Free Secrets by Erosa Knowles

It’s in your name. If you want to move out there,
we can do that. That house has similar features to this one: pool,
game room, lots of bedrooms and an outdoor play area for the kids.
It only has ten acres, and it’s mostly flat ground. It’s up to you
to stay or go.”
    “I, I don’t know. This is a lot to digest. I
don’t remember the names of those people, it was a long time ago.
That he remembers and is still protecting me from the grave—“ She
shook her head as tears pooled in her eyes.
    Kenton knew exactly how she felt. Confused,
amazed, and grateful. Without his uncle’s heads up, they would’ve
been caught unprepared. “What do you need from me?” He looked at
Sven.
    “I need you packing heat in a way that
doesn’t scare the kids. You got anything small?”
    Thinking of the things he had in his locker,
he slowly shook his head. “Small? No, but I can get something. How
much time do we have?”
    Sven stood and placed the remote on the
desk. “Don’t know. Mr. B gave me our packets before he died in case
your picture went live. I’m not sure when the packets went out to
the FBI. It could’ve been this morning or last week. No telling. I
expect them to contact me within the next day or so. But the hit
could happen anytime if it’s a simple reactivation.”
    Kenton nodded, not liking the truth, but
accepting the hand dealt him.
    “I have something you can use until you can
outfit yourself later. How much leave time you got?”
    He held up his arm. “Until the doctor
releases me. I had surgery a couple of weeks ago and I’m scheduled
for PT in two weeks if everything looks good.”
    “How good is your left?”
    “Not as good as the right, but good enough
to have it ranked high.”
    Sven smiled. “I thought so.”
    “I don’t want guns or weapons around the
kids.” She hadn’t looked at him all night, and even now, he doubted
she was speaking directly to him.
    “Chas.” Sven sighed, drawing out her name.
“How can he work without a weapon?”
    “Aren’t Seals trained to fight without
weapons? What if the gun goes off by accident? Or one of the twins
see and try to touch a knife or something. Anything could happen.”
Her breath hitched.
    Kenton’s heart thudded heavily. It hurt
seeing the vulnerability in the chocolate depths of her eyes.
Hearing that someone wanted her dead justified her fear. “First
off,” he said. “I’m not a Seal. The boys asked questions about Bin
Laden and assumed that was my handle. No guns or long knives. But
you have to allow me to remain close enough around you and the
children to use my body as a shield.”
    She flinched and blinked repeatedly. “I
don’t want anyone to get hurt,” she whispered. “I don’t know if we
should run or stay. My children—they’re all that matters. None of
this is their fault, they can’t be punished for my, my past.” Her
head fell into her hands as wept silently.
    Shards of pain ricocheted through him
shattering his heart with her words. Without thought, he went to
her and wrapped her in his arm. She slid between his loose embrace
to the floor and rolled in a fetal position, arms tight around her
waist. Her face twisted in pain while she rocked. Horrified he
looked up as the door closed.
    Sven had left him to deal with her
breakdown. Sliding to the floor, he pulled her up so she lay in his
lap. Awkwardly, he moved his battered arm around her waist and
pulled her closer beneath his chin with his left. Agonizing pain
shot up his shoulder with each shudder she made. His throat worked
as he tried to bring his emotions under control.
    “Chastity, this isn’t your fault,” he said
in a gruff whisper. “You’re innocent in all this. Those men are the
guilty ones.” His large hand stroked her hair as he rocked her
gently, cradling her in his arm.
    She shook her head violently. “He said it
was my fault.” The waterlogged words were mere whispers.
    Kenton stilled. “Who said that?”
    “The man, the one who called