Retired Navy SEAL Kaleb Tyson knelt in the shadows with his black lab, Sierra, at his side. The dog provided a sense of calm as he studied the building the slim, petite, dark-haired woman had entered.
The structure was plain and appeared abandoned, yet he knew it wasn’t. He’d followed Charlotte Cambridge, a big name for such a tiny woman, to this location twice now, and what little intel he’d gathered made him believe the place was a safe house for battered women and children.
A guy like him wouldn’t be welcome, and the last thing he wanted was to frighten any of the residents who had a right to their safety and privacy. But after weeks of digging into the last phone call Ava Rampart had made before she’d disappeared, he finally had something solid to go on.
Ava, the younger sister of their SEAL teammate Jaydon, had been missing for just over a month. Jaydon hadn’t survived their last mission, and they’d brought his body home for a proper burial. The SEAL motto was no man left behind.
Dead or alive, they brought their teammates home.
Their team leader, Senior Chief Mason Gray, had taken the loss personally, but Kaleb knew they’d done their best. It wasn’t anyone’s fault the op had gone sideways, especially since the rest of the team had barely escaped with their lives. And had sustained the injuries to prove it.
He idly rubbed his right knee, the one that had been reconstructed after that mission. A total knee replacement at forty years old didn’t bode well for his future. A bum knee and night terrors were his personal souvenirs from that op. Sierra helped keep him grounded, which was how he found himself hiding in the shadows outside a safe house located in a low-income area of Los Angeles, California.
When Kaleb glimpsed a man approaching the building, all his senses went on alert. Staying in the shadows, he pulled his Sig Sauer from its holster. Sierra kept pace at his side as he lightly ran along the edge of the building to approach the stranger from behind. His knee twinged, but he ignored it, focused on the perp in front of him. Like him, the guy was dressed in black from head to toe.
Unlike him, though, the guy wore an ugly expression on his face and seemed intent on causing trouble. Kaleb didn’t know for sure if the guy was armed, but he didn’t discount the possibility.
Sierra wasn’t a fully trained K9 yet, but thankfully, she didn’t bark much. He’d worked with her often enough over these past few months that she understood basic hand signal commands. Kaleb dropped to a crouch twenty feet behind the guy and gave her a quick hand signal. Sierra sat beside him.
Adjusting to life as a civilian hadn’t been easy. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just shoot at the guy, so he waited and watched.
The moment he saw the guy aim a gun at the door, Kaleb jumped to his feet. “Hey! Stop!”
A loud report echoed as the bullet entered the doorjamb. Then the guy spun and ran. Kaleb grimaced and took off after him, praying his knee would hold up. The guy had a head start, disappearing behind another building.
By the time Kaleb reached it, there was no sign of him. He scanned the area, feeling certain the guy wasn’t too far away. Then he thought about the safe house being breached and turned back.
The women and children would be vulnerable to another attack now that the doorjamb had been shattered. What if that guy had an accomplice? Not good. As he approached, he slowed when he saw the dark-haired woman standing in the doorway.
Even more surprising was the gun she held in her right hand.
The image of the tiny woman holding the gun almost made him want to smile. He didn’t. Instead, he holstered his own weapon and raised his hands. “Ms. Cambridge? My name is Kaleb Tyson, and I’m a friend of Ava Rampart’s brother. I saw the man who tried to break in and ran after him, but unfortunately, I lost him.”
Charlotte Cambridge stared at him, keeping her weapon aimed at the center of his chest. “I’ve called the police.”
“Good, that’s smart.” Kaleb nodded. Sierra lifted her nose to sniff the air. “I’m not here to harm anyone, I’m looking for Ava. She’s missing, and her family is worried about her.”
“Ava’s not here.” Charlotte didn’t so much as waver in her stance. “You best be on your way before the cops arrive.”
“Okay, except I saw the guy who shot at your door.” He kept his tone low-key and reasonable. “I’m happy to tell the police what I know.”
“That’s up to you.” She looked as if she didn’t care what happened to him. “I hope you have a permit for that gun.”
“I do.” Again, he wanted to grin. She looked like a tiny dynamo standing there, lecturing him on gun safety while holding him at gunpoint. “The guy who tried to get inside was roughly six feet tall, dark hair, and clean-shaven. He wore a black jacket and black jeans. The gun was a thirty-eight, I believe, although I can’t say for certain.” Good thing his Sig Sauer wouldn’t be a match to the bullet they would dig out of the door.
“Why are you still here?” Charlotte asked, showing a tinge of annoyance.
“I told you, I’m looking for Ava Rampart. Her brother, Jaydon, was a member of our SEAL team.”
“Was?”
Regret creased his features. “He didn’t make it through our last op.”
Charlotte surprised him by nodding. “Yeah, she mentioned that.”
“So, Ava was here at one point.” Finally, some common ground. The wail of sirens grew louder now, and he glanced over his shoulder, expecting them to careen around the corner any minute. “I promise I’m not a threat to you or the other women staying here. I truly just want to find Ava.”
Red and blue lights flashed from two squads heading toward them. Charlotte finally lowered her weapon. “How did you know we were here?”
He swallowed hard, trying to think of a response that wouldn’t alarm her. “I traced Ava’s call to you, Ms. Cambridge. I must admit, it took me a while to find you.”
She scowled. “It’s not good that you found me at all,” she snapped. Then she glanced at the damaged doorjamb. “Or that anyone else did either.”
He wanted to reassure her that he hadn’t given her away, but the officers approached from their respective squads, holding their weapons aimed at him. “Are you Charlotte Cambridge? Did you report gunfire?”
“Yes,” she admitted.
“I’m a witness,” Kaleb added calmly. “My name is Kaleb Tyson, and I’m a retired Navy SEAL. This is my K9 partner, Sierra.” He used his chin to point at the dog since he still held his hands in the air. “I saw a white guy approach the door and then fire a weapon at the door handle. I shouted at him to stop, but he took off. Sierra and I followed, but unfortunately, we lost him.” He glanced at Charlotte. “I didn’t go too far because I was worried about the security breach putting the residents in danger. I had no way of knowing if there was a second guy hiding in the wings.”
A hint of appreciation flashed across Charlotte’s features before she turned toward the officers. “I reported a man following me a few days ago,” she informed them. “I spoke to a Detective Karl Grimes.”
“And you’re sure it’s not this guy?” One of the officers gestured to him.
“I’m sure. The man following me has dark hair, not blond.”
“Who is he?” Kaleb asked with a frown. “An ex-husband or boyfriend?”
Charlotte shrugged. “Probably, but no one I know. Likely an ex of one of the women seeking shelter here.” Her expression turned grim. “I’m not happy this safe house has been compromised.”
One of the cops patted him down, took his Sig and his MK 3 knife, then asked to see his driver’s license and gun permit. He handed them over, and the officer eyed them for a moment. “Kaleb with a K?”
“Yes.” He got that response a lot.
“Hmm.” The officer took them back to the squad, no doubt to run a background check.
He wasn’t worried, considering he’d spent the past twenty-two years in the navy, there hadn’t been any time to get into trouble with the law. However, he was concerned about Charlotte’s safe house. “I’m happy to stick around to keep an eye on things.”
She lifted a brow. “No men allowed inside.”
He met her gaze squarely. “I didn’t say anything about staying inside. Sierra and I can protect the place from out here.”
She looked surprised at his offer but didn’t say anything as another officer examined the door. “The slug is embedded in the door frame. We’ll have our crime scene techs dig it out and send it for evidence.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte murmured.
“You’re clear,” the cop said as he returned with Kaleb’s license and permit. “Thanks for your service to our country.”
“Ah, you’re welcome.” He appreciated the sentiment, but he was always caught off guard when someone said that to him. Especially after that last mission had gone so wrong. Jaydon was the one who’d given the ultimate sacrifice.
More reason for them to find his younger sister, Ava.
Which brought him back to Charlotte. She’d already admitted Ava had spent time there, but he needed more. He wanted to know everything Ava had said and done while she’d been there.
Charlotte Cambridge wouldn’t like it, but he wasn’t going anywhere. Not until he had answers.
And not until he’d ensured her safety and that of the other women inside from whoever had shot at the safe house with the intent to get inside to harm them.
The tall handsome man wasn’t the guy who’d followed her before, but that didn’t mean Charlotte didn’t find him alarming.
She’d come a long way from those days she’d been a resident at a safe house much like the one she currently operated, but there were times she still felt vulnerable.
Kaleb—with a K—Tyson was a large, imposing man. Granted, he’d been nothing but respectful and forthright from the moment she’d spotted him, but she knew all too well that looks and actions could be deceiving.
Hadn’t Jerry been sweet and considerate at first? Charming beyond belief, until the moment he’d punched her in the face. Only to turn around and claim it was her fault.
No. Charlotte gave herself a mental shake. This wasn’t the time to traipse down memory lane. There was no point in reliving the past. She’d need all her energy to deal with this new threat.
The dark-haired man Kaleb had described sounded like the guy she’d glimpsed following her a few days ago. Obviously, there was no way to know for sure, but the fact that a dark-haired man had shot at the door to the safe house, likely intending to enter, was too much of a coincidence.
Swallowing a wave of helplessness, she focused on what needed to be done. There were ten women and four children inside who deserved to be safe. She could try to fix the broken door, but what if the dark-haired guy showed up again later?
Her gaze darted toward Kaleb. He’d offered to stand guard, remaining outside the building despite the cold weather. Not that winter in Los Angeles was anything like where she’d grown up in Minnesota. Still, she believed he’d meant what he’d said. That he’d stay outside to protect them.
“What’s going on?”
Charlotte turned to see Milly, their live-in housekeeper, hovering behind her. Milly was only about ten years Charlotte’s senior, roughly forty-seven, but she took on a motherly role to her and their residents.
“The police are here, we’re fine. Nothing to be concerned about.” She did her best to reassure Milly.
“Did they catch the man who shot at us?” Milly planted her hands on her plump hips.
“Not yet.” Considering they didn’t have much of a description to go on, Charlotte doubted they would find him anytime soon. Unless, of course, he showed up again. “Please keep everyone calm, okay? We’re safe.”
“Are we?” Milly stared at her for a moment before turning away. “I know the drill,” she muttered as she returned to the main living quarters.
Charlotte let out a sigh. She couldn’t blame Milly or the others for being afraid. She’d done everything possible to avoid being followed here, but it must not have been enough.
Why couldn’t these men just leave them alone? As if it wasn’t enough to terrorize women and children once, but to keep looking for them after they were gone? She didn’t understand the mentality of these guys who risked everything to seek revenge.
“Ms. Cambridge?” She swung around to face Kaleb, who’d managed to approach so silently she hadn’t heard him. She put a hand on her chest to calm her racing heart. “Will you allow me to fix your door?”
Far be it for her to turn down a helping hand. She glanced at his black dog, then back at him. “I have a toolbox and supplies inside. If you wouldn’t mind waiting out here?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Call me Charlotte.” She was thirty-seven years old, feeling more like seventy-seven without the added ma’ams and Ms. Cambridges. Besides, she believed he was honestly here out of concern for Ava. A fear she privately shared, especially after Ava disappeared from the safe house without telling her or Milly where she was going.
Something she’d have to let Kaleb know, sooner rather than later. But not until the door was repaired.
Charlotte whirled away to get what he’d need. She returned with the toolbox and extra two-by-fours.
“Thank you.” Kaleb had a flashlight out and was examining the door frame. “I can see why he used a gun, no way to get inside otherwise.”
“That’s the point.” She crossed her arms over her chest, chilled from the cool night air.
“Do you have cameras?” Kaleb stepped back to look above the door frame.
“No,” she admitted. “This is generally a temporary housing location. Residents stay only for a couple of weeks before being handed off to another location.”
“You need cameras.” He moved to the side to make room for the crime scene tech. “You need motion sensor lights too.”
She stared at him for a moment. “We bring victims here during the night and would prefer not to announce our location, so no lights. Besides, the outside of the building is supposed to look abandoned, not wired for sound.”
“They have really small cameras, I can mount them out of view.” He scanned the building. “I get your point about the lights, but I still think it’s better to have them than not. Especially now.”
She tried not to feel depressed. “We’ll have to find a new location soon anyway, so there’s no point in doing all of that.” The idea of moving was daunting, although it wasn’t the first time.
And it probably wouldn’t be the last.
“Got it.” The crime scene tech held up the slug with a triumphant look. “Mangled pretty bad, but I’d say it’s a thirty-eight.”
She nodded. Her gun was a small .38 as well. She practiced shooting targets every two weeks and had gotten very good. Her instructor had warned her, though, that shooting at paper silhouettes was very different from aiming and firing at a person. Still, she knew she would do whatever was necessary to keep these women safe.
The officers left shortly after the crime scene tech had gotten their evidence, leaving her and Kaleb alone.
“This won’t take long.” He hefted the two-by-four into place.
She stepped back to give him room to work. He seemed to know what he was doing, and soon the door was repaired so that it would close properly.
“We’ll need to replace the handle and lock, but that will need to wait until morning.” Kaleb pushed the toolbox inside. “Don’t worry, though, I’ll stay out here with Sierra. We won’t let anyone get close.”
“You can’t stay out there all night,” she protested.
He arched a brow. “I’ll be fine for another eight to nine hours.”
It was already midnight, and Charlotte knew she should just let him stay outside as promised. But she couldn’t do it. “It’s too cold. You can stay inside, but only in the hallway.”
“I don’t want to cause anxiety for your residents.” He glanced at his dog. “Sierra and I can huddle together to stay warm.”
“Please, Kaleb. I’ll just worry about you out here.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll reassure our residents, and as long as you stay in the hallway, they should be fine.”
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “It’s sweet that you’re worried, but I’ve stayed in far worse conditions. And out here, I can see the threat coming before it arrives.” He hesitated, then added, “I wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee, though, if it’s not too much trouble.”
She realized he wasn’t kidding about staying outside in the cold. Slowly, she nodded. “No trouble at all. Give me a few minutes to brew a pot, okay?”
“Thanks.” His grin widened, and she had to look away from his ridiculously handsome features.
The man no doubt had dozens of women who’d chased after him all his life. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean anything. Charlotte reminded herself she was immune to good-looking men. Jerry had been the best cure around.
But her stomach still knotted with awareness when she returned with a large insulated mug of coffee for him. Just handing it over seemed to bring her far too close for comfort. “I—uh, should have asked if you wanted cream and sugar.”
“None of that available in the Middle East,” he said dryly. “Black is just fine. Thanks.”
“I—um, thanks again. For doing this.” She’d never felt so awkward in a man’s presence as she did at that moment. Honestly, maybe she was out of practice, but still. There was no reason to overreact. It wasn’t as if Kaleb was sticking around. Once he’d learned what he could about Ava’s time there, he’d be on his merry way.
“Do you have a minute to talk about Ava?” He regarded her thoughtfully. “How long ago did she leave here?”
She hesitated, then decided she wouldn’t be putting Ava in more danger by talking to him. The woman had left under her own free will. The safe house wasn’t a jail, the women could leave if they wanted. Although once they did, they weren’t allowed back to the same place. They’d have to go somewhere else.
“We’re worried about her,” Kaleb said when she didn’t answer.
“We?”
He nodded. “The rest of Jaydon’s team. Nico in particular was Jaydon’s swim buddy. He’s very worried about Ava and is trying to find her boyfriend, the one she supposedly left with six weeks ago.”
“How many team members?” She flushed, hoping he didn’t think she was being too nosy. “Never mind, I suppose that doesn’t matter.”
“Six of us,” he replied. “Although right now, it’s just me and Nico searching for Ava.”
She nodded. “She left this safe house two weeks ago. I’m not sure why, she didn’t confide in me. Or Milly.”
“And Milly is?”
“Our live-in housekeeper, although all the women living here have chores to do. It helps to keep them busy. Idle hands and all of that. One morning we woke up, and Ava was gone, without saying a word to anyone.”
“Two weeks.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “If I’d have gotten here sooner . . .”
“Don’t play the what-if game,” she said quickly. “That’s something I’m constantly preaching to the women who seek shelter here. None of us can go back and change the past, no matter how much we wish we could. All we can do is move forward.”
“God’s plan is not ours to question,” he murmured.
She was surprised to hear him say that. Their safe house was supported financially by several Christian organizations, for which she was extremely grateful. Yet she hadn’t been able to fully embrace the concept of God watching over them in the face of so many women and children suffering. “Yes, well, I—uh, should get inside. Good night.”
“Good night, Charlotte.” His husky voice washed over her. She turned and nearly walked face-first into the doorjamb he’d just repaired.
Feeling all kinds of foolish, she closed the door and leaned against it.
“What’s wrong?” Emma, a young woman barely twenty, padded toward her. Emma had just come to the safe house three nights ago, and she was still adjusting to the routine. “Milly said we’re safe, but you look worried.”
She pushed her emotions aside to smile reassuringly at Emma. “We are safe, I promise. We have a bodyguard stationed outside to watch over us.”
“A bodyguard?” Emma repeated, her gaze darting from Charlotte to the door behind her. “Who is he? Can we trust him?”
It broke Charlotte’s heart that these women had lost their ability to trust anyone, especially men. Between drug and alcohol abuse, and general unhappiness with their lives, too many men had taken their anger and frustration out on those they were supposed to protect the most. Their women and children.
The violence never ceased to confound her, even though she’d experienced it firsthand. “Yes, Emma, we can trust him. Our bodyguard served our country as a Navy SEAL. He’ll protect us tonight. And tomorrow, I’ll make arrangements to move us to a new location.”
Emma looked interested for a moment before turning away. Charlotte watched the young woman return to the living area, then let out a soundless sigh.
She’d truly believed they were safe here for what was left of the night.
It was only after Kaleb left that they’d have to worry about the dark-haired man finding them again.