Page 37 of Justice for the SEAL
Not now.Notever.
He didn’t know what she knew, couldn’t imagine the depths of that suffering he was so eager to take on. No, he’d find someone else, probably even one day soon. He was right at that age when so many men settled down and got married, even started a handsome youngfamily.
Her eyes burned and she cursed her own weakness, refusing to let the tears fall as memories of her thirties came to mind. She’d been a bridesmaid and an honorary aunt more times than she couldcount.
“Stupid girl,” she mumbled under her breath. She wiped at her eyes, ensuring they were dry, then bent and picked up the condom wrapper from the ground, surprised to see it was the one April had given her at the dance club. That meant she and Logan had used the old one from her purse that first time they weretogether.
She shrugged. Surely old protection was better than no protectionatall.
She made her way back to the glass-walled conference room and sat beside Logan. Cowboy nodded, letting her know he’d already been updated as to her presence at HEROForce.
Jax began. “After the bomb that exploded at Stewart Cole’s house, I think it’s safe to say he’s involved in the kidnapping of Justice Royce. He had hundreds of pictures of Cowboy and me, along with our loved ones, and a virtual shrine to his brother,Garrison.”
Cowboy spoke. “For those of you who are not aware, Garrison was a member of HERO Force who was killed in a training exercise six years ago. Jax and I were charged with murder in Garrison’s death. Justice Royce dismissed those charges for lack ofevidence.”
“Now civil charges have been filed, charging Cowboy and me with the wrongful death of Garrison.” Jax gestured to Gemma. “Judge Gemma Faraday here is the judge assigned tothatcase.”
“Whoa.” A big man across the table held up his hands. “What are youdoinghere?”
“And you are?” sheasked.
“AustinDixon.”
She nodded. “I was contacted by Royce’s kidnappers. They want me to find Mr. Wilson and Mr. Anderson guilty, regardless of the evidenceagainstthem.”
Austin turned his head and looked at her sideways. “She’s not supposed tobehere.”
Logan cleared his throat. “Judge Faraday needs our protection. She’s part of this mess, and an apparent target for Cole. We’re taking careofher.”
Gemma’s shoulders dropped in relief. Her eyes went around the room to each of the men—strong, capablesoldiers.
“Cole’s house was a trap,” said Jax. “He knew we’d find it. Now we need to figure out where he’s really hiding JudgeRoyce.”
“Does he own any other property?” askedAustin.
“Negative. No living relatives,either.”
“Friends?”
“Everything we’ve got on this guy says he’s a loner,” said Logan, flipping through papers in front of him. “Lives in the woods. Unemployed and on public assistance for a psych disability. If he had friends, they would have been few and farbetween.”
“A hotel, or rental property?”askedJax.
“Possibly.” Logan rubbed a finger along his jawbone. “But there was no Internet service at the cabin. Cable lines don’t reach out that far and he didn’t subscribe to any of the satelliteoptions.”
“Then a rental’s probably out,” said Austin. “All that shit’s done onlinethesedays.”
Gemma leaned forward. “What about Royce’sproperty?”
Logan shook his head. “We already checked thehouse.”
“He has a house up on Lake Hartwell, or at least he used to. There’s a peach orchard, too. It’s been in his family forgenerations.”
The men looked around at eachother.
“Would you be able to find this place again?” askedCowboy.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. It was just up a hill from a gas station, but I don’t know theaddress.”
