Page 73 of Keeping Kara

Without taking his gaze from Kara, he nodded.

“We’ve all come a long way,” Buck agreed with a sage nod. “I mean, if someone had told me a year ago that Casper would be married right now with twins on the way, and Pyro would be a father to an adorable little girl…also married…I would’ve said they were delusional. And yet, here we are.”

“Right?” Obi-Wan said with a small laugh. “I always thought I was content. That my life was perfect. And then Zita came along.”

“Exactly,” Buck agreed. “Those few weeks in the rainforest sucked for me and Mandy, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything, because it allowed us to get to know each other way faster than we could’ve otherwise.”

“Life is so weird, isn’t it?” Chaos asked. “Something you think is the worst thing that could ever happen to you, turns out to be the catalyst for something amazing. For making you happier than you could ever imagine being.”

“It’s scary too though,” Obi-Wan said softly. “How much power our women have over us. Without Zita…” His voice trailed off.

Chaos knew exactly how he felt. It seemed as if he’d known Kara for years instead of the short time it had actually been. She fit into his life seamlessly. He loved everything about her. He didn’t even need to “get used to” living with her. That was flawless too.

He wasn’t an idiot, he knew they’d probably have arguments in the future, that was part of being a couple, but he was also very sure they’d talk things out and be stronger for it. Deployments would be tough. They’d both miss each other terribly, but he’d never worry about Kara cheating on him, and she never had to worry about that either.

He didn’t want anyone but Kara. The mere thought made his skin crawl. But if he ever got to the point where he even contemplated sleeping with another woman, it would be time to end the relationship. He’d never disrespect Kara in that way, and he trusted her to do the same.

“Any news about Colins?” Buck asked.

Chaos sighed. “Yeah. DNA was inconclusive. As far as everyone is concerned, though, it was him.”

“You don’t sound sure,” Obi-Wan said.

“I’m not. I know what the facts say. No activity on his bank accounts, no sightings of him, nothing in his apartment has been touched, indicating he hasn’t been back there, and it was his car that was burnt to a crisp not too far from the cabin Kara escaped. But just because the man disappeared doesn’t mean he’s not out there, biding his time. Waiting.”

“You have one of your feelings?” Buck asked.

The fact that his friends never discounted his sixth sense proved how loyal they were. Mostly because they’d seen time and time again that when he felt uneasy about something, there was usually a reason.

“Yeah,” he said grimly.

“What do you need from us?” Obi-Wan asked.

That was the problem, Chaos didn’t know. He and Kara were already being cautious. Tex had sent the entire team a picture of Nolan, and everyone had been on the lookout for the man since Kara’s arrival in Norfolk. But none of them had seen anyone who looked even remotely like him. Even so, Kara didn’t leave the house without someone with her, and they kept tabs on their surroundings at all times. He hated the idea of her living like this for months or years. But what else could they do?

Tex hadn’t been able to come up with any additional intel on the man. So either Nolan Colins was well and truly dead, and no longer a threat, or he’d gone completely undercover and left no trace whatsoever of his whereabouts.

Odds were in favor of the former and not the latter, and yet the nagging doubts and uneasy feeling Chaos had wouldn’t subside.

“At this point?” Chaos finally answered. “To just continue doing what you’re doing. Help me keep an eye out and be with Kara when I can’t.”

“At some point, we’re going to get deployed. What then?”

Buck’s question was a fair one. And honestly, being sent on a mission was weighing heavily on Chaos’s mind. He loved serving his country. Loved the adrenaline rush that came from the dangerous flying he and his team did. But he had something he loved more now. Kara.

“I don’t know,” he admitted out loud.

“I bet the colonel could pull some strings and get her set up in temporary housing on base while we’re gone. It’s not foolproof, but probably safer for her to be there than at your house.”

Chaos nodded. Obi-Wan’s suggestion was good. He’d definitely talk to Colonel Burgess. “Yeah. I’m not sure Kara would love that, as she’s gotten used to the quiet of my place to work and write.”

“But if she felt safer, I bet she’d be able to deal, at least in the short term.”

“I suppose.”

“By the way, I read her first book and it was as good as you said it was. Your woman’s got some talent for storytelling.”

Chaos beamed. He felt a little bad for spilling the beans about Kara’s pen name to his friends, when she had no idea he even knew it himself, but he was more than relieved Buck had enjoyed the novel as much as he had.