Hot SEALs: Protecting Julie (Kindle Worlds) (SEAL of Protection Book 0) by Susan Stoker Read Free Book Online Page A

She’d been insane to think anything she’d done to change herself and her lifestyle would balance out the horrible person she’d been.
    Julie dug the palms of her hands into her eyes and rubbed, trying to get the horrific image of Fiona in the hut, blaming Julie for leaving her there, out of her mind. Finally she shook her head and reached for her cell. Even though it was the middle of the night, she’d call and leave a message for Patrick. It was the polite thing to do. She hadn’t grown up the daughter of a politician for nothing. As a politician, her dad might be able to be a jerk and demanding, but as his daughter if she was rude, she opened herself up to ridicule and censure by the press, and she didn’t want that to blow back on her dad. Julie had to let Patrick off the hook.
    She dialed the number Tex had given her, knowing Patrick wouldn’t be at work and she could leave a message and could take the cowardly way out and not speak with him personally. Julie waited impatiently for the message to finish so she could talk. Finally, after the beep, she spoke quickly.
    “Hi Patrick, it’s Julie. Sorry I didn’t show up tonight…something came up. And I’ve thought about it more and I won’t need your help with what we talked about. It was a dumb idea anyway and selfish on my part…as usual. Thank you for your service to our country. Bye.”
    As far as blow-off messages went, it was pretty lame, but at least it was done.
    Julie threw the phone back on the nightstand and curled up on her side, hugging her pillow. Tomorrow was a new day. She’d be fine. It was a big city. She’d never see either Patrick or Fiona and her friends again. No problem.
     
    * * *
     
    Patrick sat with three of the SEALs under his command: Cookie, Wolf, and Dude. They’d been discussing the upcoming training they’d be taking part in during the next week.
    “How’re things at home with Caroline, Wolf?”
    “Good, although you’ll never guess what happened this past weekend.”
    Patrick raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
    “The girls ran into Julie. You know, Julie from the rescue we did down in Mexico, where Cookie found his Fee?”
    Patrick looked sharply at Cookie. He was sitting back in his chair with both arms crossed over his chest, looking pissed. “Julie Lytle?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “And?”
    “The girls were pissed. Words were spoken. Caroline said Julie tried to apologize to Fiona, but they hustled her out of the store pretty quickly.”
    Patrick understood why Julie had stood him up now. His heart hurt for her, but first he had to see where Cookie’s head was at.
    “Cookie?”
    “What?”
    “How’s Fiona? She pissed?”
    He shook his head. “You know Fee, she sees the good in everyone.”
    “So she wasn’t upset?”
    “I didn’t say that. She was upset. Had a nightmare that night. We talked it through and I think she’s okay now, but I’m keeping an extra eye on her. Caroline and the others are helping. But we talked about it. She feels bad for Julie.”
    “Bad?”
    “Yeah. Julie seems to be trying really hard to make a difference in the community. She’s volunteered her time and has been doing what she can to help battered and abused women and teens.”
    “What do you think, Cookie?”
    Cookie shrugged and sat up in the chair, leaning his elbows on his knees. “I only care about Fiona. If she wants to think Julie’s changed, then I’m all for it. But if she doesn’t ever want to see her again, I’ll do everything I can to convince Julie to move back to Virginia. I realize that makes me sound like a dick, and it’s possible even if she stays, Fiona won’t run into her, but I won’t chance it. Fiona means the world to me and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s in a safe and healthy place and that she’ll never suffer another flashback again…if I can help it.
    Patrick thought about Cookie’s words. Julie certainly had a hard road to travel to get back in his good