locks it, and I’m waiting for the wave of authority to hit. To make her flinch. But she doesn’t. She squares off with him as he turns to meet her gaze.

Their silent stare off lasts longer than I’ve seen in a while.

Too bad Boss is the king of quiet. He can stew in it for hours without breaking. I’ve seen him do it to more than a handful of suspects we’ve questioned over the years.

Neither of them backs down, but Sloane does turn back toward her bedroom where her daughter is sleeping, and she meets my gaze.

I nod. Her daughter is fine. Finally sleeping, or close to it now.

She’s a brave little girl.

Sloane’s hands drop, and she stomps in silent frustration. Eyes closing, she takes a deep breath. “I’m going to take a shower. Don’t plan my entire life while I’m in there.”

It takes her less than a minute to grab clothes from her room and disappear into the bathroom.

Boss wipes his mouth with his hand, the only tell that he’s feeling anything. And most of it seems to be worry. He’s worried about Sloane.

“Find a place near the base where we can move them.”

He’s staring after that door, thinking of ways to convince her that we know how to handle a situation like this. That she should trust us.

“She is not going to be happy about that,” Jack prompts.

“Not in the least bit,” I agree.

“Yeah. No shit. Find one anyway.” He moves through the apartment, checking every wall, every lingering box, every corner and cupboard, even the freezer and the trash. There’s nothing here.

Not much to go through. Nothing to find.

So, he must be wondering what we’re all wondering.

What were they looking for? What did they think she had? Were they looking for her?

Fury and fear mingle in my guts.

What if they’d found her here? If it were just her and Reese? What if we weren’t able to get to her in time?

Not the thoughts I want to be plagued with, so I do as Cole orders. I make some calls in search of a safe house, or at least a safer location.

---