The two women talked about where the men might be for a while, but because neither kept up with international news, they had no idea where the hot spots were at the moment. And, ultimately, it didn’t matter where they were, just that they came home safe and sound.
By the end of the night, after dealing with a customer who got so drunk he puked all over himself, the table, and the chair he was sitting in, being stiffed a tip by another table, and having to deal with what seemed like more than the normal amount of screaming and misbehaving children, Kenna was more than ready to head home.
Paulo walked her and Carly to the parking garage they always used, and after giving them both a hug, Kenna headed for her car. She unlocked her Malibu and got in, locking the doors behind her and putting her purse on the passenger seat. She put the key in the ignition and started to turn the car on—when something on her windshield caught her attention.
A piece of paper was stuck under her wiper blade.
Looking around carefully, Kenna didn’t see anyone lurking, so she got out and grabbed the note. She sat back in her car and locked the doors again, being extra cautious. She unfolded the note—and stared in confusion, then anger, then a little bit of fear at the words written there.
You should’ve minded your own business.
That’s all it said. It wasn’t signed, and there was no clue as to who had left it on her car. But Kenna had a feeling she knew. The man from Saturday night…the one she’d called the cops on. Men like him wouldn’t take kindly to anyone putting a nose in their business, but especially not a woman.
Had he followed her to the parking garage from work the other night? She’d hoped the police would keep him at the station until he sobered up, at least, but maybe that didn’t happen since his wife didn’t press charges. Maybe he came back to Duke’s and watched her leave…
She’d guessed he and his family were tourists, but plenty of locals frequented Duke’s. If they lived here, he had plenty of time to come up with some way to get back at her.
Shit. Time to go. She was freaking herself out and needed to get the hell out of the dark parking garage. She didn’t want to be like one of those “too stupid to live” heroines in a cheesy horror movie who did all the wrong things and put herself smack dab in the middle of the bad guy’s path.
Kenna knew she should probably take the note to the police, but she just wanted to get home where she felt safe.
No, what she really wanted was to talk to Marshall, but that wasn’t possible. And she’d touched the note, so now her fingerprints would be all over it. She had no idea if the parking garage she used had cameras, but while she thought the note sounded threatening, technically it wasn’t…at least that’s what she assumed whoever left it—and the police—might say.
Hating that she felt so vulnerable and off-kilter, and knowing it was largely exacerbated because Marshall was gone, Kenna took a deep breath. She’d never relied on a man for anything before, but despite that, in the short time she’d known Marshall, he’d become her rock.
As she’d thought last night, this deployment was probably good for her, proving that she needed to continue to be the strong and independent woman she’d always been. But Kenna still missed Marshall.
She drove home with one eye on the road and another on the cars in her rearview. Of course, since she wasn’t a super-spy, she had no idea what to look for or how to know if someone was following her. Unless they were sitting on her bumper, she wouldn’t know if one of the sets of headlights belonged to the man who’d left the note on her car.
When she arrived home without incident, and once she was in her apartment safe and sound, Kenna let out a wobbly, relieved breath. She was being ridiculous. She’d taken self-defense courses; if that asshole decided to confront her in person—instead of being a coward and leaving her notes like they were in grade school—she’d kick his ass, then run like hell.
Deciding to sleep in her beanbag tonight didn’t mean she was a scaredy-cat. Nope. It was just comfortable. And if she concentrated really hard, she could still smell Marshall from when he snuggled with her while she napped.
Kenna slept like shit that night. She had nightmares of a man with no face breaking into her apartment and shooting her. Then Marshall showed up while she was trying to staunch the flow of blood, and he apologized for not being able to help her, as both his arms had been blown off on his mission.
Needless to say, Kenna was more than happy to get up the next morning.
“Today’s a new day,” she said out loud, scolding herself. “Get your shit together, Kenna. One step in front of the other and one day at a time. Marshall will be back soon, and if that guy from the other night does decide to get stupid, you’ll deal with it.”
Feeling better after the small pep talk, Kenna headed into her room. She needed to get out and go for a long run. Some people would say that was stupid after getting the note last night, but she hadn’t worked out for a while and needed the release of endorphins running provided.
Right before she headed out the door, Kenna turned back around and grabbed the pepper spray her parents had badgered her to buy for her safety. She might be confident and independent, but she wasn’t stupid.
“Be safe, wherever you are,” she whispered, hoping somehow, someway, Marshall would know she was thinking and worrying about him. Then she took a deep breath…and got on with her life.
Chapter Fifteen
“Are you sure we’re allowed to be in here?” Carly asked Kenna as they entered the lobby of the Coral Springs condo complex.
She chuckled. “I’m sure.” But Kenna couldn’t blame Carly for being uneasy. She’d felt the same way when she’d come back the first time by herself. Robert had been working, and he’d recognized and welcomed her, making her feel much better about being there.
She’d stayed at Marshall’s condo several times in the last month. It made her feel closer to him. She hadn’t expected him to be gone so long. For some reason, she thought the SEAL team would dash into whatever country they were deployed to, take out their target or rescue whoever they were there to rescue or find the information they were going to find, whatever their mission was, and be back within a week.
When she’d finally given in and sent Elodie a text to ask if it was normal for them to be gone so long, she hadn’t been comforted when the other woman replied they’d never been gone this long before. At least, not since she and Mustang had gotten together.
So Kenna decided the girls’ night Marshall had suggested was long overdue. She should’ve done this a couple weeks ago, but was reluctant since the condo didn’t belong to her. But she’d finally gotten over that, and had asked Elodie and Lexie if they wanted to spend a night at Marshall’s place with her. And when she’d asked Lexie if she thought Ashlyn might want to come, Lexie had said she’d be thrilled.
It seemed a little junior high-ish to arrange a sleepover, but Kenna was almost giddy with excitement about it nonetheless. She’d gone a little overboard in buying drinks and snacks, but didn’t feel a bit embarrassed. She wanted everyone to be comfortable and happy.
Kenna had just met Carly outside and was escorting her in.