“Should I haul her back here?” Kaleb glanced at Charlotte.
“No.” Charlotte put a hand on his arm. “I’ve told you before, this isn’t a jail. These women must choose to stay here. We don’t force them to.”
“Yeah, but . . .” He ground his teeth in frustration. “I’m the one who hurt her feelings. Maybe I can talk her into staying.”
“You can try.” Charlotte dropped her hand. “But don’t give her false hope about having a future together. That would be worse for her in the long run.”
“I won’t.” He rushed through the doorway, Sierra joining him. “Emma? Wait. Can we talk for a minute?”
Emma ignored him, holding her head high as she continued walking down the road. He wondered where she was planning to go. Did she have money? He could give her some additional cash if he couldn’t convince her to return.
“Emma, please.” Ignoring the pain in his right knee, he ran until he was close enough to grab her suitcase.
“Hey! Let go.” She tried to tug it away from him.
He tightened his grip. “Look, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. I care about you and the other women and kids. I want you all to be safe.”
Emma avoided his gaze. “I’ll be fine. Rod isn’t a bad guy.”
“Men who hit don’t just stop, Emma. You’ve seen what those other women and their children have gone through. What makes you think Rod is different?”
“He loves me.” Now her gaze was defiant.
“Then why did he hit you? Talk is cheap, Emma. It’s easy to say he loves you, but his actions are what matter.”
A flash of uncertainty darkened her gaze. “Whatever. I don’t want to be stuck in a safe house. I want to live my life. Is that so difficult to understand?”
“No, of course not.” Kaleb sensed he was losing her. “But isn’t part of the process getting a safe place to live along with a new job? Why not give it some time?”
Emma propped one hand on her hip. “I can get my own job. And I have friends I can stay with. Charlotte said I could leave any time.”
He reluctantly released his grip on her suitcase and dug in his pocket. He took out five twenty-dollar bills and held them out to her. “Okay, I know we can’t force you to stay. Take care of yourself, Emma. I hope you don’t get hurt again.”
“I won’t.” She hesitated, staring at the money, then took the twenties, stuffing them into the pocket of her skintight jeans. “Thanks.”
He turned away, hoping she’d follow, but she didn’t. By the time he reached the front door and looked back over his shoulder, Emma was out of sight. With a sigh, he punched in the key code, then went inside. After reactivating the alarm, he went to find Charlotte, following the enticing scent of lasagna into the kitchen.
“I couldn’t get Emma to change her mind,” he said.
“You tried, that’s what counts.” Charlotte sighed. “I’m a little surprised she lasted this long.”
“That’s only because she was hoping Kaleb would make a move,” Milly said. “The girl is too bold for her own good.”
Kaleb privately agreed. “Something smells incredible, Milly.”
“Lasagna and garlic bread.” Milly wrapped long loaves of bread in foil, then slid the tray into the oven. “It will be ready in ten minutes.”
“I’ll get the residents,” Charlotte said.
He washed his hands in the sink, then took a moment to feed Sierra. As she ate, he turned toward Milly. “Anything I can do to help?”
“No thank you.” Milly gave him a hesitant smile. “I’m really sorry about forgetting to set the alarm.”
“Hey, it’s fine. Everyone is safe, right?” Well, except maybe for Emma, but that was her choice, one she was responsible for.
All he could do was pray for her safety.
“Yes.” Milly frowned. “But if something bad had happened, I’d never forgive myself.”
“We’re all human, Milly. We make mistakes. We have to forgive others and ourselves, the way Jesus taught us to.”
The older woman regarded him thoughtfully. “Thank you, Kaleb. That’s a nice way to think about forgiveness.”
Before he could respond further, Charlotte returned with several of the women. He noticed she was staying close to Willow and Tommy, maybe because it was highly likely that Thomas Acker was the man who’d fired at the safe house.
After they all settled into the dining room, he bowed his head to silently say grace. When he lifted his head, he caught them all staring at him.
“Maybe you should pray out loud,” Milly suggested.
“Of course.” He smiled. “Lord, we ask You to bless this food, bless these people seeking refuge, and please continue to keep them all safe in Your loving care. Amen.”
“Amen,” Milly said.
“Amen,” Charlotte added.
There was a brief silence while the rest of the women and children glanced at each other as if unsure what to do. “Dig in,” he said, lightening the somber tone. “We never let good food go to waste, right?”
“Right,” Tommy agreed, reaching for the garlic bread.
“I can’t believe Emma left,” one of the women said.
“Everyone has to make their own choices,” Charlotte reminded gently. “We can’t make them for her.”
“I know, but why leave when we’re here in the best place ever?” another woman asked. “I mean, even if I did want to leave, I wouldn’t go now. This place is the bomb!”
Kaleb held back from giving his own opinion. This wasn’t his area of expertise, and it seemed as if Charlotte and Milly had dealt with this before.
Like when Ava had left. He frowned, realizing he hadn’t given much thought to Ava or Nico or any of the other members of the team. He waited until they were finished eating before taking his phone into the other room to call Nico.
“Find anything?” Nico asked.
“No, but I hope you got my message about Simon having a different last name.”
“I did, yeah. It’s not very helpful, though. I’m not finding much intel under either name, Simon Marks or Simon Normandy.” Nico sounded frustrated. “For all we know, they’re both fake. Where are you?”
“Still in LA. There’s a security situation I need to deal with.”
“Okay, there isn’t much else I can do now anyway. I followed up with the last known address of Simon Normandy, but it’s an empty apartment. No forwarding address.”
That wasn’t good news. “I’m sorry, Nico.”
“Me too. But hey, the only easy day was yesterday, right? Something will turn up, you’ll see.”
Kaleb admired his buddy’s positive attitude. “Let me know if you need something more. I’m hoping to finish up this job by the end of the week.”
“Job? As in a paid assignment?” Nico asked.
“Not exactly.” Kaleb had to grin since this situation was quite the opposite. He’d paid for this safe house, and the charter bus, and the rideshares back and forth. “I’m keeping some women and kids safe, Nico. I know Jay would want us to find Ava, but he wouldn’t want these women in danger either.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Nico agreed. “Hey, have you heard from Hudd? He’s been off-grid for the past eight weeks, and Senior Chief and the others are getting worried.”
“Not yet.”
“You’re his swim buddy, Kaleb. I thought for sure he’d reach out to you over the others.”
“I know.” Mason’s original swim buddy had rung the bell, dropping out of BUD/S training. Mason had been assigned a new swim buddy, but they’d ended up going on different teams after Mason had been promoted to Senior Chief. Dallas and Dawson had been buddied up together, and Nico and Jaydon had also been swim buddies. He and Hudson had been inseparable back then. “I don’t understand why Hudd feels the need to go it alone.”
“Me either,” Nico agreed.
Not good. “I’ll try him again, maybe he’ll eventually reach out.”
“Okay, keep in touch, bro.” Nico disconnected from the call.
He left a message, claiming he needed backup. Hudson’s silence was troubling. As a team, they’d each covered each other’s backs almost every day. Kaleb wanted to be there for Hudd too. But he couldn’t leave LA. Not until he knew the dark-haired guy was behind bars.
The rest of the evening passed without incident. The way Charlotte kept herself busy gave him the impression she was avoiding him.
He told himself to get over it.
Finally, the women and children disappeared upstairs. He wondered if their sleeping arrangements would change now that Emma was gone, but he didn’t ask. His job was to make sure no one got into the house, much less all the way upstairs to their bedrooms.
“Ready to go outside, girl?” Kaleb went to the door, keyed in the code, and opened the door. He quickly reactivated the alarm, then began his routine of checking the perimeter. Only he went counterclockwise this time, varying his routine as he’d been taught during SEAL training.
As he went around the back, he heard voices coming from the road. Two women arguing over plans for the weekend. He crept forward, glad to see them get into their car and drive away. Nodding in satisfaction, he returned to his job of securing the property.
Once Sierra took care of business, he continued moving through the backyard. The surface of the pool glimmered under the city lights, reminding him of how the kids had splashed and played earlier that afternoon.
Enjoying themselves, the way kids ought to.
After reassuring himself the area was safe, he led Sierra inside. The main level was mostly dark, except for one light in the kitchen. He headed to the too-short sofa and stretched out, patting the floor beside him.
This time, when he finally fell asleep, he didn’t have the reoccurring nightmare. A thudding sound abruptly woke him. He sat upright, blinking in the darkness while straining to listen.
One of the women upstairs? Or someone outside?
Sierra was sitting and staring at the front door, so he stuffed his feet into his shoes and pulled his Sig Sauer from beneath the pillow. Being a SEAL had taught him nothing good happened at three in the morning, and it was about that time now. He went to the windows overlooking the pool, scanning the yard for signs of an intruder.
“Kaleb?” Charlotte’s whisper broke the silence. “What was that?”
“Not sure.” He glanced over at her, not surprised she was standing in the middle of the stairway, holding her gun in both hands. “Stay here, I’ll go outside to check it out.”
“Why not wait to see if the alarm is breeched?” She didn’t stay where she was, she came the rest of the way down the stairs and crossed over to him. “I’d rather you stay in here with us.”
“Hey, you’re a force to be reckoned with,” he reminded her. “I’ll leave Sierra with you, if that makes you feel better.”
She nibbled on her lower lip, then shook her head. “No, take her with you. You need backup.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” He turned to Sierra. “Come.”
Sierra eagerly came to stand next to him as if anxious to get outside. He deactivated the alarm, slipped outside, then punched in the code. He silently moved around to the side of the building opposite from the swimming pool. Sierra blended into the shadows beside him.
Another thudding sound, then the rustling of leaves. Was the intruder leaving? Kaleb frowned and silently moved closer, his gaze trying to pick up the movement.
There!
A tall, dark shadow ran from beneath a trio of palm trees, darting through the backyard of the house next door. Kaleb picked up his pace rather than giving Sierra the attack command. What if this was just a neighborhood kid messing around? He didn’t want to be responsible for injuring an innocent person. Especially since he didn’t see how their safe house location could have been found by the dark-haired guy.
“Stop! You’re trespassing on private property!”
The shadow didn’t stop; instead, it put on a burst of speed. Kaleb jumped over a scrubby bush, wincing when his knee twinged at the impact.
By the time he reached the property line, the shadow was gone.
Charlotte found herself holding her breath as she waited for Kaleb and Sierra to investigate the source of the thudding sound. When her chest grew unbearably tight, she forced herself to exhale and breathe normally.
Kaleb was a highly trained, incredibly smart Navy SEAL. She couldn’t ask for a better protector. Sierra, too, would keep him safe.
The seconds ticked by with agonizing slowness. She moved from one window to the next, but she didn’t see Kaleb or Sierra. She told herself Kaleb was used to hiding from the enemy, but she couldn’t relax.
Although she could pray. Something she hadn’t done until Kaleb had come into her life. She cleared her throat and whispered, “Lord, Kaleb is one of Your children. Please keep him safe in Your care!”
In the back of her mind, she heard, You are one of My children too. The thought had her going still.
Was it true? That even though she hadn’t prayed before, was she still one of God’s children?
Were all the women and children she’d housed over the years His children too?
A noise at the front door distracted her from the revelation. She hurried over in time to see Kaleb come through the door.
“Did you find anything?” She watched as he came inside and reactivated the alarm.
“There was someone out there, but he took off.” Kaleb’s expression was grim. “I didn’t send Sierra after him because I was afraid the intruder might just be one of the neighborhood kids goofing around.”
“I understand.” She blew out a sigh. “The good news is that you scared him off. If it was just a kid, he won’t make the mistake of coming back here again.”
“I hope not.” Kaleb walked into the living room and slid his weapon beneath his pillow. Then he looked back at her. “How did you hear the noise anyway?”
She flushed. “For some reason, I’m not sleeping well. I was debating coming down to make tea, but I didn’t want to wake you up again. Then I heard the noise.”
“I’m surprised you came down with your gun,” he said with a frown. “You know I would give my life to protect you and the others.”
She nodded. His statement was made so easily, but she knew he meant it. Other men might say something similar, but then they didn’t stick around when things spiraled out of control.
Or they saved themselves rather than protecting others.
“You need some Sleepytime tea.” Kaleb moved toward the kitchen.
Charlotte followed more slowly, acutely aware of the last time she and Kaleb had been alone in the kitchen at night. Just thinking about Sleepytime tea brought back memories of his incredible kiss.
Yet heading back upstairs to the bedroom she shared with Milly wasn’t something she was ready to do either. Why was she having so much trouble sleeping? This location was probably the safest one they’d been in recently.
No reason to overreact to every unusual sound.
“Here you go.” Kaleb handed her the box of tea.
“Thanks.” She skirted around him to fill a mug with water. “I guess you’re right about the noise coming from a neighborhood kid. I’m sure Sierra would have given you some indication if she’d picked up the scent of the dark-haired man.”
“Maybe, but you’ve given me an idea.” He returned to the sofa, coming up with the bag containing the knit cap. “Enjoy your tea, we’ll be back soon.”
She frowned as Kaleb once again went outside with Sierra. Interesting that he was always careful to turn the alarm system on and off, as if he’d lived with one before.
Something to think about if they were able to return to their old safe house. Or for their new one, if they were forced to relocate. Which reminded her that she hadn’t contacted Abby recently to give her an update. Charlotte made a mental note to update her wealthy donor later that morning.
When the microwave dinged, she removed her tea and sat at the counter. There was no reason to be nervous, she knew Kaleb was double-checking to make sure the guy he’d chased off wasn’t the gunman who’d come after their previous safe house. And really, how could it be? There’s no possible way their location could have been leaked.
Kaleb returned in less than ten minutes. “We need to call Detective Grimes.”
“What? Why?” She searched his gaze. “Did Sierra alert outside?”
“Yes.” Kaleb’s expression was grim. “I’m such an idiot. I should have sent Sierra to take him down. She’d have caught easily caught him.”
With trembling fingers, Charlotte set her tea aside. “I don’t understand, Kaleb. How is it possible he found us here?”
“I don’t know.” Kaleb already had his phone out, scrolling through his contacts. “But I want Grimes to find out exactly where Thomas Acker is. Tommy’s father must be the guy coming after you.”
“But how?” She tried to think back to how they’d taken a rideshare to come here. Maybe the dark-haired man had noticed them outside the pizza place. She and Kaleb had walked another two blocks before getting a rideshare, but it was possible that he’d watched them get into the vehicle. But then, what? He’d run to his car stashed somewhere nearby, managing to find them and follow them here?
It just didn’t seem likely.
“Detective, this is Kaleb Tyson. The dark-haired intruder has found our new safe house. Sierra picked up his scent in several spots outside, especially near some palm trees where I saw him too. I need you to call me back right away!” He stabbed the end call button and tossed the phone onto the counter, revealing his frustration.
“You’re sure about Sierra picking up his scent?”
A flash of hurt crossed his eyes. “You saw her in action today, remember? She did the same thing tonight.”
“I believe you,” she hastened to reassure him. “But if that’s the case, we can’t stay here, Kaleb. Not if he knows our location.”
“I thought of that,” Kaleb admitted. “But we do have the alarm system. Maybe that’s what stopped him from trying to get inside.”
“He didn’t hesitate to use a gun a few days ago,” she pointed out. “Why stop now?”
Kaleb shook his head. “I don’t know. I agree it doesn’t seem logical. Unless his only goal was to check the place out, look for ways to get inside without being seen. Seeing the alarm system in place may have scared him off.”
“I guess that makes sense.” She couldn’t suppress a shiver. She cradled her tea mug in her hands, drawing warmth from the mug.
An uneasy silence fell between them. The idea of packing everyone up again and moving to a new location in a matter of days was daunting. A tiny voice in the back of her mind screamed that it was unfair, but she knew that didn’t matter. No one ever promised life would be fair.
She knew that better than most.
“Hey, it will be okay,” Kaleb said gently.
“I know.” She forced a smile, telling herself to buck up. Feeling sorry for herself and for the women and children in her care was a waste of time and energy. “It’s just frustrating the police can’t catch this guy.”
“I’m hoping this new incident will convince Grimes to push harder to find and question Thomas Acker,” Kaleb said. “He’s the most logical suspect.”
She wanted to agree but couldn’t shake the fact that the guy in the photo array wasn’t the same one she’d glimpsed following her. The differences were so subtle she couldn’t articulate them well enough to convince the detective.
When Kaleb’s phone rang, they both jumped. Tea sloshed over the rim of her cup, making a mess.
“Hey, Grimes, thanks for calling me back. I’m putting this on speaker because Charlotte is with me.” He placed the phone between them. “Please tell me you have something on Acker.”
“Do you realize it’s almost four in the morning?” Grimes sounded cranky. “We haven’t found Acker yet, but I’ve issued a BOLO for him as a person of interest.”
“Be on the lookout for,” Kaleb explained as Charlotte gave a questioning look. “So you have no idea if he has an alibi for the time frame of either shooting or tonight?”
“Not yet, no. But how could he have found you, Tyson? I don’t even know where you’re staying.”
“I think it’s possible he saw us at the pizza place,” Charlotte said. “Maybe because he’d returned to find his hat. If so, he could have easily watched us get into the rideshare vehicle and then jump into his own car to follow us here.”
Kaleb grimaced. “I was careful to search for signs of a tail. I hate to think he’s that good that I missed him.”
“Yeah, well, what do you want me to do at this hour?” Grimes asked wearily. “I can put in a report of a prowler, but you’ll have to give me your address. And as the place isn’t in my jurisdiction, I’ll need to alert those officers too.”
She locked gazes with Kaleb. Was it worth giving their location away? She was surprised at the resounding no that echoed in the back of her mind.
“You should know that Sierra alerted on his scent, the same guy who lost his knit hat was outside this house. The sooner you find this guy, the better.”
“The dog again, huh?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I woke you, Detective,” Kaleb said. “I just wanted you to know that this guy is still out there, trying to get close to the women and children.”
“Yeah, fine. I’ll reinforce with the sergeant that Thomas Acker is a top priority. Good night.” Grimes disconnected from the call.
“Thank you for not giving our address out,” she said in a low voice. “I can’t explain why, but I don’t want it listed in a police report.” She hesitated, then added, “It’s a catch-22 situation. As an abuse victim, they won’t arrest the abuser unless you agree to press charges. And doing that means you have to put all the details out there, which end up in a police report. Which the abuser then gets to see so that he can formulate an argument, denying the charges.” She shook her head. “It’s no wonder so many of these women don’t bother.”
Kaleb reached out to take her hand. “I’m sorry, that must have been horrible for you.”
She nodded, clutching his hand tightly. “Jerry seemed so nice in the beginning. I never expected him to turn into a monster.”
“Jerry sounds like a jerk, and I hope the cops tossed him in jail.”
“Not for long.” She avoided his gaze, staring at their clasped hands instead. “That’s the other way the system is wrong. These guys get out on a ridiculously low bond, then they can seek revenge against the women who pressed charges in the first place.”
“Jerry did that?”
She nodded. “He shoved his way into my apartment, grabbed my hair, and hit my head on the counter.” She finally dragged her gaze to his. “I was knocked out, but thankfully, the neighbor across the hall called the police. The sirens must have scared him off. After I woke up and was discharged from the hospital, I went to a safe house like this. From there, I moved across the country so that he could never find me.”
Kaleb’s gaze hardened. “He never did any jail time for hurting you?”
“No. Because being safe was more important.” She abruptly pulled her hand from his and stood. “I have to go. Good night.” She couldn’t bear his intense gaze, so she turned and ran upstairs.
Like the coward Kaleb now knew she was.