“I don’t know, Rach.I just don’t know.”
Jack groaned when he opened his eyes to the sun shining in his living room window.And what the hell was that pounding?His head?He blinked several times, then frowned.Apparently, he’d crashed on his sofa, even still had his boots on.When he stretched his neck, a pain shot up his skull.
The reason for getting a drunk on hadn’t gone away but getting plastered didn’t solve any problems.He was a SEAL, and SEALs sucked it up.That didn’t change even when he soon wouldn’t be one.As for his future...he didn’t have an answer to that question except that one thing hadn’t changed.He still wanted Nichole in his life.
An image of her walking away last night—hurt on her face and in her eyes because of how he’d treated her—filled his mind.He didn’t remember anything he’d said to her, but he did know he needed to apologize.All she’d wanted to do was comfort him, be there for him.Being drunk and angry was no excuse for how he’d rejected her.He pushed up, then dropped his throbbing head into his hands.He was an ass.
When he picked up Mark, he’d see Nichole and, well...grovel.He should pick up some flowers on his way over.And chocolate because he had a feeling he owed her a big apology.He wished he could remember exactly what to apologize for.
He glanced at his watch.“Shit!”He should have been at her house an hour ago to get Mark.First, he needed to call Ron and let him know they were running late.He hated disappointing the dogs as much as he did Ron.Seemed like he was letting everyone down.He sniffed under his arm.A shower was definitely in order.He smelled like sweat and beer.And why were his knuckles bloody?
What was that damn pounding?
“Police.Open the door.”
“The hell?”
Before he reached the door, it was kicked in and four uniformed cops fanned out in front of him, two with guns drawn.Jack stuck his hands in the air.What the devil was going on?
Dakota growled, and the cop closest to her aimed his gun at her.
“Friends,” he quickly said.“Down.”She lowered her belly to the floor, but she wasn’t quite believing the strangers in the room were friends.Her eyes were alert on the men, and her ears were pinned back.
Jack leveled his gaze on the officer pointing his gun at her.“She’s a highly trained military dog, owned by the government.”Well, she used to be, but they didn’t need to know that she was no longer their property.“She won’t attack unless I tell her to.”
“She does and government dog or not, I’ll shoot her.”
Jack gritted his teeth, biting back an angry retort.
“On your knees, feet spread, hands on your head,” one of the officers barked while the two without their guns out took positions on each side of him.
Jack complied without hesitation.“What’s this about?”
Instead of answering, one of the cops next to him snapped a handcuff around his wrist.“Hands behind your back,” he said.
This was getting to be a habit he didn’t like.Once he was cuffed, he was ordered to stand.When he was on his feet he was frisked.The position they had his arms in was hurting his shoulder, but he pressed his lips together and kept quiet.He had no idea what was going on and could only conclude that they had the wrong house.If that was what it was, it would be cleared up soon enough.
An older man wearing plainclothes walked in, and Jack noted the detective’s badge clipped to his belt.He stepped in front of the officers and eyed Jack.“Check the house,” he said.
Three of the four cops disappeared while one stayed with the detective.“Guns,” one yelled from the direction of his bedroom.
“I’m a Navy SEAL.Of course I have guns.”He was ignored.
His weapons were piled on the dining room table, and Jack was losing his patience.If they were going to threaten his dog and manhandle his guns, he wanted to know why.
He glanced at his broken door.“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?”
“You’re under arrest for assault and battery on Lane Gregory.”
“Whoa there.The dude came at me.All I did was defend myself.”
The detective’s gaze roamed over him.“Strange that he’s in a coma after getting in a fight with you.”
“No way.All I did was take him to the ground and twist his arm when he tried to attack me.There was even a witness, the bartender.Ask him.He’ll tell you the same.”
“We talked to him.He said that’s all he saw you do, but he also said he went back inside while you still had Mr.Gregory down.”
“I did not put Gregory in a coma.”Jack wondered who in the universe he’d pissed off.First learning that his shoulder was permanently damaged, and he wouldn’t be returning to his team, getting in a fight with Nichole’s ex—where he did not do anything to put the man in a coma—and then running Nichole off with hurt in her eyes.
