Page 14 of The SEALs' Single Mom Baby Surprise

Cold dread coats me, extinguishing the fire I’d been ready to breathe on him a second ago. I latch onto the anger of being misjudged to keep from crumbling under the unknown fears that those words manifest in my imagination.

I’m in danger. That’s obvious. But how much? What about Reese? Do they know where I live? Is there a way to backtrack and figure out who these people are?

Will this get us closer to figuring out why my inventory is so messed up?

Is that why Caspian Vorn so breezily made his threat to me to stop digging?

“And what does that mean?”

Rhett comes into view beside Shepard, the concern in his brown eyes threatening my newly erected walls around that small version of myself I’ve been for so long—the one that always needs so much help, that can try and try and still not measure up, that will never be strong enough to stand on my own.

“It means you’re a target of some unknown entity, and they’re likely dangerous,” Cole says at my back.

I whirl on him, my emotions whiplashing through me. “Yeah. No shit. But what does that mean? I’m not backing off this just because someone doesn’t like that I’ve found it. Not with what it could mean to the men and women who are out there fighting. So don’t even think about getting me benched on this.”

He holds his hands up placatingly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I wait for him to get on with it. He’s handling me with kid gloves. It’s almost worse than Shepard’s constant poking.

The gray-blue of Cole’s eyes search mine in a much different way than Shepard did, though. Something about Cole radiates an earned authority, one that comforts me with the knowledge that he’s dealt with whatever and worse plenty of times.

That if I just listen, he’ll keep me safe.

It also pings another part of me that I don’t want to acknowledge. The same part that got me in trouble with Alistair when I was in college.

And it’s not just the near-solid silver of his hair.

“But we’d all feel better if we could keep an eye on you.”

Hell no. No, no, no. I cannot give up my freedom already. I’ve just gotten my first taste of it. “Not a chance. I’m not going to be babysat.”

I stamp down the rising panic. I’ve only just gotten out from under my ex’s thumb, from under his control of every little aspect of my life and how I spent my time days ago. I can’t go back to the way it was before. Not now that I’ve finally built the courage to free myself and my daughter.

Tears prick the backs of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall, hands balling into fists again. I want to shove everything off my desk, smash the computer, and rage until the world stops fucking with me.

“Not babysitting. Ensuring your safety.” Cole’s tone is soft but firm.

I hate him for it. Because it makes me want to believe him.

“No.”

He stands off with me, using that laser-sharp gaze to test my will. His steady presence needles me to concede to him. Because he knows better.

I bet he thinks he does. But he doesn’t know anything about me and what I’m capable of.

I’m not sure how long we stare at each other, but I refuse—absolutely refuse—to back down on this.

Cole finally shakes his head, but I have a sinking feeling this won’t be the end of it as I peer around at Rhett and Shepard. They look disappointed, like they can’t help me if I don’t let them.

I divert my attention back to Reese’s bright smile, how small she is, how precious.

She’s suffered too much by proxy from my toxic relationship. I couldn’t shield her from everything, even though I tried.

I’m not letting her get sucked into this.

Stomping back into the warehouse, I grab my clipboard and ready for another incoming delivery.

I can’t stand there and fight with those three any longer. I have a job to do.

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