Page 45 of Protection for Asher (Safeguarded By The SEAL #4)

Avery “Apple” Owens didn’t want to visit Tara in prison. What she’d done had embarrassed him, made him feel shame, and almost lost him the most important job he could have ever had. He was proud to be a SEAL, and Tara had almost ruined it for him.

He had a month off work and was heading to St. Louis to visit his parents for a few days before going camping in the Rockies. Studying the map, he figured out he would be near the prison where Tara was being held.

Heat filled him, and he jumped up, pushing away the idea of visiting Tara. He couldn’t do it. There was nothing she could tell him that would make him want to see her again.

He moved to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, groaning as soon as he realized he’d drank his last beer last night. He was flying out in the morning so his fridge was empty. He let go a heavy sigh and pulled out his phone, texting Jay, asking if he had any beer.

His phone rang a second later. “Hey, Apple, get your ass over here. We’re not flying out to Hawaii until next week.”

“Oh, cool. I’ll be there in a few.”

He’d had his issues with Nichole, but she’d turned out to be a great friend and an awesome addition to Jay’s life. He’d never seen his buddy so happy.

When he stepped into Jay’s house, Nichole narrowed her gaze. “Why aren’t you happy? You have a month off work.”

He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Tell us,” Jay said as he handed over a beer.

He took a long pull from the bottle, then groaned. “I'm visiting my parents, then driving to the Rockies. I pass by Leavenworth.”

Jay's eyebrows scrunched, and then he shook his head. “Oh, Tara.”

Nichole raised her eyebrows as her eyes opened wide. “I could interview her for you.”

Apple shook his head. “No. If I’m going to learn anything, I need to see her face to face.”

“What do you think she will tell you?”

He shook his head, disgust filling him. “No clue. I don’t really want to hear it.”

Nichole reached out and put her hand on his arm. “Then don’t go.”

She was right. He wouldn’t go. He didn’t need that drama in his life. He could drive right past Leavenworth and totally ignore the fact Tara was inside one of those cells. The desire to tell her she was a terrible person wouldn’t win. He could do this.

Five days later, he found himself sitting outside the prison. He had an appointment to see her at ten that morning. Anger and fear twisted through him. Something inside twisted so tight he had to know. It was that inner voice that made him do this.

When she entered the room and sat across from him, her smile did nothing for him. What had he ever seen in her?

“Hello, Avery.”

“Tara. What do you want?”

It seemed like she chuckled, but he wasn’t sure. “No warm reunion, I see.”

He said nothing, just stared at her. She had no idea what he’d been doing on the outside, and he wanted to keep her ignorant of his life.

“I’ll get to it. I always felt guilty?—”

Apple snorted. She was a piece of work trying to act like she had a conscience.

“I know that's hard for you to understand, but I didn't feel guilty about the documents. What I felt guilty about was your girlfriend, the one I forced you to break up with. She came by your place one evening when you were out.”

Apple felt like the world was closing in on him. If Tara had done anything to Amelia, he would kill her. He glanced around, seeing that there were multiple guards in here watching the prisoners. No doubt, he would be in big trouble. But it would be worth it.

“What about Amelia?”

“She was pregnant with your kid. I told her you wouldn't want anything to do with a kid but that I would tell you. I didn't. I kept that from you to punish you.”

He blinked at Tara, anger rising fast. He squeezed his hands into tight fists, knowing that if he reacted, the guards would take him down fast.

“I shouldn’t have kept that from you. I don’t know if she kept the baby or not, but I wanted you to know.”

His hands shook and then it was almost his whole body as the rage built. One of the guards stepped over and put his hand on the table between them. The guy looked Apple in the eye, his frown deep.

“It’s not worth it. Just get up and leave.”

The rage inside was almost too much to handle. He stood stiffly, his muscles barely unclenching as he turned and strode away, leaving the room and Tara behind. When he made it outside to the car he’d rented, he let loose a primal scream.

He had to find Amelia. He couldn't make up for lost time, but he sure as fuck would make sure she had money.

God, how could he have been so stupid back then?

He'd loved Amelia, but she'd pulled away, and Tara swooped in.

He shouldn't have let Amelia go so easily, but he'd tried to respect her decision to back away.

Now, he regretted ever hooking up with Tara.

He'd fucked himself over so badly he never would get over it.

Read Protection For Amelia next.