Chapter 3

David watched as she walked away. There was something hypnotic in the way she walked, but he couldn't think about that now. Maybe another time. He had to focus on keeping her safe. She was the key to ending the war. Somehow, he just knew it.

Dan laughed at the look on David's face. "She's gonna be a tough nut to crack, David. You sure you're up to the challenge?"

"Go to hell, Danny. I'm trying to think."

"It looks like you're trying to picture what she looks like naked, there, David", Mike said.

"You're such a pervert, Mikey. Geez. How does Tina deal with it?"

Mike looked aghast. "I take that as an insult, David. I am NOT a pervert. I'm a provert. HUGE difference!" All the guys burst into laughter.

Once the laughter died, David looked to his brothers. "Looks like we're going to have to double security measures around Ms. Cartwright until she sees the light." He looked at John. "John, what does Intel say about the assassination attempts?"

"Not looking good, David. She's high on a LOT of hit lists. No one can tell who's gonna strike first or when. Best we can do is keep an eye on her house and her clinic and hope that nothing happens that we can't handle. Do you have a place to take her if things go south? You're the one that PERSONALLY guaranteed her safety."

David nodded. "Yes, I have a place that I decided to buy in Colorado Springs. A nice, two story houses on the outskirts of town. That will serve as the 'safe house'."

"What about her brother and her son?" Mike asked.

Dan broke into a huge grin. "You get to play Marine Corps. Officer, Mikey, and go GET her brother out of the Corps. Lucky son of a bitch."

"Why me?" Mike asked.

"Other than me, you're the only one whose hair is short enough and I have to play personal bodyguard", David said.

"Great", Mike said. "A fucking uniform. Just what I've been trying to stay out of. Whose idea was this anyway?"

"HQ's", the other three said in unison.

Mike laughed bitterly. "Great... just great"