Page 16 of SEAL's Sky
“I have no idea. You could be just like the douche canoe who offered a reward for information. Hell, maybe you need the fifty thousand. That’s the thing, I have no idea who you are.”
“Your mother just told you. I’ve known you or of you for over ten years. I’m a Navy SEAL, and I would never, ever, be a what did you call him? Douche canoe?”
“Sorry, if I won’t take you at your word. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Jen, I know him. He’s telling you the truth. Please, sit down and breathe before you pass out,” Pam pleaded.
There was another knock on the door, and Pam turned in frustration. “What is going on?”
The door opened to reveal the rest of the team. He should have known they’d follow him. First, because they all loved Pam, and second because of the way he’d charged across the room.
“Sorry, Pam, but Murph took off like a bat out of hell and we didn’t know what he’d seen. Someone want to tell us whatisgoing on?” Jake asked.
Jen looked up. Murph turned around to see what she saw, which would be four heads trying to peer around the door. Then Halo walked right past him and laid his head on her thigh. Leave it to the dog to solve everything.
Her face melted as she patted the dog’s head. “If I tell you, will you all just leave us alone?”
“I can’t make that promise,” Murph replied. The others agreed. Thank goodness for Halo, or she might have totally come unglued. He’d been around enough people at the end of their rope to recognize desperation when he saw it.
“Jen, listen to me. These are the good guys. Of all the teams that come in here, I’d trust them the most. Maybe they can help?”
After a few seconds, Jen nodded. He moved to make room in the small office for his brothers-in-arms. Ryan was last and closed the door behind him. Surprised that she stayed calm with the amount of testosterone that entered the room, Murph didn’t know if she was in shock or just worn down.
“How about I tell you what I think I know, and you can fill in or correct me, that might be easier?” Murph was pretty sure he had it figured out between her reaction and what he’d heard reported on the news.
Jen nodded and Pam mouthed the words thank you.
“Guys meet Jennifer Turner. She’s Pam’s daughter. I didn’t remember her at first, but she used to work here on her college vacations.
The murmur from behind him acknowledged they remembered.
“From what I’ve seen on TV, Jen ran away from her boyfriend in New York and is hiding here in Norfolk with her mom. Besides the fact that the guy comes across as a total dirtbag, I’m not sure why the elaborate ruse. Am I close?”
Jen looked surprised and nodded.
“Want to fill us in on the rest?” Murph softened his voice and took a step closer.
As soon as he did, she scooted her chair further away. What the fuck had that guy done to her?
Terrified she was, but there was a spine of steel in there somewhere. Her eyes emerald eyes glistened with tears, but she sat up straighter in the chair and nodded.
“You’re right, I’m Pam’s daughter and I’m hiding from the guy on television who is an abusive controlling piece of shit but pretends to be a devoted boyfriend in front of the world. I moved to New York City about a year ago, met him shortly after that and he convinced me to move in with him. Yes, I know I was stupid. One of those women I hate that if you hear their story you want to tell them to snap out of it.”
“It’s okay, honey.” Pam reached down and squeezed her hand.
“Anyway, after I moved in he became more and more controlling. Along with that came the verbal abuse. On top of that, he’d play games with me mentally until I didn’t know what I was doing.” She stopped to take a deep breath.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Murph asked softly.
“Yes, please.”
Looking over his shoulder he nodded, and Ryan left to get her some water.
“Go on.”
“I tried to talk to my coworkers about him, but no one believed me. They thought I was overreacting. He was handsome, rich, and appeared totally devoted to me. But it was only in public. In private he turned into a monster.”
Returning with a bottle of water, Ryan handed it to Murph. He met her eyes and waited a moment before taking a step forward. This time she didn’t pull back and reached out to take the bottle from him. What he didn’t expect was the sizzle of electricity that ran up his arm as their fingers touched. Taken by surprise, he looked at his fingers and then her face. From the look of disbelief on her face, she’d felt the same thing.
