"What if I don't want to be kept?"
"Then I'll change your mind."
She stares at me, and I can see the war happening behind her eyes again.Fear versus hope.Self-preservation versus taking a chance.
"You're crazy," she says finally.
"Probably."
"This is a terrible idea."
"Most good things are."
"Randall's going to make your life hell."
"Let him try."I lean closer."You're mine to protect, Carla.Get used to it."
She opens her mouth to argue, but then my phone buzzes.
I glance at the screen.Text from Vincent.
Got something.Call me when you can.It's not good.
I look at Carla."I need to take this."
"Go ahead."
I step into the bedroom and call Vincent back.
"What've you got?"I ask.
"Your boy Randall Shelly is bad news, Tim.Worse than you think."
"Talk to me."
"Three complaints filed against him in the last five years.Two from women he dated.One from a female soldier in his unit.All three complaints disappeared.No investigation.No record.Nothing."
My blood goes cold."How?"
"He's got friends in high places.His CO is a bird colonel who's been covering for him for years.Apparently, Shelly is some kind of golden boy.Gets results.Keeps his team alive.So they overlook the other stuff."
"The other stuff being that he beats women."
"Yeah.And it gets worse."
I close my eyes."What else?"
"He's got a tight crew.Five guys who'd follow him into hell.All Special Forces.All loyal.If he calls them, they'll come running."
"Names?"
Vincent rattles off five names.Two of them I already know.I write the other three names down.
"One more thing," Vincent says."Shelly requested leave two weeks ago.Said he had family business.He's off the grid right now.No one knows where he is."
"He's here.In Virginia.Stalking Carla."
"Then you need to be careful.This guy's not stable, and he's got the training to do real damage."
