Page 53 of Ex-SEAL Bad Boy

The pain in my thigh is still there, but by constantly popping Tylenol, it’s at least bearable.

I haven’t done any planning, so I'm not sure where we'll spend the night.

I had picked the empty barn last night because I thought that would be the safer option, but it doesn't seem to matter. Itseems like wherever we are, we're just one step away from being caught.

I think we'll go back to staying in crappy motels. At least there's a bed to sleep in.

With any luck, we'll be back in our own beds soon.

I know Sophia's family must be going nuts. If they follow the news, at least they have some evidence she's still alive.

As for my family, if, as Graham claims, the net is closing around them, they probably wish I was dead.

I'm pretty sure that as tight as Liam and I are, this will change our relationship forever.

More than the fact that she and I became romantically involved, I knowingly put her in danger.

For that, I truly am sorry.

I never expected things to spiral out of control so drastically—or so quickly.

I pull over to the side of the road. I need to figure out where we are.

There is no highway on-ramp at the exit we got off on, and, in fact, according to Google Maps, this road doesn't exist.

We haven't seen a single car since we exited, and it's a spooky feeling.

If someone wanted to ambush us, this would be the place to do it.

I don't know if I would be comforted or afraid if I spotted a car.

Comforted because that would indicate that we haven't totally escaped civilization or scared because why would anyone else be out here?

Getting back on the road, I continue to head in the direction we were going. This road has to go somewhere.

I begin to get less and less sure as the road narrows and seems not to have been maintained in several years.

Tall weeds and brush line both sides of the path, actually encroaching on the pavement in some areas, and it’s becoming clear that this might literally be a “road to nowhere.”

Suddenly a huge sign looms up at the side of the road: RESTRICTED AREA, NO TRESPASSING BEYOND THIS POINT. It is unlawful to enter this area without permission of the Installation Commander. Use of deadly force is authorized.

Holy shit!

I slam on the brakes.

A tall hurricane fence topped with razor wire is directly ahead, and a small guard post sits behind the electronically controlled gate.

It doesn't take a military background to know this is somereallysensitive stuff.

Now I know why we haven't seen any other traffic.

As I turn the car around, I see two large uniformed men emerge from the hut, automatic rifles at the ready.

I'm not interested in an encounter. I’ve seen enough guns.

I head back the way we came, taking a deep breath.

We'd have to find another way back onto the highway.

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