Page 81 of Blackstone's Heart
He tapped her leg and when he felt her tighten her hold on him, he gunned the engine and took off. However, the sedan sped up as well. Behind his helmet Ethan's eyes narrowed. So this fucker wanted to play? Alright then, they'd play. Ethan pushed his bike as they barreled down I-35, weaving in and out of the sparse traffic. The sedan still on them. Making a calculated risk, Ethan slowed and quickly whipped off the nearest exit, cutting off a diesel truck in the process.
He didn't stop till he and Krista were once more safe on his property. He knew the asshole wouldn't find them there. His address wasn't listed publicly and the property was rigged with all sorts of nasty surprises for someone who tried to sneak onto his land. Ethan pulled the bike into the garage next to Krista's. They hopped off and hurried inside, Ethan already on his phone talking to one of his guys.
Krista sank onto the sofa as Ethan paced. "No Gage I didn't get the fucker's license plate. I was too busy trying to keep me and Krista alive while we outran him!"
"I got a partial look Ethan." Krista spoke up.
"You what? Hang on Gage," Ethan said handing her the phone.
"Gage?"
"Krista, you okay?"
"I am now. Look I got a partial plate number. It was the last four numbers."
She heard Gage rustling for something."Okay, lay it on me."
"It was a Texas plate last four 4607. It was a black sedan, looked a bit like a Caddy." She reported.
"Damn, you are good at details. Alright, I'll run it and see if I get anything. If this guy is smart, the plates are probably stolen. Or fakes. I should have something by the morning."Gage replied.
"Alright, thanks Gage." Krista stated and ended the call.
She looked up to find Ethan was once more standing at the window staring out over his darkening property. She rose and moved to him. Her arms wrapping around his waist, her head resting between his shoulder blades.
"He's getting closer." Ethan said, his hands covering hers where they rested against his stomach.
"I know." Krista sighed, hugging him closer.
Ethan turned in her arms and cupped her chin. "I won't let him hurt you baby. Tomorrow you're going to the range with Lance and Grant. I should be there but I need to fill Cain and Jimmy in on what happened tonight then meet with Wilson. I want you to pay close attention to what they tell you and show you. Okay?"
Krista gripped his wrist. "I will, I promise. I'll be safe with your guys. After the range, if you're not back I'll stay with your men till you get there." She then took a slow breath and exhaled just as slowly. "Ethan, I feel in my gut that in two weeks this will all come to an end. One way or another."
He laid his forehead against hers. "I do too."
"I want you to promise me something. You do what you have to, to end this."
Ethan's breath hitched. The day he left for boot camp Krista had told him those same words. She had also used them in her book Dress Blues. Her heroine had said those same words to the hero right before the final confrontation with the killer. His mind instantly drifted back to that day in 2004 at the airport.
Ethan stood at the entrance to his gate hugging his parents. “I’ll see you guys in three months.”
“You be safe baby.” Ruby smiled tearfully.
“I will mom.” Ethan nodded.
Ethan then glanced behind his parents and found Krista waiting her turn for good bye. With one last hug to his parents, Ethan hitched up his duffle bag higher on his shoulder and moved to Krista. Though he hated leaving her, he and she both knew it had been the smart move to break up.
“Well, guess it’s time huh?” She said.
“Yeah. I never thought this would be so hard.” He sighed.
“What?”
“Saying bye to you Kris.”
Krista then threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. “Ethan, promise me one thing. You promise me that you will do what you have to do to end this. Okay? You do whatever you need to get through boot camp and then should you go fight, you do whatever you need to come home to us in one piece. Promise me.”
Ethan gripped her hands, “I promise Krista. I will do whatever I need to so I can come home in one piece.”
