“A little. But more than that, it makes me mad. I am glad that my parents are getting out of El Paso for a while, since Michael’s head of security had their old phone number. I hate not being able to tell them how long they might want to stay away, but for now, they claim they’re glad for the excuse to visit relatives they haven’t seen in years.
“Michael and his lieutenants did their best to ruin not only my life, but Mario’s as well. For what? Just because they could. Because they think women are inferior to men. Because I was property, and drugs and money are more important than being a decent person. Why wouldn’t someone like that think I had no right to leave? And . . . they probably think I had something to do with their boss’s death. That alone could mean they want to make me pay or hurt someone I love.”
“Why aren’t you freaking out, then?” Molly asked.
“Because of him,” Cassidy said, gesturing to the mats in front of them, where Mario was smiling and having the time of his life. “Because he deserves to live a life without fear. And if I’m scared and constantly watching over my shoulder, that will transmit to him. He’s very sensitive, and he’ll know. But you want to know another reason?”
Three pairs of eyes were focused on her, and all the women nodded.
“Because of Leo. Just being around him makes me feel . . . safe. I know I’m not supposed to admit that, but it’s true.”
“There’s nothing wrong with admitting that,” Molly said. “When I was kidnapped, I knew Mark would come for me. I hoped he’d find me in time, but I knew without a doubt he’d never stop until he found me, either way.”
“I’ve been asked many times if I’m scared whenever I’m out and about, since I can’t recognize anyone, and my answer is, sometimes, yes. But if I’m with Eagle? Never. Just having him with me makes me feel almost invincible,” Taylor agreed.
“How can we feel anything but protected and safe with our men at our sides?” Skylar added. “And Gramps is like eight foot three, so he towers over everyone. No one would dare do anything with that guy by your side.”
Everyone chuckled. “He’s not quite that tall,” Cassidy protested with a smile. Then she sobered. “Can I ask you guys a question?”
“Anything.”
“Of course.”
“Shoot.”
She really liked these women. “Sometimes I get the feeling that Leo is a little concerned because I don’t care what Silverstone does. Should I? Am I a horrible human being that I don’t mind they’re basically assassins?”
Skylar grimaced and held up a hand. “I’ve got this one,” she told Molly and Taylor. They both nodded. “I’m afraid him worrying about your reaction is probably my fault. When Carson told me what it was he did with Silverstone, I didn’t take it very well. I pushed him away and wasn’t sure I could deal with it. I grew up very protected and sheltered and had a hard time understanding why he thought it was okay to go around killing people.
“Because I was so freaked out, I also kind of dismissed the part where he said he was working with the FBI. I got the impression Silverstone was sort of a vigilante group running around playing judge and jury. I should’ve known better, though. I mean, I love the man. But I think that was what made it even harder to understand. Gramps actually called me and helped me understand a little better. But the guys went on another mission, so I didn’t get to talk to Carson before he left. And then I got kidnapped.”
“Tell her about Carson’s scale-of-one-to-ten thing,” Taylor urged.
Cassidy was surprised. Out of all the women, she wouldn’t have guessed Skylar to be the one who hadn’t accepted Silverstone. She taught in the inner city. She was one of the least discriminatory people she knew. To think she’d have an issue with Silverstone taking out horrible, awful people like Michael Coke was a revelation.
“Right, so when I asked Carson why he hadn’t killed the pedophile who’d kidnapped me and Sandra, he told me he had a scale of badness,” Skylar said.
“A scale?” Cassidy questioned.
“Yeah. I was thinking Jay Ricketts, the guy who kidnapped me, was at least an eight or nine. I mean, what’s worse than a pedophile? But Carson said he was actually a three or four. And that he and Silverstone only went after and eliminated the nines and tens. Though that was terrifying, it actually made me feel a little better and helped me understand the importance of what they do.”
“But when Eagle killed the guy who’d run our car off the road, he told me that he didn’t agree with Bull’s ‘scale’ idea. That anyone who dared hurt me would pay the ultimate price,” Taylor said.
“Of course, Brett Williams turned out to be like an eleven on the scale,” Skylar said dryly.
“Right, but at the time, we didn’t know he was a prolific serial killer who wanted to torture and kill me,” Taylor said.
“True,” Skylar agreed.
“I think because of how Mark and I met, I didn’t have the reservations that Skylar did,” Molly added. “I mean, I was in a hole in the middle of Africa with no hope of being rescued when he literally fell from the sky on top of me.”
Cassidy was fascinated. She’d known the basics of the other women’s stories, but hearing them talk about their experiences—and sound almost . . . nonchalant about them—was enlightening.
She wanted to be like them. To be able to talk about what happened to her in Jamaica without feeling a knot in the pit of her stomach and wanting to throw up.
“I was well aware that Mark and his friends weren’t just taking a pleasure stroll through the jungle. They had no problem killing the people who’d kidnapped all those schoolgirls. They’d come for that specific purpose, to kill the guy in charge. They were just nice enough to take me with them when they left.”
Everyone smiled at that.
“I guess what you’re saying is . . . it’s okay that I’m not morally shocked by what they do,” Cassidy said.
“Our men are good,” Skylar insisted. “I might’ve had a hard time with everything at first, but I’ve seen the light. I wouldn’t be sitting here with three of the best friends I’ve ever had if it wasn’t for them.”
Cassidy pressed her lips together and tried not to cry. To be included in Skylar’s statement meant everything, especially since she hadn’t had a true friend in so long.
“Now that that’s out of the way . . . ,” Molly said with a small smile. “Tell us how things are going with Gramps. I mean, it’s obvious the man cares about you, but are you two . . . more than friends?”
Cassidy couldn’t help but smile back. “Yeah,” she said a little shyly.
“Woo!” Skylar exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air.
“Jeez, Sky, chill out, you’re gonna wake Kevin!” Taylor chastised.
“Sorry! But that’s so awesome,” Skylar said, a little more subdued. “Tell us more!”
“You know Leo and I were friends in high school,” Cassidy said.
“I bet he was handsome even back then, wasn’t he?” Taylor asked.
“Oh yeah,” Cassidy said on a sigh.