Raegan’s ponytail bobbed with a confirming nod. “We had no money to begin with, and then after Mom died, I was basically on my own, so I figured the military was my best chance at getting a degree.”
“And did you?”
Another nod. “I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice.”
“Which makes sense with the whole M.P. thing.”
“That’s why I went that route. My original plan was to re-up one last time, get out, and apply to the FBI.”
“FBI?” He blinked with a set of raised brows.
“That surprise you?”
“A little. Although, after the way you handled yourself at the bank today…not to mention, the ass-kicking you about gave me earlier tonight…I don’t know.” He tilted his head to the side as he gave her an assessing glance. “I could see it.”
“I could, too…at one point.”
“Not anymore?”
A look of sadness—with a touch of incredulousness—fell over her pretty face. “I doubt Quantico would be too interestedin a has-been soldier who’s a ‘loose cannon with paranoid delusions’.”
“Who the fuck said that about you?”
“It was all part of my shrink’s final assessment.”
Asshole.
Tempted to have Liam look up her former psychiatrist’s address, Rocky put aside his anger toward a man he didn’t know and returned his focus to the amazing woman before him.
“Twenty-eight isn’t old by any stretch, you know?” He rested his hands on the counter’s edge behind him, gripping the smooth granite to keep from reaching for her. “You still have time to apply to the FBI if you still wanted to.”
“They take applicants up to thirty-six.”
“So…”
“So, I’m pretty sure the closets at Quantico are too small to hold the mounds of emotional baggage I tend to carry around.”
“Everyone has baggage, sweetheart. You can either let it weigh you down or stack that shit up and use it to climb your way to the top. The choice is yours.”
“There is no choice, Rocky.” Raegan shook her head. “At least, not until Samer is dead or behind bars.”
“If that really was him, and I’m not saying it’s not, but if it is Samer…wewillget him. One way or another, we will figure out a way to take him down."
Her expression changed, then. The weariness was still there, but there was also a tiny glimmer of something that hadn’t been there a moment before.
“I can’t tell if you mean that, but I really like that you just said ‘we’.”
To hell with this.
Pushing himself away from the counter, Rocky slowly covered the distance between them. With cautious movements—because he wasn’t in the mood to get thrown onto the floorfor the second time that night—he reached up, tucking a few wayward strands behind her ear.
“Rocky…”
His name was a feather-light whisper falling from her lips.
“I meant it, sweetheart.” He let his palm rest against her cheek. “You’re not alone in this, anymore. Me and my team…we’re here, and we’re going to help you.”
Raegan’s eyes fell shut as she leaned into his touch. A tear fell from the corner of her eye, but Rocky used his thumb to gently brush the moisture away.