Page 45

My hand was so tightly wrapped around the steering wheel my fingers ached.

I twisted it, constantly glancing into the rearview mirror.

My guilty conscience continued to play out, now in a fear that I couldn’t keep her protected.

As I shifted in my seat, I became more aware of the weapon I had concealed in my jacket.

While I had a permit, the last thing I wanted was to cause concern with anyone in town.

I rubbed my jaw as I pulled into the parking lot near Jasper’s. Now I was replaying what had happened to another SEAL in the daylight hours. Juliette’s question had lingered in my mind, so much so my lack of concentration was disturbing.

It was shit I needed to shake.

Climbing out, I scanned the street. With the near perfect weather conditions, there were dozens of people on the streets. I wasn’t certain if I would recognize the man if I saw him up close. I’d purchased the phone and other supplies, finding nothing in the way of even a security camera.

It was early, but I knew Jasper’s would be open. When I walked inside, I noticed a couple of old timers sitting in the corner, another playing pool, but the place was mostly empty.

Jarvis immediately noticed me, grinning as I walked closer to the bar. “You’re out and about early. Want a beer?”

“Not today. Just looking for information.” I was aware he studied me as I swept the oversized room a second time.

“How’s that lady of yours?” His question was leading. That much I knew about the man.

“She’s a handful.”

“Most women are. But you know, I have a good feeling about the two of you.”

Snorting, I shook my head. “Why do you say that?”

“The looks you gave her when she wasn’t looking. They were the same ones she gave you when you pretended not to notice her.”

“That didn’t happen.”

“Son, I might be old and a few parts don’t work that well any longer, but I got eyes.

” Using his index and middle fingers, he pointed to the light blue orbs that added to his character.

“Vision’s twenty-twenty, I might add. Now, I get you two aren’t really involved.

That much was clear, but you got a thing for each other. ”

“She’s just… someone I need to take care of.”

“Uh-huh.”

I closed the distance to the bar, pulling my phone from my front jeans pocket. When I did, I exposed the handle of my Glock.

His eyes immediately opened wide. “Expecting trouble, son?”

“Maybe.”

“Does your concern have anything to do with the man in town asking questions about Corabelle? Only that isn’t her name, is it? Juliette Carver and if I’m not mistaken, daughter of Randolph Carver. From what I heard, the man is ruthless and into some sketchy things.”

Well, fuck. The mystery man was one step ahead of me. The skin on the back of my neck began to crawl.

“What man?” My head shot up.

“Never seen him before. He popped into my bar yesterday asking about her. Said he was a private detective hired by her father. Said some shit about the girl acting strangely, making bad decisions. I was half listening to him. Until he pulled out a picture. There was sweet Corabelle.”

My fingers were on the screen. “What did you tell him?” There was animosity in my tone.

Jarvis pulled back, tilting his head. “What’s going on, son? I mean I could tell there was tension between you and Ms. Carver. When I saw the way you were together, I wondered what the hell was really going. Now I see my instincts were right and you’re in some serious trouble.”

“The shit is complicated.”

“It always is.”

While finding the photograph of the man, anger swelled within me. “Is this him?”

He kept his eyes on me for a few additional seconds before finally glancing at my phone. Then he took it from my hand, using his fingers to enlarge the picture. “A little grainy, but it looks like him. The guy was cagey. You know the type. Can’t look you in the eye when he’s talking.”

“So what the fuck did you tell him? This is important, Jarvis.”

“I told him I’d never seen her before.”

“Did he ask about me?”

His head shook, but he narrowed his eyes and leaned across the bar. “What have you gotten yourself mixed up in?”

The last thing I needed to do was to trust anyone, but at this point, with no backup and no tight security, I felt I didn’t have a choice. “I was asked to run a mission of protection.”

“By yourself?”

“Yeah. By my old commander. The girl was kidnapped. I handled an extraction. Now there are men attempting to hunt her down.”

“For what reason?”

“That I don’t know.”

He offered a wry smile. “But you have an idea.”

“Yeah, one I don’t like.” I knew Jarvis well enough to know he’d only ask what was necessary. The way of a Marine, like any good soldier.

“I’ll tell you this. I think she may be in danger, Kage. I also know a lie when I hear one. He was carrying a Sig Sauer P226. I saw that clearly.” He lifted his eyebrows in wait to see if I knew what he was getting at.

Without a doubt.

I sucked my breath. That was a fucking weapon used by Navy SEALs and a whole lot of bad men.

“What the fuck is going on?” The question was more rhetorical.

Whatever her father was in the middle of had placed a target on Juliette’s back.

My guess was that he hadn’t provided every scrap of information to the Feds.

No wonder he’d contacted his old Navy buddy, hopeful to keep his reputation intact.

Maybe that’s why Gray had been sketchy about providing details.

“Good question. You need any help?” Jarvis asked.

My gaze was skeptical.

“As I said, I might be old, but I’m not dead yet,” he barked, reaching under the counter and pulling out a Sig Sauer M-18 with one hand, a small automatic assault rifle in the other. “And I have more.”

Fuck. The man had a grin on his face.

“Yeah. I could use your help. Not much security on the property and a lot of dense forest surrounding the house. I had no idea I’d need to maintain a fucking fortress. Too many access points.”

“I can help you with security as well. In fact,” he said as he scrubbed his jaw, “I think I’ll have everything you need.” With the weapons in hand, he moved from behind the bar, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at the patrons inside the bar. “Sam. Ralph. Carmine. Out.”

“What?” one of them called. “It’s early.”

“Not today. We’re closed. Consider your drinks on the house.”

“You sure about that?” I asked.

Jarvis flicked a switch, turning off half the lights in the bar. “Son, I’m bored. Owning a goddamn bar sounded glamourous, but it’s shit. I need action or this old man will dry up. Let’s see what we can do.”

Nodding, it felt good to have someone in my corner.

We stood at the door, waiting until the three men walked out, grumbling as they threw Jarvis scorned looks.

I stood on the sidewalk as Jarvis locked up, constantly glancing from one side of the road to the other.

“Jarvis. Kage. Nice to see you both.”

It took a minute to recognize the woman. The store clerk from when Juliette purchased clothes.

“Grace,” Jarvis said as she approached. “I’m sorry, but we’re in kind of a hurry.”

She glanced down at the assault rifle in his hand.

“Does it have anything to do with that man looking for Corabelle?” Grace asked innocently enough, confusion on her face.

Curtailing my anger was difficult on the best days. I barely reeled it in when I took the two long strides in her direction. “What man?”

“He was tall with dark hair, wearing a dark blue jacket. He didn’t tell me his name, but mentioned he was looking for Juliette Carver.

He said she was with a Navy SEAL. That’s the only reason I realized he was talking about Corabelle.

” She was nervous, shifting her confused and fearful gaze from Jarvis back to me.

“What the hell did you tell him?” My demand was harsher than I’d intended.

She backed away and Jarvis threw me a look. “This is important, Grace. Did you tell the stranger where she was?”

“All I said was that I’d seen her and she was with her new husband, Kage Rollins, and that the two of you were living on Rockshire Lane.”

Fuck.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

There was no time to answer her. I took off running toward my truck.

“Hold up, Kage. I’m going with you.”

There was no time to argue with the man. At this point, I’d need all the help I could get.

Juliette was in danger and because of my stupidity, I’d placed her directly in harm’s way.

Time to make amends.

Time to exorcise the demons.

Time to save the woman I adored.