Semua Bab Enemy From The Past (Unseen Enemy 4): Bab 21 - Bab 30

Jim had come across abusive men in his years of training, sure, but they'd rarely made it to the elite squads. And God knows, he’d been no stranger to throwing a punch when he’d signed up for Basic, and additional training had honed and sharpened his already-considerable skills. Ranger training had made him nothing short of a lethal weapon, and he knew this ex-Marine was the same. The thought that he’d put his hands on Kat made Jim physically sick: most tall, heavy men wouldn’t be able to stay standing once an ex-Marine started hitting them. Hell, for all Jim knew, Ferguson would give him a run for his money in a fist fight. A woman like Kat wouldn’t have a prayer.Jim’s anger ballooned up in his chest and he took a deep breath, felt his heart rate drop again. The thing about really intensive and specialized military training was that the farther you advanced in it, the more deadly you became, but you also became more controlled, more focused, more disciplined. It was a delicate bala

“Wait.” Kat shook her head. “I still don’t get why you’re so angry.”“Because you’ve been through a living hell, and you deserve better than being stuck with me.” His laugh was a sharp bark. “I’m the most useless of the four of us, but you get me anyway.”“Why do you say that?” she asked, genuinely perplexed. “That you can’t think for yourself? That you’re useless?”He shrugged again. “Because I can’t, and because I am. Dallas has access to all kinds of staff and resources that can really help you… track this guy, keep eyes on him. That’s helpful, right? Dean’s a natural-born leader, and he’s smart and calm as hell under pressure, and always knows what to do to get everyone out alive. And Chris… well, Chris knows just what to say to people to make them feel better. He’s just – he’s got that way about him, you know? He’s gentle and people trust him and like him.”“And you think you’re not as good as them?”“I know I’m not.” His eyes were unflinching. “And I just feel bad that you get m

Jim pulled up in front of the hair salon, glanced at his watch.“OK, I’ll pick you up after work at about six. You don’t leave here without me. Clear?”Kat looked over at him, annoyed at the alpha-male routine. “Jim. I’m sure that I can take the bus home.”His eyes flashed. “And I’m sure you’ll still be here when I come to pick you up.”“But it’s a major hassle for you.”“Keeping you safe is not a hassle, minor or major. But you know what is a hassle? Listening to you tell me what a hassle it is.” He cocked his head at her. “So give it a fucking rest.”She stared at him, then to his complete shock, she burst into laughter.“Something funny, sweetheart?” he asked.“No. Nothing’s funny,” she said between giggles. “I just – I really, really like you.”That took him by surprise. “Yeah?”“Oh, yeah.” She grinned at him. “So I’ll be waiting, Prince Charming.”“OK, good.” Jim tried to keep the scowl on his face, but he felt it slipping off, felt his expression softening. She was just so beaut

“So, how did you all end up in Denver?”Jim glanced over at Kat, curled up in the armchair across from him sipping a cup of tea that he’d made for her. “What?”“You and the guys. I know you all know each other from your time overseas, but you’re not all from here. So how’d you all end up in the same city after you left Afghanistan?”He set his book down on the coffee table and settled deeper into the sofa. “Well, Dallas left Afghanistan first. He used to come to Colorado to go skiing when he was a kid, and he’s always loved it here, he says. He moved to the city, started his security firm, bought two houses. Then about three months later, Dean finished his tour and packed it in. Dean is actually from Denver but his parents have a tiny place now since the kids all left home, and so Dallas offered him his one place as a rental. Dean has a local artist friend named Reena who helped him start up the tattoo parlour, and he’s been building it ever since. And me? When I came back to the Stat

Jim opened the door at Dallas’ knock, and the two men had a few seconds of silent and not-at-all-pleasant communication. Jim nodded slightly, and braced himself for what was almost certainly a shock of some kind.“Kat.” Dallas was as implacable as ever. “How you doing, darlin’?”She was on the sofa, her hands twisting over and over again. “OK, I guess. Worried about you being here, a bit.”Dallas sat down. “Nothing to worry about yet.”“Yet?” Jim echoed.“Yeah. Yet.”Kat swallowed hard. “So what’s going on?”“I spent the whole day today looking into – him. Your friend Leanne was right… he travels a lot, and I followed his credit card and cell phone activity. In the past four years, he’s been to Wisconsin, Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Arizona. In that order.”Kat turned deathly pale. “All the places I’ve been…”“Yeah.” Dallas was calm. “Everywhere except here.”“Fuck me,” Jim said angrily. “I thought you said Kat would be hard to track? That you’d struggle to find her