Page 45 of No Mistake

“I know. I guess I didn’t want to admit it. I kept forgiving him. He would be nasty and cruel one day, then apologize and be the kind, loving man I first met the next day. I never knew what version of him was coming home.”

Jesus Christ. Ryan held back from voicing his opinion about Mark, instead tightening his arms around her.

“He would taunt that he could have any woman he wanted.” Sophie hitched in a breath and Ryan waited for her to continue.

“I believed him, Ryan. Jesus, when I look back at it now, I can’t believe I stayed there so long. I thought I was a smart woman, and yet he was able to control what I thought, what I did, what I said. Even what clothes I wore. I let him do that!” Her voice raised and she tensed in his arms.

“Sssh, honey, come on. You are a smart woman, but men like that, they play on any little insecurity. Clearly he found yours and knew how to work them to his advantage. The son of a bitch makes me ashamed to be a man. He sure as hell doesn’t deserve to call himself one.”

He squeezed her tight.

“None of what happened was your fault. You are a beautiful, sexy, smart woman. He can’t take that away from you.”

Sophie relaxed against him and he kissed the top of her head. “How did it end?”

“Chloe got concerned. I hadn’t been to see her because Mark didn’t want me going there. He didn’t even like me speaking with her. We spoke on the phone when I was at work, but I kept putting her off coming to visit me. One day she turned up out of the blue. I was so worried about what he would do if he found out, I got angry with her. Chloe realized something was up and kept pushing me until I told her what had been happening. She called him exactly what he was. A narcissist.”

She tensed again and Ryan kept his arms tight.

“I don’t know if it was Chloe pointing out what was happening, but I finally began to see it. Admit it. Understand that what he was doing was wrong. When he left for a mission, I packed up my stuff and left.”

Thank God for Chloe. He couldn’t wait to meet her.

“When he got back, Mark called, shouting and screaming. He came to my home, banging on the door at all hours. Thankfully, my neighbors saw him, and he pretended he had the wrong house. Like you said, he couldn’t afford to get reported or arrested. Then he started coming to Westside, being all charming and kind, determined to get me back. Chloe kept me strong. She was there one day when he showed up, and she threatened him that she would go to his CO if he ever talked to me again. I didn’t see him after that. Last I heard, he’d transferred to Virginia Beach, something about trying out for a team there.”

Mark was fucking lucky he wasn’t still on Coronado. Ryan wanted to rip his fucking head off. Realizing his fists were clenched, he forced himself to relax. He was furious, but he reined it in. She didn’t need his macho, protective, alpha male side right now.

“Why didn’t you report him?”

“There was no proof. My word against his, and the thought of having to explain everything to his CO... Ryan, you know how tough the Navy can be. I couldn’t face it. He was gone. That was enough.”

Might be enough for Sophie but it sure as hell wasn’t enough for him.

“Since then, I... I haven't dated anyone. I swore I would never date another Navy guy. What he did hurt. He destroyed any confidence I had. I’m scared Ryan. I can’t go through that again.”

Jesus Christ. Gently he eased away from her, looked into those gorgeous blue eyes as silent tears spilled down her cheeks. That bastard didn’t deserve to have even breathed the same air as her.

“I’m not him, Sophie. I’m not Mark.” Softly, he wiped away her tears with his thumb.

“Deep down I know that. But it doesn’t stop me being scared. Navy men are all... well... strong, confident. Used to being in control, getting what they want. Big egos. And you know as well as I do not many Navy marriages last, especially SEALs. And based on Mark’s behavior, I can see why.”

What she said was right. Being involved with a teams guy was a challenge. Ryan knew that.

“You’re right. We are strong, confident, somewhat controlling, and we do have big egos. I’m not denying any of that. We need to be that way to do the job that we do. But that doesn’t mean we are that way in every aspect of our lives. I know I don’t have a great track record with women, but in my defense, I’ve never lied to a woman about what they were getting. I would never treat a woman the way he treated you. Nor would any of my teammates. Mark is in the minority, not the majority. I hope you can see that.”

“I want to believe what you're saying is true. I never see anything but kindness from you and your team. Most of the guys I see at the hospital are great. But my heart still has doubts. I can’t help it. Mark was kind in the beginning, too.”

Shit. The fucker had a lot to answer for.

“It’s hard for me to trust, Ryan. The smallest things bring back all those insecurities of not being good enough. I panic that I’m going to get sucked into the same situation. I second guess everything.”

“Have I done something to make you feel insecure?” He racked his brain.

Sophie closed her eyes.

“Sophie, tell me. Whatever it was, making you feel that way would never have been my intention.” OK, he was really concerned now.

She opened her eyes. “When you kissed me at the barbecue. Do you remember?”

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