Jaxon smiled rather absently. “My times are always better than his new recruits’ every time he gets a new group. I’ve been in training my entire life. I’d better be good, or Master-Chief would have thrown me out a long time ago. Too bad women can’t serve in the SEAL. It’s the only thing I’m suited for. I graduated early with so many college credits, and now I have no idea what I want to do.” She shoved a hand carelessly through her hair, tousling it even more. “I’m younger than most of the other students, but, to tell you the truth, I feel so much older than most of them, sometimes I want to scream.”
Don had a burning desire to hold her close, to comfort her. “You’ve always been smart, Jaxx. Don’t let anyone get to you.” He knew her distress was really because she couldn’t get over the trauma of what had happened to her family. How could she? He doubted if anyone could. “So, where are you running off to?”
“Sabrina is home, and we’re going to the movies tonight. I promised I wouldn’t be late this time.” Jaxon made a face. “I’m always late when I come to the training center. I never seem to get out of here on time.” The training course was the one place her mind was so occupied with other things that she couldn’t think, couldn’t remember anything else. She worked herself hard physically, keeping the demons at bay for just a little while.
Jaxon hadn’t felt safe in so long, she couldn’t remember what it was like to get a good night’s sleep. Tyler Drake was still out there somewhere, hiding. She knew he was close by; she felt him watching sometimes. Only Russell believed her when she told him. Russell knew her now. Jaxon didn’t give in to her imagination. She wasn’t prone to hysterics. She had some kind of very strong sixth sense that warned her when danger was close. She had trained beside Tyler for years. If she identified a sign as his, Russell believed her absolutely.
“What show?” Don asked. “I haven’t been to a good film in a long time.” He was blatantly fishing for an invitation to go along.
Jaxon didn’t seem to notice. She shrugged, suddenly distracted. “I’m not sure. Sabrina was going to choose it.” Her heart was beginning to pound. It was crazy. She was standing out in the open with a boy she had known all her life, yet she felt detached, far away, and peculiarly alone. Darkness was spreading within her, and with it a terrible dread.
Don did touch her then. She had gone so still and pale, he was afraid for her. “Jaxon? Are you sick? What is it?”
“Something’s wrong.” She whispered the words so softly, he nearly missed them.
Jaxon sprang past Don, brushing him aside. He raced beside her, reluctant to leave her in such a state. Jaxon was so cool and withdrawn all the time, Don couldn’t believe he was seeing her like this. She didn’t glance his way, instead running flat out toward her foster home. After her mother’s and brother’s deaths and her stepfather’s mysterious disappearance, Russell and Bernice Andrews had taken Jaxx in and given her a loving home. Russell and the other members of his SEALs team had continued her training, recognizing she needed the physical action to alleviate the memories of her traumatic past. Don’s father was part of that team and often talked to his son of the tragedy. No one was absolutely certain whether Tyler Drake had really killed Mathew Montgomery as he had bragged to Rebecca, but there was little doubt he had killed Rebecca and Mathew Jr.
Don had a bad feeling as he sprinted alongside Jaxon. It wasn’t all that hard to keep up; he was in good shape and far taller than she, yet he was sweating. Jaxon had a look on her face that made him certain she knew something he didn’t. Something terrible. He wished he had a cell phone. As he rounded a corner, he spotted an MP.
“Hey, follow us! Come on, something’s wrong!” He yelled it with conviction, not even afraid of making a complete fool of himself. He knew it this time; he knew it the same way Jaxon knew it as they raced up the street toward her foster home.