Page 20 of Shelter for Shay (Broken Heroes Mended Souls #2)

“Damn, girl, that’s a lot, especially for you,” Becca said. “I’ve known you through a few boyfriends, but you’ve packed up, moved, and left them all behind. You’re the heartbreaker, not them.”

“I know, right? It’s so weird.”

“At least you’re admitting it now and not fighting me on it,” Becca said before taking a sip of her wine. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What are you going to do if your dad wants a conversation? Or worse, doesn’t?”

No one, not even Moose, had asked her that question.

But he didn’t need to. He just knew. Or at least she believed he instinctively knew.

“I don’t want to see him or all of a sudden strike up a relationship with him.

I think I just want to know the details and in a way that makes sense.

Or maybe hear his side but have it filtered through someone else. ”

“So, you do believe your mom might have lied about… something.”

Shit. That was a tough truth to swallow. “I do,” she admitted. “And maybe that’s the truth I want to know. The truth I was too scared to ask about when she was alive.”

“I do hope you get the answer you’re looking for, but please, protect yourself, because it might not be rosy.”

“I know,” Shay said.

The fire crackled. On the TV, the volume ticked up just enough to catch their attention.

“Turn it up,” Becca said, eyes narrowing. “That’s about the trial.”

Shay reached for the remote and clicked the volume higher.

“…security footage from the parking garage shows the accused and the victim entering together around 9:38 p.m. Investigators believe this is the last known sighting of Adam Lawrence, a senior design consultant for TechArbor, who was found dead in the stairwell two hours later…”

The screen showed grainy footage from an overhead camera. A well-dressed man in a suit—tall, with an angular jaw and close-cut hair—walking beside another man, thinner, with dark hair and a satchel slung across his body, wearing a hoodie. The assistant.

Shay leaned forward. A strange sensation bloomed in her chest—familiarity just out of reach. The angle was wrong. The lighting was dim. And yet… both figures stirred something.

“You okay?” Becca asked.

Shay blinked. “Yeah. I think I’ve just seen this footage on the news too many times. It’s all starting to blur together.”

The footage looped again.

“Wait a second.” Shay leaned forward, looking at the date of the night in question as it flashed on the screen. “That was the day I was at the Blue Moon with my mother. The day we got the news… the news her illness had become terminal.”

“Are you sure?” Becca asked.

Shay nodded. “I’ll never forget that day. It was maybe sadder than the day I buried Mom. But we also had a wonderful time at the restaurant.” She stared at the screen, something tugging at her mind, but she couldn’t find the memory. All she could see was her mother.

Her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen—and her breath caught.

Moose.

She jumped to her feet. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”

“Aw, come on. Let me listen,” Becca pleaded.

“Not on your life.”

She raced into her bedroom and answered on the third ring.

“Hey,” she said, breathless.

“Hey,” his voice rumbled through the line. Tired. Real. “I just landed back Stateside. Figured I’d better call before you forgot what I sounded like.”

Relief spilled over her chest so fast it made her laugh. “I couldn’t forget your voice if I tried.”

“Now that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“Nope, only the chickens.” He laughed.

“How are they? I bet they missed you something awful.”

“Haven’t seen them yet,” he said. “We just got out of the debriefing room. I’m walking to my truck now.

Thor’s already there, waiting for me. I can see him waving at me to move faster so he can get home.

We always drive together. It’s been a thing since boot camp.

Our little ritual. The rest of the team used to be jealous. ”

“Ah, he’s your work wife.”

“Something like that,” Moose said. “I want to see you. Soon. If you’re up for it.”

Shay’s hand curled tighter around the phone. “I’m up for it. I’ve got that jury summons I’ve got to show up for on Monday and so many things to do here. Decisions to make. It’s all so overwhelming.”

“I’ve got four days of leave starting on Saturday—in two days. I’ll be on the first plane that I can. I’ll rent a car in Albany and try not to get a ticket on the way to your place.”

“I bet Andy could get you out of one if you did.”

Moose laughed. “I bet he could,” he mused. “It’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve missed you. Did you get any of my letters?”

“Just the first one.” She pressed her hand against the center of her chest. “How many did you send?”

“Five. I bet they all arrive about the same time I do.”

“I wrote you two. Mailed the first one the day you left. The second the next day.”

“Mail is always slower finding me,” he said. “I’ll get them eventually and I’ll cherish every word.”

“I never expected you to be so corny.”

“I’m not,” he said. “You bring it out in me.”

“Text me your flight information. I’ll see you soon.”

“Text? Hell no. I’ll be calling you every night now that I’m home,” he said. “Before we hang up, I need to tell you something.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“That depends on how you look at it,” he said. “We have an appointment with that PI firm on Sunday. Katie said her team doesn’t normally meet with people on weekends but are making an exception.”

“Did they give you my father’s information?”

“They did, but all they had was an address,” he said. “Before we do anything, we need more information. There’s this woman I know who works at The Refuge.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a place out in New Mexico for people who suffer from PTSD. The guys and I have spent time out there after missions that have gone sideways. You know, to get our heads on straight again.”

Her heart dropped to her stomach like a brick. She knew so much of his life as a child. What he’d had to endure as a teenager, but she had no idea what he’d gone through as a SEAL. However, she’d seen the scars on his body. “Is that something you might need after this mission?”

“No. This one was easy. Nothing happened. Anyway, Ry, she’s kind of the resident computer hacker. I gave her all the details you gave me. I haven’t heard back yet, but she told me she should have something by the time I get to you.”

“I almost wish you’d waited until you had something,” she said. “Did she say anything else?”

“Only that something wasn’t quite right and she needed to do more digging.”

“Am I making a mistake in doing this?”

“No,” he said. “If you don’t, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. You don’t want that.”

She sighed. “Thank you.”

“I’ve got you,” he said softly. “I’ll be there soon. I promise.”

“Text me when you get home and say hello to the chickens for me.”

He chuckled. “I will. Have a good night, Shay.”

“You too.” Shay ended the call and crushed the cell to her chest. She’d had a few boyfriends over the years, but none that she could say she’d ever been in love with. None that she wanted to change her world for, or move for, or even entertain a long-distance relationship with.

No. When she decided it was time to pack up and move on, she left those men right where she’d found them.

Moose was different and that should freak her out, but all it did was ground her.

Shay stepped from her bedroom, only to find Becca leaning against the wall in the hallway with her glass of wine and a smirk.

“So?” Becca lowered her chin. “How’s Moose?”

“He’s good.” Shay smiled while her heart slammed into her throat. “He’s coming to visit in a couple of days and he might have some information on my dad on why my birth certificate says father unknown.” She blew out of a puff of air. “What the hell am I doing?”

“From the looks of it, I’d say you’re falling in love.”

“Yeah, I think I am.” Shay nodded. “But, every once in a while I worry that his feelings for me are born out of the bond he had for my mom.”

“Is that what you really think?” Becca took her by the hand and tugged her back into the family room. She shoved a wineglass in her hand. “In your conversations, or the letter he wrote, what does he talk about? Him? You? Random things? Or your mom?”

“My mom comes up sometimes, but she’s not the center of our conversations anymore.”

“Then there you have it.” Becca waved at her dismissively. “You, my friend, have been struck by Cupid. Now sit back and enjoy the damn ride. I know I’m highly amused watching it.”