Page 63 of Embattled Ever After

“I love you too, baby. I’ll be home as soon as I can and we’ll get together for a while.”

“Sounds good. Be safe.”

When she hung up, she felt so much better about everything that had gone on over the past couple of weeks. Some things she could make better, other things she couldn’t.

If she was honest with herself, she’d been thinking about the guys at Duncan’s company, too. All vets, all with serious medical issues. There had been wheelchairs and crutches when she went to Harmony House with Duncan, all men dealing with their changed life.

It was intriguing to her, thinking about helping them live better.

Digging her iPad from the depths of the couch cushions, she started researching.

***

A couple of hourslater, as she was dozing on the couch, Alex got a call from a Denver area code.

“Hello,” she answered cautiously.

“Dr. Hartfield?”

She didn’t recognize the raspy voice. “Yes?”

“I know you don’t remember me, but I was in the meeting at Harmony House, when you came with First Sergeant Wilde.”

“Ah, okay, yes. I remember Harmony House well. Did I talk with you?”

He paused for a moment, as if thinking.

“No ma’am, but I took one of your cards at the end of the meeting when you were handing them out. I thought I would let you know… I saw that guy you were looking for.”

Alex drew in a shocked breath. “You did? Are you sure it was him?”

“Oh, yes, ma’am. I remembered him from before because he stayed outside even when it was below zero and all of the rest of us were trying to stay warm. I thought he was crazy, but some guys… well, some guys just can’t stand to be inside, you know?”

She didn’t know, but she made a noise of agreement.

“Anyway, I saw him earlier today. I was at a bus stop a few blocks up from here and I saw him. Just for a minute though. He was walking really fast somewhere, almost running.”

Alex’s heart rate picked up speed. “What is your name? Do you mind me asking?”

“No, ma’am. My name is Chuck. Most of the guys know me around here.”

“Chuck, I want to thank you for calling me. I truly appreciate it.”

The man hung up, leaving her staring at the phone.

In spite of what was going on in her own life, she needed to head to Colorado.

Chapter Twenty

Shannon was, of course, admitted to the hospital. If she hadn’t been, John would have brought the fucking roof down. If there was any chance at all that she was in medical danger, she would be taken care of. He would see to it.

Lora arrived, looking frazzled. After giving Chad a lingering kiss and a big hug, she came over to Shannon’s bed. “What did you get into?”

Shannon shook her head, looking aggravated. “I was just driving back to the office when this guy started harassing me. I pulled off the road to get away from him and he followed, then he hit me!”

The women disintegrated into chatter, and it gave John a chance to zone out. This couldn’t be some random incident. There had to be more to it than that. The man who had attacked her had been too focused, too aggressive. What possible reason would he have to target her?

Or was she even the target? John debated that question for a little while. To his knowledge, he hadn’t done anything to offend anyone—well, at least not any more than normal. Yeah, he was mouthy and a little foul, but had he actually offended someone so badly that they wanted to attack his woman?

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