Page 44 of Protection for Asher (Safeguarded By The SEAL #4)

Asher found a job that would allow her to work twenty hours a week during the day while Squat was at the base. It was the perfect setup for her because she had time to take classes and get her degree.

Excitement filled her as she pulled on her work shirt, ready to head out for her first day. Recovering from the trauma she'd suffered was slow going, but she was getting there. Squat was a huge part of her recovery. She was better because of the love he'd shown her.

Asher stepped outside, heading to the bus stop close by.

Because Thario had helped get her old car sold, she now had enough money to buy a car, but she was waiting until she knew this job would work out for her.

She didn’t want to end up having no money to fall back on if she needed extra cash for supplies for one of her classes.

She’d made it to the sidewalk when the slam of a car door drew her attention. She turned, spying someone she thought she recognized. Panic flashed through her. It was one of the men she’d seen in the basement when she’d been taken. It was Squat’s uncle. He’d come for her.

Thario woke late, his head spinning. Frog seemed concerned when he coughed. Just what he needed, another round of illnesses. He hated being sick, but this time, it felt different, more like allergies rather than an illness.

He’d spent time helping his neighbor clean out her house yesterday, which had been a mistake. She needed to hire someone. The dumpster out front of her house was already full, and they’d only gone through half the rooms.

He checked his email, seeing a note from one of the alerts he had set up. His heart picked up speed as he read the email, seeing that Squat’s Uncle Bill had been spotted in Vegas. That was too close to them.

Maybe he should call, but something told him to head over. He grabbed his mug of coffee he’d poured up and tapped Frog on his head. “We’re headed out.”

Frog gave a little yip then followed him outside. They were halfway there when he put in a call to Squat, getting his voicemail. He left a message, telling Squat he was heading over to his house and he would call once he made sure Asher was okay.

Frog whined and Thario reached over, scratching his head. “It’s okay, boy, we’re just going to check on Asher. I’m sure everything is okay.”

A scream rose up and escaped Asher's lips before she turned to run.

Bill called out, but his voice was lost in the wind.

She wasn't going to stop and find out what he wanted.

The man had seen her in that basement, and he hadn't even tried to help her.

He could have gone to the police and stopped this all, but he'd been in league with her abductors.

Bill was just as guilty as the rest of them.

She slowed as she approached the corner, looking for approaching traffic. The sound of his footsteps was right behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and her feet wove off the sidewalk, tripping on a low bush.

One hand slapped the pavement, and the other landed in the trash.

She cried out as pain slid up her arm. She turned over, trying to scramble up, but Bill was right there.

His lips spread into an evil smile, and she tried crawling backward, but her left arm wouldn't work, and she was stuck at his feet, just waiting for him to attack.

Thario turned onto Squat's street and saw Asher running. Frog saw it, too. From the bark he let loose, the dog didn't like what he saw. Thario watched in horror as Asher fell. He sped to the curb, stopping as he watched the man tower over her.

He opened the door to his van, and Frog jumped out, heading straight for the man standing over Asher. He watched as Frog jumped up, wrapping his jaws around the man's arm. The guy seemed shocked and didn't react for a moment.

Thario scrambled out of his van, moving closer to Frog and the man being attacked. “Frog, release.”

The man turned to him, anger shining in his eyes. Then he saw the guy ball up his fist, looking like he was going to hit Frog. He couldn’t allow the asshole to hurt his dog.

Asher watched in horror at first, then fascination as Frog pulled the jerk, making him turn away from her.

What was Frog doing here? Then she saw Thario and knew he'd come to help.

It looked like the man was going to hit Frog, so Asher did the only thing she could.

She quickly lifted her leg, striking Bill between the legs with her shin.

His knees came together before he dropped to them, rolling to his side as Frog tugged on his arm one last time before letting go.

Thario stood above the man, anger shining in his eyes. “You okay, Asher?”

“Mostly. My arm hurts. I don’t know what I did to it.”

Thario nodded. “We’ll get that taken care of. Right now, I need you to call for the police.”

She grabbed her phone out of her pocket and dialed. They answered on the first ring, and she relayed what had happened. The guy promised they would dispatch someone immediately.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Squat. She ended the call and answered, glad to hear her man’s voice.

“Asher, are you okay?”

“For the most part. Thario is here. He and Frog captured Bill.”

“Good. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

She sighed as relief filled her. She was safe. Bill would end up in jail and she was free to live her life.

The first of the sirens sounded and drew closer. Asher sat up, cringing as pain slid through her. Thario didn’t take his eyes off Bill, which she appreciated. Bill didn’t seem happy, but she didn’t give a shit what he wanted. Frog kept his attention on Bill, growling every time the man moved.

Bill looked from her to Thario, then back to her. “You bitch. How the hell did you escape? You were supposed to die overseas.”

“Well, I didn't. And now I can testify against you, which I will gladly do.”

A police car stopped behind Thario’s van and the officers got out slowly as they took in the area. “What’s going on?”

Asher grunted in pain as she tried to point at Bill. Her arm still wasn’t useful so her pointing was rather wimpy. “He attacked me.”

“The dog rescue you?” one of the officers called out.

“Yes.”

The dog glanced over his shoulder and sat at the sight of the officers with their guns drawn. Thario scratched his head, and Frog whined.

“Is that a military dog?”

“Yes,” Thario said. “We were pulling up as he was chasing Asher down the street. Frog, that’s the dog’s name, took him down.”

“I want to sue for abuse!” Bill yelled, which caused Frog to growl.

The first officer moved to Bill and told him to lie face down on the ground. Bill tried arguing, but it wasn't any use. The cops weren't taking any flack from him.

An ambulance showed up and Bill was yelling at them to help him but the officers waved them off, telling them to attend to her first.

“So what hurts?” the EMT asked.

“My arm. It won’t work.”

“Well, I’m thinking you dislocated it, but we’ll get you to the ER and get you an X-ray. Then we’ll know for sure. I’m going to take your vitals before we take off.”

“Thank you.”

She could breathe easier now. Sure, when Bill had shown up, she’d been frightened, but knowing he was in police custody meant it was all almost over. No one would be free to hunt her down. She and Squat could live out their lives in peace.

Squat showed up right before the ambulance was ready to take her. He hopped in the back and rode with her to the hospital. She was thankful they’d found each other again.

The X-ray showed that her shoulder had been dislocated from the impact of her fall. There were no cracked or broken bones, which was good. It would take a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, for her to recover, but she would be okay.

“Let’s go home,” Asher said when Squat walked back into the room.

“Are they letting you go?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’m free to leave.”

“Good. Let’s get you home.”

Her arm was in a sling for a few days, but she had survived.

One of Squat’s teammates had driven his car to the hospital so they could get home.

On the way home, Squat drove her by her new work and she explained to the manager what had happened.

They understood, but wanted her on staff even though she couldn’t start for a few more days. Everything was working out so well.

Once home, he helped her out of the car, and they headed in. He pulled her into a hug, and she rested her head against his shoulder.

“Thank you.”

He kissed her forehead. “I’ll always be here for you.”

She leaned back and met his gaze. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. When we were younger and you left for the Navy, I knew I would always miss you. Finding you again is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you.”

“I feel like I should be thanking you for giving me another chance. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love my job, and becoming a SEAL was life-changing, but Asher, you are my life. I would give it all up to be with you.”

She brushed her lips over his. “Thankfully, you don't have to. I love you, and I'm proud of who you are and what you do. I know you being a SEAL means you'll be gone sometimes, but I know it is worth it. You're worth it.”

He held her face between his hands and delivered a kiss that made her toes curl. She'd found him again, and this time, she would never have to let him go.