Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(98)

They stared at each other for a moment before the man smiled. She knew he was smiling because she could see wrinkles form around his eyes. But something in their depths said he was trying to put her at ease…

More like he was excited about whatever he was planning to do next.

Military men weren’t her favorite people in the world. After her childhood, that was to be expected.

“It’s okay!” he shouted so he could be heard through the glass. “I’m a Navy SEAL and I’m here to rescue you. Open the door.”

When she didn’t move, the man frowned. “My friend is circling around to the front. We’re here to help you. Come on, open the door so I don’t have to break it.”

Instead of moving toward the glass sliding door, Monica spun and ran for the stairs.

Instinct and the years of conditioning as a child told her to hide. To get away from the military man.

Flashbacks of her dad in his camo uniform ran through her brain, making her even more desperate to get away.

Just as she reached the top of the stairs, the sound of gunfire echoed throughout the house, along with the sound of glass breaking.

A deep voice called out, “I’m a SEAL! You can trust me!”

Nope. Monica was the queen of hiding, and with the way her skin crawled at hearing the man’s voice, and remembering the look of interest in his eyes when their gazes met, she had a feeling her life depended on getting to her hiding spot and not making a sound. Navy SEAL or not, she didn’t trust him.

She didn’t trust anyone.

She’d been shown time and time again that most people were extremely untrustworthy and unpredictable. She only let her guard down fully with children. They were untainted by life. They were honest to a fault. They said what they were thinking, instead of hiding their disdain and disgust.

Just after she slipped into her hiding spot, she heard the familiar creaking of the floorboards on the landing.

She held her breath, not daring to move a muscle. She hadn’t heard the man coming up the stairs. He’d gone into stealth mode.

He was a hunter now—and she was his prey.

Closing her eyes, Monica did her best to slow her heartbeat. If he found her hiding spot, it wouldn’t go well for her. She knew that down to the tips of her toes.

As the SEAL entered the room, Monica prayed harder than she ever had before.

Don’t let him find me. Don’t let him find me.