Page 10 of The Hero’s Bride (Unbreakable SEALs #2)

W hatever happened, he wouldn’t regret the offer he’d made to Thalia.

When she said she wouldn’t hold him back from a woman he wanted, it had been on the tip of his tongue to say that maybe she was right in front of him.

He’d quickly clamped down on that sentiment, not wanting to scare Thalia or make her feel uncomfortable in any way, especially given that she didn’t seem thrilled by the idea of being engaged—not that he could blame her.

She must be confused as hell. Probably wondering what his actual motives were and if he was going to trap her in some way.

He hated that she might fear his intentions, but he’d do anything to prove he had her best interests at heart.

Red scoffed the instant the thought popped into his head.

She had no reason to believe he was just trying to help.

Not after being traumatized and used over the years.

He mulled over her situation long after he’d left Thalia’s room and took one of the twin beds in the second bedroom.

Despite the strange sense of rightness as they sat on the end of the bed together in the small room, he had to remember that Thalia wasn’t his to keep.

She had a whole lot of living to do now that she was free and once the danger had passed there’d be plenty of time for her to explore the world alongside her new reality.

She’d have the opportunity to be her own person and discover what she wanted out of life.

A life that didn’t include him. There was a deep pang in his chest, and he rubbed his sternum.

For the first time in ages he felt drawn to a woman.

Not just any woman. Thalia. Doing right by her meant he needed to step away when the time came so she could live her life free of attachments or baggage.

He’d only just reconnected with her, but he had a feeling saying goodbye was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever have to do.

Maybe these feelings stemmed from the way she’d once rescued him or their current situation, but it was unlikely.

Her beautiful green eyes flecked with gold were as captivating as the rest of her.

While she was street-savvy and wary, she was also kind and had an innocence about her he fiercely wanted to protect.

Earlier, he’d reached out and tucked a piece of thick hair behind her ear and a jolt had speared through him.

He’d had to shake the image of his hands fisted deep in the silken strands to will his cock under control.

Despite his attraction to Thalia, he was completely honest when he said he would never expect a physical relationship from her.

Would never pressure her for anything beyond her friendship and camaraderie.

The bed next to him creaked. “Stop thinking so fucking loud,” Sully grumbled. A pillow flew past, grazing his head, and he reached up and caught it before it hit the floor.

Before he took his next breath he whipped the pillow back across the room. “Not in the mood for a pillow fight.”

“We need to catch sleep where we can, but that’s not gonna happen until you get out whatever’s in your head,” Sully grumbled.

He wasn’t about to deny that he was thinking of something or someone—Sully knew him better than he knew himself. “Nothing I want to talk about.”

“Jesus. It’s about the girl.” Sully sighed. “And your shitty parents.”

“My parents? What do they have to do with anything?” He loved Sully like a brother, but he could be a pain in the ass like one, too.

“They were shit parents. Put their career and lifestyle above you and each other. Dragged you across the world or left you home. No kid should see their dad snorting lines of coke off some groupie’s ass or their mom shit-faced hooking up with the drummer.

” Sully’s bed creaked and there was a clicking sound before the bedside lamp cast a dim stream of light through the room.

“How many mornings did you rouse them out of their own vomit or stay in a hotel room in some foreign country by yourself with no clue when they would come back from a post-concert bender? How you turned out to be a respectable human is beyond me. Now you’re thinking about Thalia, and even though this isn’t a real engagement, or a real marriage, if it comes to that, you’re already analyzing how you can do right by her.

I’ve said it before, Red. You’re not your fucking parents. ”

“Shit. They should’ve gotten divorced. Not my problem now, and I’m no longer theirs. You’re right though—I would never disrespect Thalia like my parents did each other. Constant infidelity. Dragging the other back into addiction after one of them only just got sober.”

Sully blew out a short breath. “Serious, though. She might be a keeper. Didn’t complain once today.

Eyes constantly tracking you like she was afraid you weren’t real.

Brave in a bad situation. So, when you’re telling yourself all the reasons why you shouldn’t go for it, just do me a favor and remember you’re not them, yeah? ”

He opened his mouth, ready to tell his friend to shut the fuck up already, but damn if he wasn’t right.

He let Sully’s words settle and said nothing more.

Despite the house being locked up and an alarm system set, he wasn’t going to get too comfortable.

Having Thalia just down the hall had his senses on high alert.

He would’ve preferred to sleep on the floor of her room to keep watch, but didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

He shut his eyes, and within moments he was asleep.

*

Red listened intently, trying to locate the sound that woke him. There it was again. A scraping noise at the back of the house.

“I’ll do a perimeter check,” Sully whispered through the dark. He wasn’t surprised in the least that his teammate was up and alert. How many missions had they served together where they were roused from sleep only to be instantly thrown into a life-or-death situation? “You get to Thalia.”

The men moved silently, parting ways when they entered the hall.

Red slipped into Thalia’s room and crouched by her bed.

He whispered her name, touching her lightly.

She woke with a start, terror on her face until she met his eyes.

The way her whole body relaxed when her gaze landed on him flooded his chest with a surge of protectiveness. “We need to go.”

She nodded and sat up just as a crash sounded from the back of the house. “Shoes.” He grabbed the beat-up sneakers and helped her slip them on her feet. The radio inside his ear crackled.

“Threat is neutralized but our location is compromised. Coming around the side to the Jeep.”

He drew his weapon from its holster and cleared the hall before turning back to Thalia.

“Stay behind me.” They moved quietly through the house, pausing at the front door.

The slight weight of Thalia’s hands on his sides would’ve been unwelcome if it were anyone else, but knowing she was right with him eased his mind.

As soon as Sully pulled the car around, he wrapped his arm around Thalia’s shoulders, tucking her into his side.

His body shielded her as they ran down the steps and into the waiting vehicle.

She scooted to the far side and fumbled her seat belt with trembling hands.

He closed his hand over hers and helped her guide it into the buckle.

Sully switched off the headlights and eased onto the road that had led them to the house.

They drove wordlessly for about a mile, both keeping careful watch for a tail.

When they reached a more heavily trafficked area, his teammate eased off the backroad, flipped on the headlights, and blended in with the other travelers.

“I’m calling Benito to find out who else knew about our location.” His teeth hurt from pressing his jaw together so tightly.

Sully nodded, his face hard. The idea that they’d been betrayed by one of their allies didn’t sit well with either of them.

Sully twisted in his seat, eyes still on the road, and extended the phone they’d used earlier to make contact.

Although it seemed unlikely that Benito had given away their location, someone had, so they would be operating alone from here on out.

There would be no way to trace the call, keeping them off the grid.

Red found his information on the phone and dialed.

“Barrera,” he answered after the third ring, voice thick with sleep. “What’s happened?”

“Our location was compromised.” A long stretch of silence was interrupted by a string of curses.

“I’m getting you a new location now. One that will be known only to me while we identify where the security breach happened.” There was the rustle of sheets followed by footsteps padding across a room.

“We’re not stopping again until we reach the border.” Absently, he reached over the middle seat and placed his hand over Thalia’s. In the same breath, she flipped her palm, lacing her fingers with his. The way her hand fit and intertwined with his had warmth spreading through his chest.

“That’s wise.” The footsteps abruptly stopped. “There’s been chatter about the woman. If I find anything of significance, I’ll contact you.”