Finding Carly (SEAL Team Hawaii #5)(9)

The man turned from the window abruptly. He knew exactly how he would end Carly’s life. He couldn’t wait.





CHAPTER THREE





Now that Jag had gotten Carly to his apartment, he wanted to nail the door shut and never let her leave. He’d dreamed about her being here more nights than he could count. If it was up to him, she’d never go back to her own place.

He’d been interested in Carly for months, and watching her suffer had been extremely painful and frustrating because he hadn’t been able to do much to help her. But now that she’d reached out to him, he wasn’t going to let her down. The thought that he wanted her to stay with him permanently was crazy, but Jag had seen this exact thing with his friends. Once they’d gotten their women into their lairs, so to speak, they’d never left.

And that’s what he wanted. Carly was his. He felt as if he’d known her forever and he couldn’t seem to shake her. Didn’t want to shake her.

The thing was, Jag knew she could do so much better than him. He was broken inside. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to have a normal relationship, not after his childhood. But for Carly, he wanted to try. Wanted to rise above the shit swirling in his head and be the kind of man she could rely on.

He just wasn’t sure he could.

Pushing away thoughts of his past, Jag did his best to concentrate on the here and now and the meal he was making. The waffles were almost done, then he’d scramble a few eggs. Carly needed to eat. She’d lost some of the lush curves he admired, and the thought of her skimping on food because she didn’t have enough money made him almost physically ill.

He’d given her too much space. He wanted to help her, but he should’ve done more, considering how bad her situation had gotten. That was over now. She was here and they were moving forward.

He’d slept like a rock last night. Yes, he’d been exhausted from the mission and traveling, but it was more about having her in his arms, knowing where she was and that she was all right, allowing him to finally let go and fall into a deep sleep.

He’d felt a hundred times better this morning, enough to suggest she pack and come to his place. Jag was actually surprised she’d agreed so easily, but he’d seen the determination to move on in her eyes. Less than two weeks ago, at Kenna and Aleck’s wedding, he’d seen a spark of anger, and he’d actually hoped to work with that. But as it turned out, Carly didn’t need him lighting a fire under her ass. She’d decided for herself.

She was strong as hell. He just needed to help her see that.

“Your shower is amazing.”

He turned to see Carly walking toward him. Her blonde hair was still damp around her shoulders. She had on a pair of shorts and a long-sleeve T-shirt. Her feet were bare and the sight of her toes made him smile.

“What?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with ten different colors on their toenails before.”

Carly gave him a sheepish grin. “I had to do something all day while I was cowering in my apartment.”

Jag put down the spoon he was using to scramble the eggs before pouring them into the pan, then walking over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and waited until she met his gaze. “Don’t,” he said in a low, earnest tone. “You did what you had to do in order to survive.”

“Jag, I hid out in my apartment like a kid hiding from the boogeyman. It was…pitiful.”

He shook his head firmly. “No, it wasn’t. You just needed some time to process. And I happen to think it was smart. I hate that you were scared, are scared, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that asshole doesn’t get anywhere near you.”

“If he really wants me, there’s not much anyone can do. He’ll find a way. You and I both know that.”

“Then I’ll do what I can to teach you how to defend yourself,” he said easily. He hated it, but she was right. If he’d learned nothing from his teammates’ women’s situations, he’d learned that he couldn’t be by Carly’s side 24/7 and there was a better-than-average chance Luke would be able to get to her eventually. “You’ve been a prisoner in your apartment long enough. You need to start living again. Fuck him,” he said harshly. “You can show him that you’re stronger than he or his father thought you were. Nothing will get you down. And if he does decide to be an idiot and pick up where his dad left off, he’ll be sorry, because you’ll kick his ass and make him wish he forgot your name.”

Jag hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but he couldn’t help it. The thought of Luke, or anyone else, getting their hands on Carly made his blood curdle. He knew with a bit of training, Carly could outsmart him and prove he’d picked the wrong woman to set his sights on.

She gave him a small lopsided smile. “In case it’s escaped your notice, I’m not exactly SEAL material,” she said with a shrug.

“You don’t have to be,” Jag told her. “You can use his size against him. He won’t expect you to fight back and…don’t take this the wrong way, but because of the amount of time you’ve spent hiding, he’ll think you’re too terrified to do anything to help yourself.”

Jag could tell Carly wasn’t fully convinced, but he did like how she seemed to stand up a little straighter.