Page 37 of Ex-SEAL Bad Boy

“I haven’t said anything to anybody except you. It’s got me baffled. Unless, of course, whoever is having us followed is very worried about something.”

I consider all the possibilities.

“I doubt it’s my parents. That’s not their style. Besides, they figure they’re close enough to me that they’ll spot it if something is wrong. Rodney Pierce? I don’t know him that well, even though he’s my father’s lawyer. He’s invested a lot in this, though.”

“So, he may be trying to keep tabs on things. My biggest concern is Whitmore. What is he capable of?”

“Do you think we’re in danger?” she asks, somewhat naively in my opinion. I don’t think we are now, but once we start digging deeper and once people find out what we’re doing, we certainly will be then.

I decide not to tell her any of this. She’s already on edge, and I need her calm.

One thing I have to do is start planning an exit strategy. Once the dominoes start to fall, it will be too late.

Money is not an issue. We won’t be able to use credit cards when we go off the grid, but I have a safe containing a couple ofhundred thousand at the house. Some people call that excessive, but you can never be too careful.

I’ll also have to find a different car. You can’t exactly hide in an Aston Martin. Even Sophia’s Audi would be too conspicuous.

Fortunately, I know a little used car lot in town that will readily sell me a nondescript sedan with very few questions—for the right price.

I don’t know where we’ll stay, but there are always plenty of motels in little out-of-the-way towns that dot the East Coast. Again, many of these places will rent you a room without many questions—for the right price.

I have to know what Whitmore is up to, and I have the perfect person for that.

I pick up my phone and punch in a number.

“Graham, it’s Ethan. I need a favor.”

16

SOPHIA

Ethan drops me off at home, telling me I’ll be alright for now.

Fortunately, Mom and Dad are back from their trip.

I try to trust him, but obviously, I’m shaken.

This is not anything I’m accustomed to.

When I dated bad boy Dax, it was all an act, but this—this is real.

I don’t understand any of it.

Lena is in a bad situation, but we’re there to “help” her, aren’t we? All we have to do is get her to agree to the adoption and thenmake sure that custody eventually goes to Harrison Whitmore. Everything is hunky-dory, at least as far as we’re concerned.

But it’s not, is it? It’s definitely not what was sold to us.

I know nothing about Ethan’s interactions with the lawyer, Rodney Pierce. Had he let something slip that Pierce then communicated to Whitmore?

Was that why we were being watched?

I have no way of knowing, but I don’t think Ethan’s that stupid. His survival skills are well-honed.

I’m almost afraid to go outside, unsure of who might be watching.

Liam shows up for dinner. I haven’t seen him in a while, and he looks tired.

“Hey, sis, Tom said he saw you and Ethan talking outside the house yesterday.” Tom was another old high school friend of his and Ethan’s, still living in the neighborhood.

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