“I know, but he’s great. I really like this guy. That’s why I’m going to Montana with him. You know–to see if things can work.”
“What? No.” Casey set her hands on my shoulders to turn me to face her, and her eyes met mine. Hers were blue in contrast to my dark ones. “Listen, I have to tell you something about him. That’s why I texted you and came back early.”
A twist of misgiving started turning in my gut.
“What is it?” I whispered.
“I don’t know how to say this.” She closed her eyes then opened them. “I think he’s dangerous, Brooke. It’s even possible he killed someone.”
The twist tightened. “How did you–I mean, what makes you think that?”
I frowned, confused. How did she know about the guys in the garage? “Wait…what are you talking about?”
“He likely killed his commanding officer in the Marines.”
I forced my lips to move. “He k-killed his commanding officer?”
“I don’t know–maybe. Roy Banner, the guy whose driver’s license you texted to me, was arrested for murdering a superior in the Marines. The charges were dropped, but he was discharged. Kind of like they wanted to sweep something under the rug.”
Oh God. He’d told me he had something happen in the service, and he’d ended up in jail.
What had he said?
…on the third tour, I had this commanding officer…I had a run-in with him, and it landed my ass in a military jail cell…
Casey set her hand on my arm. “I guess the Lieutenant Colonel had a broken neck.”
Broken. Neck.
She squeezed my arm. “Maybe it’s all easily explained. I just didn’t want you going cross country with this guy until you knew everything about him. It’s not like I’m going to let you go if he’s a murderer.”
I swallowed hard. “I feel like I’m going to puke.” My brain was still reeling. Trying to mesh all the information together. All the red flags were waving in my face right now. The sense of urgency–to run out of the burning building that I’d made of my life was overwhelming.
I was all cold and clammy. Fear had crept into every cell of my body.
We turned our heads when we heard a vehicle pull into the driveway. I surged to my feet.
“Is that him?” Casey jumped to her feet, too.
I nodded, practically shivering now.
“I’ll be nice, but you can’t go to Montana with this guy. You can’t. You just met him two days ago. Two. You told me to remind you when you’re acting like your mom, so I am. You, Brooke Lee, are acting just like your mom, going off with a man you barely know. He might be dangerous.”
“Yeah. I know. Stay with me,” I pleaded and grabbed her hand. “Stay with me while I end things.”
“You’re ending things? Isn’t that a little drastic?”
“No. I’m glad you reminded me that I can’t trust my instincts with men. I almost did something really, really stupid.”
29
ROY
* * *
I’d hated to leave my mate even for a minute, but I remembered that being independent was important to her. Lazano was behind bars, so she was safe although I wanted to be by her side day and night regardless. I only drove off when she said her friend Casey was back in town–she’d pointed to the car in the driveway which was hers–so she wouldn’t be alone. And more importantly because she had my mark.
She was mine whether she was on my lap or across town.