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“Fair enough. Harriet believes she can beat Halle in court,” Eric replies.
“Fat chance of that happening anytime soon,” Charlie scoffs. “In fact, feel free to call us in as witnesses. There are so many open case files to build upon. No judge in their right mind will ever grant Harriet anything at this point. Not even visitation rights.”
“Well, let’s call that a silver lining and roll with the rest of the punches,” Eric exhales sharply. “Once the chief’s done with his debriefing, let’s swing by the station and take Halle home. We can go back to finish up our reports once she’s safe at the house.”
Whatever it is that Colby is trying to do it’s far from over. This attack may have been reckless but it could’ve ended much worse. I wonder if the bastard did his homework where we’re concerned, because I doubt his hitmen would’ve come after us if they’d known about our military history. No man in his right mind pulls a stunt like that with former Navy SEALs. This, in turn, tells me something else. Something that might end up working in our favor soon enough.
Colby Nash is an uncontrolled prick. His narcissistic ego keeps getting the better of him, and it will eventually drive a wedge between him and his mother. If his old man were still alive, I think things would’ve unfolded differently.
But he’s not. The Devil is dead.
We’re left dealing with his idiot son and his money-grubbing widow.
I just hope we’re able to keep Halle and the kids safe until they’re all in prison or simply out of this plane of existence altogether. The gloves are coming off and I don’t take prisoners. Not when it comes to my woman or my family.
23
Halle
The limbo I’ve found myself in is becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
I trust Eric, Chase, and Wyatt. I trust them with my life. I trust them with my children and our future together. There’s nothing I want more than to be with them, to try our own version of happily ever after.
But everything hangs in a sketchy balance.
I’m pregnant, and I’ve yet to find the courage to tell them. The threat of Colby still looms over our heads—bigger and uglier—now that we know he’s likely connected to the warehouse attack, too. Harriet wants her day in court, but the guys don’t think she’s got a leg left to stand on. I still worry, though. I know how resourceful that woman can be, especially when she is hell bent on taking my children away from me.
In the middle of this shit storm, I’m supposed to keep a level head. To fight for my future. To manage my emotions, my children, my day-to-day life. How the hell am I going to do that when I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, terrified that Colby will find a way to get close to me again, to finish what he started the night of the diner fire?
I know he’s close. I can almost feel him breathing down my neck. He is relentless. Like a predator that has caught the scent of blood, he will not rest until he destroys me in order to prove that I’m nothing without him. It’s what he does. It’s what he’s always done.
He never cared about me. He never cared about our children, either. I was lying to myself, constantly trying to rationalize sticking it out for another day, another week, another month until maybe, just maybe, Colby might go back to being the man he made himself out to be in the beginning of our relationship.
At least I have my job to keep me sane. The guys take me to and from work and one of them always handles the kids’ daily transportation. We’ve got eyes on the daycare and units ready to intervene at the house if Colby or any of his men try something.
We’re doing the best we can in a seemingly impossible situation. Something’s got to give. That bastard needs to slip up already because I’m growing tired. I could run away again but what would it solve?
Nothing.
“He’d find me,” I mutter to myself as I peruse the produce department at the local supermarket. It’s late in the afternoon, and I want to cook something good and healthy for my men. The kids are staying with Marie and Steve tonight. Luna and Sammy already consider them their grandparents. They’re a good influence on my babies. I want my kids to grow up feeling safe and loved, not worried that their dad’s going to come in and ruin everything. “Ah, there we go,” I say as I spot the fresh spinach.
The more I think about dinner, the hungrier I get.
I know I’m not supposed to be out and about without one of my guys with me but I want to surprise them with dinner once they get home. I don’t want to ask them to stop at the store and pick things up for me; I want to have everything ready when they walk through the door.
After I pay, I grab my bag and make my way down the street, our neighborhood just ahead beneath a red and orange sunset sky.
“Excuse me, miss, what’s the quickest way to get downtown?” a man asks, startling me.
I’m so deep in my thoughts that I don’t even look up until it’s too late.
It’s Colby. I recognize him but my body fails to react. I freeze.
“Colby, no!”
He pulls me down a small alley in between houses. I struggle and he slams me into the brick wall of one of them.
I drop down and swerve away from him. Within a second, I realize he is completely unhinged. A mad beast with nothing to lose and no sense left in his head whatsoever. He is furious and frustrated, panting as he approaches me with lightning speed. I’m done hiding and running away.
