I took Alex out with me to the range so we could target practice and so we could talk. She was damn good with a gun and not so good at the talking so I started.

"The police has been here already, next comes the father's goons, keep an eye out."

"I will" she said then as we were heading back home she said "don't you want to know what happened?"

"No, hearing her story was bad enough I can't imagine what yours is like, plus if you don't want to tell me you don't have to, just knowing that you know about this place by first hand experience is scary enough. I don't blame you at all. I would have married to get out of there. Hell I would have sold my soul to the devil, places like that should not exist." I said shivering and she held me. We pulled up to the house and went in I could hear Kat and Karrie's voices but there was a third voice. It was definitely Spanish. I woundered what the heck had happened now. Alex was ahead of me she got to the kitchen where the women where drinking lemonade and said "mama" and I knew we were in for a long day.

I barely recognized kat. That red head had gone midnight black on the hair and subtle make up changes made her long gorgeous yet the dfark hair coloring made the bones in her face stand out more she looked skinnier then she already was.

"Why don't you girls come into my room so we can help kat pick up some clothes" they got the hint and left. Alex and her mom weren't saying much to each other just staring at each other.

"Mrs. Rodriguez its nice to meet you, you're welcome to stay with us as long as you need to. Alex I'm going to go help and I think we should do lunch at Lexi's" I said and left them to it. Kat had decided her name was going to be Savanah she had always wanted to be a Savanah and I gave her a skirt suit of mine that was too small for me now. I added some tastefull jewelry and voila her transformation was complete I hope it would hold. I know people here didn't know her but the police would soon have a picture of her and then things might get complicated.

"what do you want to be ?"

"A stock broker" she said and I smiled she had always been good with numbers

"can you pull it off because I have no input in that area"

she nodded that she could and I told her "you might need to perfect some kind of rich accent or voice I leave it up to you. I'll get you an Id made."

"I have to get to work hun"

"yes I think for today we should all go have lunch at Lexi's"

It was agreed we got into the car and left Alex with her mother . at Lexi's Kat was able to pass as Samantha from New York and we had a great lunch. I took Kat shopping for more clothes that fit her and on the way home I thought I had a tail but I didn't see them again so I ignored it. At the house kat locked herself in the guest room with one of the books she'd bought and her new clothes. I went downstairs to use the gym equipment and Alex found me there

"You look gorgeous when you train, the combination of beauty and strength just straight does it for me " I smiled and said

"your mom left?"

"no she is upstairs in one of the guest rooms she wouldn't leave"

"I take it she heard about your divorce and came to console you?" I made it a question and she laughed "no she came to stop me from going to hell, she doesn't approve of my lifestyle and she was disappointed to hear I led such a strong and handsome man down the devil's road." She said her voice sounding bitter

I gasped and stopped punching. I went to her and hugged her hard and it felt great to have her arms around me.

"look if this is too complicated for you, go with her and make it alright, I'll be ok alone"

she took face in her hands and kissed me hard.

"no being with you makes this easier then it should be. I told her that I was staying with you and that you were my partner. That she could stay and deal with it or leave me and never see me again. I told her I wouldn't be unhappy again. She's the one who sent me there you know I forgave her that but if she is mean to you or does anything to hurt you I won't forgive it. I've played the good girl lone enough. It stops now." She said and then kissed my neck gently

"you're salty you should shower and change or maybe just shower and lounge for a while I'll take care of dinner" she added and left me. I went to take a shower and I wrapped myself in a robe and fell asleep. I woke up because I heard someone give a high keening cry and I ran down the stairs in a robe it was Alex's mom. She and kat were crying their hearts out. I looked around to find the cause but didn't see anything Alex was nowhere around too. Kat stopped crying long enough to say "Alex went to check the perimeter she thought she heard something." I looked at the time it was 3 a.m. I went for my gun and then made the ladies a little night cap spiked with some sleeping pills. Alex's mom took hers and went to sleep soon after on the couch and kat didn't take hers.

"I'm fine I was crying because she was. She saw me here reading and asked my story what happened you know. I thought I could tell her I didn't know she was a hater. She started saying that my dad had done the right thing and I couldn' keep it in anymore. I said mean things you know I let her know exactly what went on in that place detail by detail and I had just gotten to the conjugal visits when she started screaming and crying. I know enough Spanish to know she said she was sorry and it was her fault. I think she feels guilty for having sent Alex there. Alex saw us and left out the door saying she was going to check the perimeter." Alex came in as if she'd heard her name.

"its clear for tonight, nothing there but nature." She said but her eyes that I loved so much had turned that storm grey and her face looked tight like she was holding it in.

"goodnight kat" I said and took the nightcap and Alex to my room

"what's up did you want to talk to me alone" she asked looking worried her voice shaky

I gave her the nightcap then I held her in my arms while she cried and went to sleep the last thing she said was "its still not going to change anything I know my mother"

I just held her on the bed and when her breathing had regulated and she was truly sleep I let myself cry. We can do this, I kept saying we can do this I kept telling myself.