Page 31 of The Hero’s Bride (Unbreakable SEALs #2)

A fter dinner, Thalia took a long soak in his bathtub, then they settled in the living room together.

They were intertwined on the couch, holding each other close.

He’d never felt the swell of satisfaction and belonging he did in this moment with the woman he loved nestled into his arms. He clamped down on the voice in his mind that whispered the relationship wasn’t permanent.

He’d purposely tried to slow down their physical relationship but still found himself unable to stop hugging and kissing her.

In an attempt to take a step back, he’d simply strengthened the emotional connection between them.

He wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing, but one thing was certain: he was crazy about the woman tucked into his side.

He’d barely been able to breathe when she walked into his condo.

Her presence here made a place where he ate and slept feel like home.

He’d loved cooking dinner with her as they talked, then shared the simple meal together.

She’d savored each bite, reminding him of the basic needs denied to her. Never again.

His phone vibrated along the coffee table, and he leaned forward, frowning at the name displayed on the screen. “Hey, Mrs. Foster. Everything okay?”

“No, dear. I’m not feeling well.”

He straightened. “What’s wrong? Is Kenny there?”

“He’s sleeping. I-I need you to come over.” Her voice trembled and the hair on the back of his neck rose. Mrs. Foster would never call him this late at night and be so elusive. “I think that disgusting reptile of yours made me ill.” Hearing that, he jumped up from the couch.

“Hang tight, Mrs. Foster. I’ll be right over.” His neighbor adored Tiny and treated him like a puppy. Something was wrong, and that was her attempt at tipping him off.

“What’s wrong?” Thalia’s eyes were wide with alarm.

“Mrs. Foster called to say she wasn’t feeling well, but something’s not right.” There was a knock at the sliding glass door outside his balcony. Thalia jolted up and pinned herself against him. He squinted as he looked out, then rushed forward.

“Kenny.” He slid open the door and pulled the boy inside. “What’s going on?”

“Two men broke into Gran’s condo! They didn’t know I was there, so I climbed out my window and down the fire escape.

They told Gran to call you and tell you to come over or they’d put a bullet in me.

I don’t know how they knew I lived there, too.

Must’ve been watching the condo unit. I recorded the whole thing on my watch, which I left behind in my room in case they say anything else important.

They knew your name, and hers,” he said pointing to Thalia.

“Good work. Is your gran hurt?”

His face took on a pinched expression. “I don’t think so, but I let my snakes out of their tanks hoping to scare them.”

Mason lifted his phone and placed a call to Jude, quickly relaying the information.

“I’ll have my team check the cameras on your building,” his friend said, his voice a dangerous growl. “Wait for backup. I’ll have a team there within minutes. We can’t discount that this could be an attempt to draw you out so someone can silence Thalia.”

“Fuck.” He couldn’t stop the curse from leaving his lips, but figured Kenny had said his fair share when his grandmother wasn’t around.

Loud screams coming from across the hall had him grabbing his weapon. “Stay here. Lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone.”

“Go,” Thalia urged, putting her arm around Kenny. “We’ll be fine.”

He exited the condo, waiting for the dead bolt to click into place to cross the hall.

Another scream sounded. This time male. He tested the knob, surprised to find the door open except for the small chain at the top of the opening.

Stepping back, he kicked the door. The crack of the chain sounded just before the door flew open.

Gun trained on the room in front of him, he stepped inside.

Mrs. Foster was shaking her head, panic stark on her face.

A man stood behind her with a gun pointed at her head.

His temperature soared and the primal urge to drop the gun and grip the throat of the familiar face made his body tense.

“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Foster sobbed. He did his best to ignore the woman who had become like a grandmother of his own.

Another man stood in the corner, stiff with fear. One of Kenny’s large boa constrictors was wound around his neck and even though the snake wasn’t attempting to squeeze him, the man shook in fright.

He glared at the man pointing his gun on Mrs. Foster. “Benito? You motherfu—”

“Don’t you dare judge my decisions,” the man he’d served with across the border working to minimize illegal drugs and trafficking shouted back at him. “You have no idea what it’s like to grow up in poverty.”

“You’re a member of the Mexican Special Forces. You took an oath.” Anger bubbled in his gut at the man’s betrayal.

“Words don’t mean shit. Not when you must fight for every fucking scrap.”

“So, when you called to tell me Estrada was dead?” Adrenaline shot through his system as his throat constricted, mind immediately turning to Thalia and the danger she could be in.

“He’s dead. If it wasn’t for him wanting Thalia, I could’ve made her disappear the moment she crossed the border. Instead, Estrada offered a large sum to transport her directly to him.”

He glanced at the man trapped by the snake. His thinning brown hair. The pitted marks on his face. Thalia’s description to the FBI replayed in his mind. The man was identical to Benito, only more weathered.

“You needed her to disappear because she could identify your brother. Uncover your trafficking scheme.” He worked to keep his voice steady despite the white-hot rage that bubbled through him.

“The lives of those women were much better as a slave in America than living in poverty in Mexico. Their parents paid well to get them across the border and away from a country wrought with violence. Now, put your weapon down and get that fucking snake off my brother.”

For a split second, Benito took his gun off Mrs. Foster as he gestured toward the snake, and Red didn’t hesitate, firing off a shot. Mrs. Foster’s scream pierced the air as the man behind her fell with a single gunshot wound to the center of his forehead.

He turned his gun to the second man who dropped to his knees, tossing his weapon to the side.

“FBI!” Agents swarmed the condo, restraining Benito’s brother. Once the scene was secure, a paramedic knelt next to Mrs. Foster.

There was a slap on his shoulder, and he turned to look at Jude. “Your woman’s trouble is over. We got them.”

Later that night, after hours of FBI interviews, he held Thalia tightly in his arms as they lay in bed.

“Poor Mrs. Foster,” Thalia murmured.

“She’s going to be okay. Kenny was smart. Letting that snakes out could’ve been a disaster, but hell, his plan worked.” He nuzzled his cheek against her soft hair.

“He might be a SEAL one day.” Her arms squeezed around his waist and his heart ached with unspoken love.

“Or an FBI agent. I can’t believe he thought to record what was going on through his watch. He got their entire confession on tape. You won’t even have to testify in court.”

“So, what now?” Thalia asked shifting closer to him.

He was so fucking torn. God, he should keep encouraging her to build a life of her own, but how could he when she fit so perfectly into his?

When he could see a future with her so clearly.

He dropped his forehead to hers and exhaled the breath he’d been holding.

“I want you to be free. I don’t want you to grow to resent me.

To associate me as someone who has held you back from the life you want. ”

Her forehead left his briefly, replaced by her lips.

“The things I associate you with are promises kept, bravery, and compassion,” she murmured against his skin, then moved back, locking her eyes on him.

“Every action, every decision you’ve made has been with my best interests in mind.

” She unwound her arms from his waist, moving them up to cup his cheeks.

No woman had ever framed his face before or looked at him with such reverence.

He loved the deep feeling of intimacy at her actions.

“Since you rescued me from that shed in Colima, I’ve felt less alone than I have my entire life. ”

“You are not alone anymore.” His knuckles brushed her cheek, and she leaned into his touch.

“And if I’m being honest, you’ve made me feel as though I have a partner.

Someone I can trust and confide in. Fuck, I swore I wouldn’t do this but I can’t ignore how I feel about you.

I want to stay by your side, but if you ever feel like it’s too much, like you need space from me, you have to promise to tell me. ”

Thalia wrapped her arms around his midsection once again. “I don’t know how I could want space from you when all I want to do is get closer. Not just physically, Mason. I enjoy your company. Your presence. Everything about you from your strong character to your insecurities draw me in.”

She felt him stiffen beneath her hands, then relax.

“Explain that to me, sweetheart.” His voice sounded choked.

“You place everyone’s needs above your own.

Part of that is the protector in you. The man you’ve become.

The other part is the boy who doesn’t feel like he’s enough.

Doesn’t want to have expectations because he fears others won’t recognize his value and will disappoint him.

I know your worth, Mason, and I won’t let you forget it. ”

“I want to know everything about you. Earn your trust so you feel safe to be yourself. To confide in me. To have a shot at something real.”

“I want that too, Mason. I know you want to protect me and let me live my life, but I don’t want to be anywhere that’s not with you. For the past few days, I’ve felt you pulling away. Encouraging me to choose a different path. Part of me wondered if you wanted me to stay in Virginia.”

His grip tightened, her words hollowing him out.

“That’s the last thing I wanted. I never meant to make you feel unwanted.

Thank you for being brave and coming with me despite thinking that.

I’m looking forward to the start of us. Our story.

Wherever that might take us. Just know I’ll protect your heart as fiercely as I’ll protect you. ”