Page 26 of Trapped (Sheppard & Sons Investigations #6)

Nathan

A fter packing my bag, I went to the office to grab my laptop and protection duty gear, including my vest and rifle. As I approached Jamie’s office to ask about vests for Ashley and Gran, should we need them, I overheard him talking.

“I’m not sure what we can do.” He sounded tired. After a pause, he said, “I promise, Em, I will personally accompany her any time Finn wants to see the baby. If that’s what Ashley wants.”

I shouldn’t have eavesdropped, and I certainly shouldn’t have barged into his office looking like I was ready for a fight. But a different kind of panic had washed over me. Ashley’s pregnant?

That’s the problem I couldn’t figure out. All the times her hand went to her belly weren’t because of nerves.

“Listen, Em, I have to go.” He held up a finger.

Ashley’s pregnant, and the father is the man we suspect is harassing her.

“I promise.” He never broke eye contact.

Neither of us blinked when he said, “I love you, too.”

He put his phone down and grabbed the back of his neck. “How much did you hear?”

“Is Ashley really pregnant?”

He stood and walked to the front of his desk. Nodding towards the door, he said, “Close it.”

After closing it, I turned to face him again.

“It’s not my place to tell—”

“Sheppard, do not fuck with me.”

To his credit, he didn’t flinch or even blink as he crossed his arms over his chest. He stared at me for a good three seconds before laughing.

I clenched my hands and ground my teeth as I counted to ten.

“Relax. I was laughing at myself, not you. I should’ve known better than to discuss it with my door open, but I’m not used to having secrets in the office.”

I held my tongue and waited impatiently.

“I’m only telling you this because I don’t expect Ashley to, but you should know. Having assigned yourself as her bodyguard and all.” He raised an eyebrow, like the situation amused him.

“Something funny?” I growled out.

“You’re having a hell of a start at SSI.”

It was true, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it. My patience was wearing thin. “Is my job on the line?”

He shook his head. “No, not yet. But you need to stop growling and get comfortable working with a team real quick if you don’t want that to change.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I understand you operated alone a lot at Hawken’s, but much like the SEALs, we work as a team. We let you assign yourself to Ashley because it’s obvious you have feelings for her.”

Before I could deny it, he continued, “Dude, don’t.

We’ve all been in your shoes, and we’ve all watched it happen to each other.

” When we finished the job, if I was still employed, I needed to buy him a beer and ask about the events behind that statement.

“Lucky for you, that means we understand, and we’ll let you call the shots. Unless you show us you can’t.”

That would never happen.

He still hadn’t answered my question, so I repeated it. This time with less attitude. Jamie was right. I needed to remember how to function as part of a team. There was no doubt everyone here loved Ashley, and they’d do everything in their power to protect her.

“Yes, she’s pregnant, and yes, it’s Finn’s.”

“Fucking hell.”

“It’s a mess. Even if we can prove Finn is harassing or threatening Ashley, I’m not sure a judge will refuse him his rights as a father.”

Hence Jamie volunteering to escort her.

I knew she was hiding something, but never in a million years would I have guessed pregnancy. The need to see Ashley, to check on her, to comfort her, hit me like a sucker punch. “I have to go.”

“Hold up, Blaszek.” It wasn’t a suggestion.

“What?”

“Don’t, and I can’t stress this enough. Do not say anything to Ashley. Let her tell you. Understood?”

Instead of agreeing, I said, “I won’t rat you out if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“It’s not. I’m worried about you charging in there and losing your cool.

” He held eye contact without blinking. “If you upset her, I will can your ass. Before you argue about not needing to be employed by SSI to help her.” Jamie uncrossed his arms, stood to his full five-eleven height, and got in my face.

“Know that you’re wrong. Have I made myself clear?

” His words were a promise, not a threat.

There was no sarcasm in my voice when I said, “Yes, sir.”

“Good, because she has enough to deal with, she doesn’t need you acting like a fucking caveman.” His tone was gentler, but his words weren’t.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. He was right.

Ashley needed to be the one to tell me. And I needed to control my caveman instincts.

The primal, chest-thumping attitude that took over whenever I thought about someone hurting her.

It was like years of evolution disappeared, and I regressed to grunts instead of words.

“If you love her, don’t look at me like that.”

I hadn’t used love in relation to Ashley, not even in my mind. But I was acting like a man possessed—by a Neanderthal, apparently—so it was probably accurate.

“If you love her as much as I think you do, don’t be a dick when she tells you.”

Given my recent behavior, I probably deserved the warning. But that didn’t mean I liked hearing it.

Somehow, Jamie managed to tell me exactly what I needed to hear in the way I needed to hear it. How he knew, I’d never know, but he did. After taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling it, I said, “Damn, Sheppard.”

He smiled. “Get used to it. We have an unspoken no-bullshit policy around here.”

It was my turn to laugh. “I can appreciate that.”

“Good. Before you return to Ashley, my father wants to talk to you.”

It shouldn’t have surprised me. “How much trouble am I in?” I hadn’t exactly been a team player, or played by the rules, or been a model employee.

That changes now . Not because I needed the job—I didn’t—but because I was a better person than what I’d shown them. I’d adopted the lone wolf attitude to survive the isolation of deep undercover work, but it no longer suited me. And it wouldn’t help Ashley.

“None that I know of. But brace yourself for a lecture.”

I rubbed my face, noting the stubble on my normally clean-shaven chin. My silent sigh didn’t go unnoticed.

“Don’t worry, we’ve all gotten them. If you’re lucky, this will be the last lecture you get.”

“How likely is that?”

“Not very. AJ’s the overly protective big brother Ashley never had, didn’t ask for, but loves having.”

“AJ didn’t exactly lecture me, but his threat was less than subtle.”

“Threatened to kill you?”

“He did. And I believe him.”

“No surprise there.” Jamie grinned before adding, “Try not to force his hand because he means it, and I’d hate to lose you both.”

I was ninety-seven percent sure he was exaggerating, but AJ struck me as someone who could and would kill for those he loved. Who among us wouldn’t?

“And the rest of the team?”

“Dude, I told you, she’s family. She was Emily’s maid of honor, and she and Meg have been thick as thieves since the second they met. Doug and Jay don’t know her as well, but they’ll protect her because—”

“She’s family.”

“Now you’re getting it.”

I was. People always said their friends were like family, but they exaggerated. When push came to shove and shit got real, those friends made themselves scarce. But Ashley was right; her friends were her family.

“I expect regular reports, and the more notice you can give us when she wants to leave the house, the better.”

Even if no one at SSI was available, Gran wouldn’t be unprotected. I’d bring her with us if I had to.

“Yes, sir.” I saluted with two fingers.

He muttered. “Why does everyone feel the need to salute me?”

When I didn’t answer, he said, “Get out of here and keep our girl safe.”

Our girl. I liked the sound of that. But first I had to convince her to give me a second chance, because my conscious mind finally accepted what my primal brain had known all along. I loved Ashley. Her being pregnant with another man’s baby wasn’t ideal, but I could deal with it. If she’d let me.

“Roger that.”

I knocked on John’s doorframe. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Have a seat.” I followed his orders.

“It’s come to my attention that you have feelings for Ashley and have volunteered to work for free to provide round-the-clock protection.”

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded, looking me up and down, assessing. “I appreciate your offer, but we’ll pay you.”

“Sir, I don’t need the money, so it isn’t necessary.” I kept my voice respectful but firm. “Especially since you’re not billing Ashley.”

“I’m billing her for legal purposes, but only for a dollar. I have to pay you for the same reason.”

Knowing he wouldn’t risk the liability of not paying me, I asked him to bill me for the full cost of Ashley’s services. “There’s no reason for the company to take a loss.”

He leaned back, crossed his arms, nodding as he thought about my suggestion. Then he surprised me with a laugh. “Alright. I’ll have Meg add you to the paperwork, but all decisions will be the Yorks.”

“Thank you.” I’d have my bank mail a check to cover the deposit by the end of the day. “I wouldn’t dream of telling Violet what to do.”

John’s knowing smile didn’t last.

“I’m sure I know the answer, but do you plan on sharing the responsibility of providing twenty-four-seven in-home coverage?”

I clarified, “I’ll provide coverage wherever Ashley is.”

“Noted, Doug will be by this evening to install the cameras.”

“Ashley gave you permission?” I didn’t hide my shock.

“No, but her grandmother did, and it’s Violet’s house.”

“Good. I’ll do what I can to help him.”

When I stood up to leave, he stopped me. “Be careful with Ashley. She feels things a lot deeper than she lets on.”

I nodded. He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know, having noticed how often her smile didn’t reach her eyes and how she used humor as armor. “Is that all?”

After Jamie’s warning, I’d expected more.

“For now.” John leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, and his hands steepled. “Don’t make me say more.”

Message, no it wasn’t a message. His warning was received loud and clear. “Yes, sir.”

“One more thing,” he said, circling his desk. “Call me John.”

I shook his extended hand. “Will do, John.”