Coming Home For Her

“That’s me,” I answer. Heather pops up behind them. She’s in her normal jeans and shirt. Her hair is pulled into a simple ponytail and her face is clean of makeup. You would never know the woman is loaded. That the only reason this place is still standing here is because of her and her giant heart. She gives her all to these women. Not only financially but emotionally also.

“Things have escalated with him.” She doesn't have to say who he is for me to know who she is talking about. My blood chills more than it already has.

“Julia is on her way here,” I inform her.

“I guess he had a busy night.” She lets out a long sigh.

“Tell me.” I want to know.

“James caught Brock lingering outside this morning.” So much for the restraining order. The shelter is one of the places along with his home he isn't allowed. “He exploded about you. Said you were the reason that she was doing all of this to him. That you were a bad influence.”

“That’s nothing new.” I roll my eyes. I shouldn't. I know he’s not all talk. I’ve seen the bruises on Julia. Treated them myself.

“He made threats. Claimed to know where you lived. Talked about your dads too.”

“He might be bluffing.” Both the cops shake their heads. My heart starts to pound.

“Carey.”

I let out a small scream, jumping.

“Sorry.” Nora holds up her hands. “There is a man here asking about you.”

“Carey!” Beau’s voice booms as he rounds the corner. James is hot on his heels.

“Right here.” I call out. He slows his speed. James tries to grab his arm, and the two cops place their hands on their gun holsters. “Stop, I know him!” I shout.

“I heard you scream,” he grits out. James puts his hand on Beau’s shoulder. In one quick move, Beau has him pinned to the floor.

“I’m fine. Let James go.” I step more in front of the cops, trying to block them. Beau pulls him back to his feet in a graceful move. The cops relax a little when Beau releases James fully. Never for a second did Beau look scared.

“Someone tried to break into your place,” Beau informs me. “Tried to get in the back door but couldn't get past the bolts I installed last summer.”

“Okay. So I guess Brock does know who I am and where I live.”

“Who the fuck is Brock? And why would he be trying to break into your place?” Beau asks. I swear there’s an edge to his voice that I’ve never heard before. He makes his way toward me.

“Maybe you should tell us who you are first,” one of the cops says.

“I’m her man.” What? Did he just say he’s my man? When did that happen? “Also a retired Navy SEAL. Beau Meyers.”

“I’ve heard of you!” the quiet cop says, sounding excited.

“The stories man,” the other adds. I want to know these stories. What the heck? Why is it that everyone else seems to know so much about Beau other than me? I mean, I basically stalked the guy for so many years.

“How about you guys tell me about this Brock guy.”

I stand there as the cops tell him everything. They tell him things I didn't even know. The whole time he keeps me pressed into his side. The way he’s holding me makes me think he doesn’t have any intention of letting me out of his hold ever again.

9

Beau

My eyes never leave Carey as she talks to Julia. She’s the wife of that fucker Brock. He better hope the cops find him before I do. Because when it comes to protecting her, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do. I don’t know why I decided to go straight over to her place earlier when I left mine to chase after her.

I should've checked her location first. It was stupid. Not only that, I knew the alarm to her house hadn’t been turned off. I’d been the one to help install the whole system. I’d brought it up to her dads a few weeks before I knew she was graduating college and would be coming back home to live. I needed to make sure she would always be safe.

She messes with my head. At first I was pissed at myself when I got there and she wasn't there. Then I saw the back door. I’m not sure her dads or her would have noticed the lock had been tampered with or the small dents around it that could only be seen if the sun hit the door just right. My eye has been trained to look for inconsistencies, though. It’s what made me such a good Navy SEAL. I always take in the little things.

“She’ll stay with me. He won’t get near her,” I tell Grant and Miles, the two police officers. Keeping Carey at my side is going to be the one thing that slows me down with finding this piece of shit. I’m going to have to call in some favors, which won’t be hard.