Page 63 of Silk and Steel

I grab my purse and stand up stiffly. I hate him so much I can’t stand it. But right now, he’s holding all the cards.

Julian walks beside me as we make our way out of the terminal. We pass by several homeland security personnel. Armed ones. I know that one word from me, and Julian is finished.

But that could mean my mother is finished, too.

We make it outside. Julian grabs my arm and steers me toward the furthest parking lot. A big, black truck with dealer plates sits by itself in the shade of a lone tree near the edge of the lot. Someone is behind the wheel, but I can’t see who it is.

Julian goes to the rear door and pulls it open.

“Get in, my dear. Your chariot awaits.”

I stiffly push past him and settle into the seat. I recognize the driver now that I can get a good look at his face. Glen Banner, the poisoner. So Blumbert isn’t here. Maybe he really is outside my Mom’s motel room…

Julian gets into the back seat with me. As he climbs in, I see the handle of a gun peeking out from the waistband of his oversized jeans. It’s too late for me to try and run now.

“Okay, Julian,” I say, trying not to sound as scared as I am. “You have me. You got what you wanted. Please, call your man off my Mom.”

He gives me a sneer.

“Oh, don’t worry. The Surgeon is nowhere near your mother right now.”

I almost faint with relief.

“Because he’s going to take care of your Navy SEAL boyfriend instead. You shouldn’t have kissed him, Emory. That was a death sentence.”

16

COLE

“Emory, what the Hell are you thinking?”

I fight the impulse to crumple up the note I found on my pillow. Emory’s script is precise and artistic. A lot like her dancing.

Cole,

Please don’t hate me. I just can’t live with myself if someone else gets hurt because of me.

I really want to see you again. I hope I get the chance. You’re a good man, even if you don’t always believe it. Believe in yourself, Cole. I do.

P.S. Don’t worry, I have a plan. I’m going to make sure Julian gets caught. His fugitive status makes him more vulnerable than he thinks.

Love,

Emory

I asked my PO what made a good SEAL before I applied to be one. He told me something that’s stuck with me to this day.

He said most people run from trouble. SEALs run toward it. Jake, of course, said that probably means that SEALs aren’t thesharpest rocks in the box. Which, of course, made the two of us perfect for the role.

In another lifetime, Emory would have made an incredible SEAL. Here she is, running right into danger so that others don’t have to suffer. How can I hate her? It makes me admire her more than ever.

But damn it, I’m pissed at Emory. I’m pissed because she tricked me, and I’m pissed that she’s risking her life because I’m a selfish bastard who doesn’t want to lose her.

Jake sacrificed himself so I could live. Emory is sacrificing herself so that her family can live.

I lost my best friend. I don’t want to lose Emory, too.

There are a half dozen airports in the area. I don’t think she’d go to LAX, because that’s the first place most people would think to look for her. But I don’t have time to check all the others.

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