He didn’t know how to start explaining. Didn’t know how to get his point across. What if he said the wrong thing and she told him to leave? He pre...sed his head to the wood and counted to three before tentatively knocking. He heard footsteps slowly dragging across the hardwood floor and backed up so he didn’t look like a complete jackass. She opened the door and he stared down at her, taking in the tear-stained cheeks, the red nose, the blood shot eyes. Fuck, I made her cry again. ‘Charlo…’. I also had an obligation to let them see what Bambi had done for me, and I intended to honor that gift.I reached behind with one hand and slid it up my bare spine to the tiny bow holding the rectangle of fabric across my chest. I pulled it loose and peeled the stretch-knit material off and over my head. I dropped in on top of my bookbag and braced for whatever Polly had in mind.She stared at my breasts like she couldn't decide if she was revolted or attracted, but whichever, she couldn't tear. "Alex is the name of the commander, we don't need last names. I don't know the three men he is bringing. I fought with one of Alex's crews once upon a time. His men will be motivated, I assure you." Why do we need more people?" Vlad asked."First of all Alex and his navy will get us onto the beach without any fuss. No helicopters to wake the dead, and no dangerous parachutes. Just a nice peaceful boat ride up that creek about two hundred yards from Estavante's dock. If you had taken some time. Fred was sitting about four rows from the back to her right. She had never been alone with him. OK, there were other people in this room, but it would be just him and her and no wives ... should she go sit next to him? Could she bring herself to actually do that? In all her teen years she had never ever had the strength to do something like that. But ... this was different. He was different.She, maybe, was different."This seat taken?"Fred looked up and saw Rachel standing there, smiling.