Finding Carly (SEAL Team Hawaii #5)(100)

Carly wasn’t surprised he was on the same wavelength as Baker when it came to the meds. She took it without complaint, and when Jag got back into bed, she curled against him once more.

“Love you,” she told him.

“I’d be upset that you snuck out of our bed to call another man, but it’s one of the things I love so much about you. That you constantly think and worry about others. I love you, angel.”

Carly smiled. She thought she’d left the room without waking him, but she should’ve known better. She sighed in contentment and closed her eyes…and was asleep again in less than a minute.





EPILOGUE





Jag watched Carly as she walked along the beach and laughed with Kenna and Lexie. The barbeque was just what they’d all needed. Carly felt much better, and her various cuts and bruises were already on their way toward healing. Amazingly, she seemed to be putting her horrible experience behind her much faster than the rest of the team.

They all struggled with the fact that they hadn’t been able to prevent what happened, or even find her once she was taken. But Carly being Carly, she’d still thanked them profusely and so far showed no signs of PTSD. It was early days, but he was optimistic.

Jag turned his attention back to his phone and re-read the article for the tenth time…the one that Baker had emailed him a link to earlier that morning.

It wasn’t long, merely a paragraph or so, from yesterday’s edition of a small-town paper, but it held enough information to satisfy Jag.



Local resident Bridget Smith was arrested today after police received an anonymous tip that she was the owner of a popular child pornography website. When police executed a search warrant of her premises, they discovered a thirteen-year-old Brooksfield boy, Adam Beaufort, who’d disappeared from the area more than a year ago. He was being confined against his will in Ms. Smith’s basement. He’s been reunited with his family and charges are pending against Ms. Smith for kidnapping, rape, and several other allegations. The investigation into the disappearance of two other local boys is also pending, and sources say it’s possible Smith was involved in both. We’ll have the full story tomorrow on Adam’s reunion with his family.



His woman would be thrilled to know that Baker had followed through with her request to make Bridget pay for what she’d done to him all those years ago. He could only guess the anonymous tip had come from the retired SEAL.

On one hand, he was relieved that Bridget was behind bars, but another part of him felt guilty that he hadn’t spoken up years ago. Maybe if he had, countless other boys wouldn’t have been victimized.

“Hey,” Mustang said as he approached Jag.

Doing his best to put the past behind him once and for all, Jag turned toward his team leader. “Hey,” he echoed.

“Is Carly as bummed as the other women that Baker didn’t show up today?”

“A little,” Jag said with a smile.

“This isn’t his kind of thing,” Mustang said.

“Nope. But Carly understands that.”

“Yeah. Elodie too. They’ve kind of adopted him though.”

They both chuckled. The thought of anyone ‘adopting’ Baker was humorous.

“Incoming,” Mustang said under his breath.

Jag looked up and saw Carly heading his way. She stole his breath with how beautiful she looked. Her blonde hair was down and blowing in the breeze coming off the ocean, and the wide smile on her face was something he swore he’d never take for granted.

“Burgers will be ready in about five minutes,” Mustang said before nodding at Carly and turning to head back to the grills, where his wife was making her popular hamburgers…and attempting to keep the other guys from “ruining” them.

“You look happy,” Jag observed.

“I am. It’s a gorgeous day. The sun is shining. I’m with my friends, and the man I love has his eyes on me. What else could I ask for?”

Jag hadn’t planned on doing this right now, but he couldn’t help himself. “How about a ring to go with that proposal I made the other night?” he asked, pulling a box out of his pocket.

Her eyes got wide as she stared at the box. Jag opened it to reveal the emerald-cut aquamarine surrounded by small diamonds, and reached for her hand.

Carly stood stock still as he slid the engagement ring down her finger.

“Breathe, angel,” Jag said with a small chuckle.

That seemed to shake her out of the trance she was in. Carly squealed and threw her arms around his neck. He laughed and spun her in a circle before putting her on her feet once more. “I’m not gonna want to wait,” he warned. “So you should probably talk to Alani and figure out a time that’ll work out.”

“I will!” Carly said happily. “Oh, Jag. I love it!” She held her hand out, gazing adoringly at her ring.

“I love you.”

Carly hugged him once more. “I love you too. So much!” Then she asked, “Can I show the others?”

He laughed. “Of course. Go. I know you’re dying to.”

Carly leaned up, kissing him hard and fast, then turned and jogged toward everyone standing around the grills, salivating over Elodie’s burgers.

Jag stood back for a second, soaking in the moment. Seeing Carly happy and vibrant went a long way toward banishing all the negative thoughts consuming him just months ago. She was surrounded by the other women, and they were all hugging and congratulating her. Even his friends were smiling.