Page 36 of The Flame of Carson
“Ethan, if you don’t want to tell me...”
“It’s not that Kris.It’s just, it’s not my story to tell and I don’t want to go behind Grant’s back.”
“Ah, you mean what happened with his friend Sean.”
“So, he told you?”
Krista nodded against his chest.“About a month after Ingram was hauled off to prison, Grant ran into me at a coffee shop.I was just missing Jerry and thinking about what all had happened.He told me about Sean and how devastated he was when Sean was killed in Afghanistan.I kind of got the feeling he may have told Stacey last night.At least some of it anyway.”
“We met Grant about six months or so after that happened.It was about a year or so after we all got into MARSOC and got to know each other better that he told us the whole story.It was rough for him.I found out later that had Sean not been killed he would have been recruited alongside Grant.I didn’t tell him that until right before we all got out.”Ethan said.
“Wow.How did he take that?”she questioned.
“He smiled and said that sounded about right.I get the feeling that Sean and Grant loved everything about the Marines and those two were tattooed to each other’s asses in a fight.”He chuckled.
Krista giggled and wrapped her arms around Ethan.“Well, I’m glad he was able to help Stacey.And me for that matter.”
“Me too baby.Me too.”Ethan sighed, holding her tight, his hand moving to her stomach and the next generation of Blackstone’s she carried.
Chapter 9
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And so, it began allover again.Just like in New York, the emails and the flowers started coming.Only, the tone of the emails had changed.The man told Stacey that she could no longer hide from him.That not even Gage, Blackout, or even the Feds could keep her from him.He had stopped hiding as he had before and was revealing what he really wanted.That seemed to be to see Stacey suffer for some crime that only he knew about.Stacey passed the emails on to Blackout, Jimmy, and Cain.After the first few days she started receiving the emails again.She decided not to read them and just forward them onto the guys.
“How are you staying so calm about this?”Alora questioned.
Stacey shrugged, “I guess because I know this man is nothing but a raving coward.If he really wants me that bad, to make me suffer like he claims, then he can just come and get me himself.”
Krista couldn’t help but chuckle a little sadly at that.Hadn’t she herself said something similar to Jerry the previous year when Ingram had been stalking her?At the moment, she, Alora, and Stacey were having lunch, “Be careful what you wish for.I remember saying something similar to Jerry and yes, I got my wish but...”
Stacey reached over and took Krista’s hand and squeezed.“Don’t Kris.What happened to Jerry was not your fault.Ingram is to blame for that and Ingram alone.You hear me?”
“She’s right.I didn’t know Jerry, but Lance told me what happened.Ingram knew you well enough to know how to make you vulnerable and he used it.”Alora added, taking Krista’s other hand.
Krista nodded, squeezing their hands in thanks and support.“I know you both are right.Just...don’t take risks Stacey.We still don’t know who this is and that makes him a serious threat.”
