Free Entice (The Fighter Romance Series - Book #2) by Alycia Taylor

usually
didn’t say anything at all. She always ended up winning. “Mom.” My tone was less hostile now, apologetic, I hoped. “I’m sorry. You’re right.
I’m just having a bad day. I didn’t mean it.”
    “Words hurt more than a slap in the face,” she said.
    “I know, I’m truly sorry. Please come out here and talk to me.” Before she could answer me, my phone
rang. “Shoot! Mom, I’m going to get that because I’m waiting for a call…about
work,” I lied. “I’ll be right back.” I went in the living room and picked up my
phone. It was Paul. “Hey! Are you okay? Is Marie okay?”
    “Can you meet me by the lake where we swam that
day?”
    “Yeah…sure. Is everything okay? What happened?”
    “I’ll be at the lake in fifteen minutes. Meet me
there, okay? I’ll explain it all to you then. And Jessie…”
    “Yeah?”
    “Please make very sure that you’re not followed,
okay? Mitch has been driving a brown four-door car…but he could be in anything.
If it looks like anyone is following you, don’t come.”
    “Okay, but…” Before I could say anything else, the
line went dead. I was beginning to feel like I was trapped in a spy novel.
    I heard the bathroom door crack open just then. I
went over and looked my mother in the face and tried to remember all of the
good things about my life…there were a lot. “I’m truly sorry, Mom. I love you.
Thank you, for everything you have done for me. Thanks for being my mom.”
    She started crying again and hugged me. “I love you
too.”
    “Good,” I told her with a smile. “I have to go meet
a client, but I’ll be back in a bit and we’ll figure out dinner, okay?”
    “Okay,” she said with a smile.
    ********
    I walked outside and surveyed the parking area and
the street along my apartment complex. I didn’t see any brown cars. Remembering
what Paul said, I looked again as I walked to my car at each and every other
one, trying to make sure they were all empty. There was one with a lady and a
baby inside and one with a teenage boy on his phone. Neither of them looked
like Mitch, or a cop. I still felt paranoid as I got into my car and drove
toward the lake. I even slowed as I passed the gym to see if anyone behind me
might think I was turning in there. The other cars seemed annoyed with me, but
otherwise not interested. I found a spot to park near the entrance to the lake
and hiked along the little path the rest of the way there. Paul wasn’t there
yet.
    I stood facing the lake with all sorts of scenarios
playing out in my head. I was afraid for him and his sister
and his nephew…and maybe even me just a little bit. When I heard Paul
walking up behind me I startled and turned around so quickly that I almost fell
into the lake. “Hi,” I said. His face looked drawn with worry.
    “Hi. Thanks for coming.”
    “Of course. I’ve been so worried.”
    He reached out and softly brushed a piece of hair
off my face and tucked it behind my ear. It was a simple gesture, but so
intimate that it made me shiver a little. “I’m sorry we’ve worried you.”
    “Don’t be sorry. I wouldn’t be worried if I didn’t… If you weren’t my friend.” I was about to say, “Care about
you,” but that had so many connotations that I didn’t think we were ready for
yet.
    “Mitch found out where Marie was staying.”
    “Oh my God! How? Is she okay?”
    “We’re not sure. I think he found out where Victor
was going to school and maybe followed them home from there. Sensei was there,
thank goodness and he threatened to call Mitch’s supervisor if he didn’t leave.
He left, but he’ll be back.”
    “What is she going to do?”
    “I have to take them away again. They’re going to
have to start over again.” His fists were balled up next to his sides and I
knew how angry that made him without hearing him speak the words. It suddenly dawned on me that he had said, “I have to take them
away.”
    “You’re going too?” He looked sad, but