Page 84 of SEAL of Valor

It’s been years since I looked at myself for longer than an accidental glance.

I close my eyes.

Why me?

Why not the baby?

Why not my sister?

Why not the countless innocent lives that I’ve seen taken at the hands of monsters?

“You really can’t look, can you?” I turn toward Reese, who’s standing just inside the bedroom, a clean towel in her arms. “I forgot to give you this, and the door wasn’t completely closed.”

Reaching out, I take it, but as I do, I note the way my hand trembles just slightly. “Thanks.”

“Weston?”

“I’m fine.” I try to force a smile so she doesn’t worry, but concern is plastered all over her beautiful face. “I don’t care much for the man I see staring back at me. It was always easier just to pretend he didn’t exist.”

Reese’s eyes fill, and she steps closer to me, then reaches up and cups my bearded cheek. “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.”

“I imagine I look a whole lot worse.”

“No,” she replies. “I see a man who has spent a lot of time carrying the weight of everyone else’s decisions. I see a man who was willing to sacrifice his life for mine and for every one of his friends and their families. I see a man who has charged into deadly situations to save people he’s never met.” She cups the other side of my face. “And I still see the man I fell in love with all those years ago. Even if you can’t see yourself, Weston, I do.”

I close my eyes and just savor her touch as we stand in this bathroom, the air still heavy with the scent of her shampoo.

“I see you, Weston.”

“Reese?” Vivian’s voice carries up the stairs, so Reese stretches up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.

“Interrupted by my mom. Kind of our story, right?” She grins, and I can’t help but smile, too, as a bit of the weight lifts. Not much, but enough that I feel like I can breathe again. “Get cleaned up and come downstairs. We have dinner and a movie to watch.” With a wink, she leaves the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

I turn toward the mirror but keep my gaze downcast. Once I’ve set the towel aside, I grip both sides of the sink and tilt my head up to look directly into eyes I haven’t seen in a long time.

Because maybe, just maybe, if I can see myself through Reese’s eyes, then I can begin to understand why God chose to save me when there were so many others who were far worthier of rescue.

It’s been three hours since Reese, Vivian, and Ryker went to bed, but I can’t stop checking windows and doors. Every inch of this house has been checked more times than I can count, but anytime I lie down and try to sleep, the images of Reese sitting beside me, tears in her eyes, arms streaked with my blood as she waited to be tied up, assault me.

How can I sleep when she’s in danger?

When, any second now, Brenda could send a full tactical team through that door after us?

“Can’t sleep?”

I practically jump at the sound of Reese’s voice. She’s standing in the doorway to my bedroom, her own eyes heavy. Aragorn sits right beside her, staring expectantly.

“No. It seems to be eluding me.”

She smiles softly and comes to sit beside me on the edge of my bed. “Any particular reason?”

“Hard to settle down with a threat looming on the horizon.”

“You really think she’ll come after us?”

“I know she will,” I reply without hesitation. “It’s only a matter of time.”

Reese nods.