Page 20 of Inexplicable

Marshall had also told me about Hudson, Jax, Cooper, Chase, and Wyatt, his billionaire partners here in San Diego.

Like everyone else, his billionaire partners were previous special forces and it sounded like they were as dedicated to Last Hope as Marshall and Brock’s team.

Marshall had offered to assign me an advisor to help me through the trauma of my kidnapping, but I’d refused.

I was more concerned about getting Brock physically healthy again.

I owed the man my life.

Marshall shot me a quizzical look. “Maybe you and Brock can help each other,” he said, like he was thinking out loud. “He can act as your advisor and you can be his right arm for a little while. Mind you, I’m not even sure that he’s going to agree to let you help him out. If he refuses, I’m not going to insist on him making you his guest in Michigan. I feel bad enough that he was injured on a mission.”

“He could have been killed,” I reminded Marshall.

“Doubtful,” he answered. “All of my guys wear plate carrier vests. They have protection for their vital organs when they’re on a mission. I’m not saying that they can’t die from a multitude of other things, but they have as much protection from bullets as possible. Brock just happened to get hit in an area with no protection.”

“Are all of them crazy?” I asked. “They lived through Delta Force. That wasn’t enough?”

Marshall chuckled. “Sometimes it’s hard to let go of special forces. Delta members are highly skilled and capable even when they get out of the military. Last Hope helps them transition.”

“How long have Brock and his team been transitioning?”

“It’s been years now,” he grumbled. “They’re a special group. They volunteer because they want to help and use the skills they gained in Delta. They’re responsible for rescuing a lot of hostages who otherwise might not have made it out of their situations alive. They don’t want recognition or thanks from anyone. They just want to do what they’re trained to do. I’m not sure any of them would do well without helping when and where they can.”

“Then they’re definitely special,” I agreed with a sigh. “Can you blame me for wanting to see for myself that Brock gets completely healed?”

Marshall shook his head slowly. “I’d probably want to do the same, but it’s unusual. Hostages usually want to get as far away from their rescuers as possible once it’s over. They just want to forget the entire experience.”

“I can’t,” I said softly. “I guess I’m not made that way.”

He smirked. “I’m starting to see that. Are you sure you don’t want some psychological help to deal with your trauma? You could use it. I have a feeling you’re so focused on Brock that you’re not going to feel the effects of that trauma until later. But it will probably bite you in the ass at some point.”

I was feeling a little jumpy and nervous after my experience, but that was probably normal after a kidnapping.

Surely it would get better.

I didn’t really want to explain to Marshall that I’d spent years in counseling trying to get my head on straight after my childhood and adolescence.

The last thing I wanted was another counselor, unless it was absolutely necessary.

I just didn’t want to talk about my past anymore. I’d done it ad nauseam for so many years.

I wasn’t raped or sexually assaulted during my kidnapping.

I was an adult.

I could handle it.

I shook my head firmly. “No thanks. I’m good.”

“And you’re sure that there’s nobody you want me to call?” he asked.

“Nobody,” I affirmed bluntly.

He’d asked me that question before. Did he feel sorry for me because I had no one? I was a little afraid that was exactly why he was asking again.

Most people had someone, right?

Maybe he was having a hard time comprehending that there really was absolutely nobody to contact for me.