Page 52 of Justice for the SEAL
“I didn’t mean to do it,” hecried.
Cowboy ran to him, falling to the ground by his side. “Call 9-1-1.”
“I thought she was older. I wasdrunk.”
Royce’s voice was cold. “I hope you burn in hell.” One last shot rang out, this one hitting Garrison inthehead.
Jax took a drag of his cigarette. “I swear, I still hear the shots out here atnight.”
“He had hisdemons.”
“Suicide by SEAL,” said Jax. “He wanted us to kill him so he wouldn’t have to do ithimself.”
“We didn’t have achoice.”
“Nope.”
“Give me one of those.” Cowboy’s cell phone rang. “That’s probablyyourwife.”
“Tell her I’mnothere.”
“You’ve got it.” Cowboy pulled it out. “It’s Logan.” He answered it. “What’sup?”
“Gemma’s missing and so is her security guard. I need help,Cowboy.”
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Gemma’s shouldersached from having her hands tied for so long behind the dining chair back, but she darecomplain.
Royce moved to the opposite side of the table and sat down. “I never should have slept with you,” he said, eyes full ofdisdain.
“It was a longtimeago.”
He blew out air. “Not long enough, because here you are, fucking up my life all overagain.”
She tilted her head. “What didIdo?”
“You told HERO Force where to find me. That must havebeenyou.”
“And you shot me and left me for dead,”shesaid.
“I ran out of bullets. You gotlucky.”
“Lucky.” She shook her head at his choice of words. “How did I get theconcussion?”
He grinned. “The van window was down. I slammed your head against the door frame. I couldn’t have you screaming and letting the others know I wasthere.”
“There’s only one thing I don’t understand,” she said. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the ransom Cole wanted for you—a guilty verdict against Jax and Cowboy in my court. But how did they know the men wouldn’t opt for a jurytrial?”
He clucked his tongue. “I’m disappointed in you, Gemma. I thought you were smarter than this. Cole had no idea whether the men of HERO Force would opt for a jury trialornot.”
Her mouth opened. “Butyoudid.”
“They’d already filed their pleas by the time I was…taken.”
“You staged your ownkidnapping.”
“Not entirely. Cole was there, along with some of his friends from the county jail. I just told them whattodo.”
