An arrogant Navy SEAL slammed me against the wall in a military airport lounge and called me a civilian. He had no idea he was putting his hands on his new commanding officer.

Time slowed down.

I looked at Sarah. She was pale, but her jaw was set. I looked at Lila. She was terrified, clinging to my arm.

"Stay here," I said quietly. "Both of you. Whatever happens, stay in the living room."

I walked to the door.

Another knock. Louder this time. Impatient.

I took a deep breath and opened it.

Jake Carter stood on the porch. His face was red with anger. His gym bag was slung over his shoulder. He was breathing hard, like he'd run here.

His eyes widened when he saw me.

"You," he said.

"Hello, Jake," I said, keeping my voice calm. "I'd invite you in, but I don't think my sister wants to see you right now."

His face twisted. "Your sister. Lila is your sister."

It wasn't a question. He'd put it together.

"Surprise," I said.

"Where is she?" he demanded, trying to push past me.

I didn't move. I stood my ground, and he bounced off me like he'd hit a brick wall. His eyes widened again. He was starting to realize that the "civilian" he'd assaulted in the airport wasn't just his commanding officer. She was someone who could actually fight back.

"She's inside," I said. "And she's not going anywhere with you. She knows everything, Jake. About Sarah. About the other women. About what you really are."

His face went from anger to something colder. Darker.

"You think you can ruin this?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can come back from the dead and take everything from me? I love her. She loves me. You're just jealous. Jealous that you missed out on her life because you were too busy playing soldier."

"I'm not here to argue with you," I said. "I'm here to tell you that it's over. You're going to leave. You're never going to contact Lila again. And you're going to turn yourself in to military police for what you did to me in that airport. And what you did to Sarah. And what you were planning to do to my sister."

He laughed. A harsh, bitter sound.

"Or what?" he said. "You'll arrest me? You have no proof. And even if you did, who do you think they'll believe? A decorated Navy SEAL? Or a woman who faked her own death and has been AWOL for three years?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"Get out of my way, Colonel. Or I'll make you regret the day you came back from the dead."

I didn't flinch.

"You can try," I said.

For a moment, he hesitated. He remembered the airport. He remembered who I was. What I was capable of.

Then he stepped back.

"This isn't over," he said, pointing a finger at me. "You want a war, Vance? You got one. And I don't lose."

He turned and walked to his truck. He got in, slammed the door, and peeled out of the driveway.

I closed the door and locked it. Then I leaned against it, my heart pounding.

Lila and Sarah ran to me.

"Is he gone?" Lila whispered.

"He's gone," I said. "But he's angry. And he's dangerous. We need to move. Now."

"Where?" Sarah asked.

"Somewhere he won't find us," I said. "I have a safe house. It's not far. It's secure. We'll go there."

---

The safe house was a small cabin in the woods. Off the grid. No internet. No cell service. The kind of place you go when you don't want to be found.

I'd set it up years ago, just in case. I'd never thought I'd need it for my own sister.

We settled in. Lila was quiet. Scared. Sarah stayed close to her, talking softly, sharing her own experience, letting Lila know she wasn't alone.

I paced the cabin, my mind racing.

Carter was loose. He knew who I was. He knew Lila was with me. And he'd made it clear he wasn't going to back down.

I needed to end this. Fast.

I pulled out my satellite phone and called Marcus.

"He knows," I said without preamble. "He showed up at the house. He knows Lila is my sister. He's angry, Marcus. He's dangerous."

"I'm sending help," Marcus said immediately. "I'll have a team there in two hours."

"Two hours might be too late," I said. "Marcus, I need you to do something else. I need you to leak the airport incident. To the press. To the Navy Times. To anyone who'll listen. Carter's been protected by his command for too long. It's time the world knew what kind of man he really is."

"Elena, that could ruin your career too," Marcus warned. "Your cover. The fact that you faked your death..."

"I don't care about my career," I said. "I care about my sister. And I care about making sure Jake Carter never hurts another woman. Do it, Marcus. Please."

There was a long pause.

"Okay," he said. "I'll do it. But Elena? Be ready. When this breaks, it's going to get ugly. Carter won't go down without a fight."

"I'm counting on it," I said.

I hung up and looked out the window at the dark woods.