Read Hidden Threat for Free Online Page A

most awesomest couple,” Amanda said cutely. “Besides, we’ll be graduating, genius; that has meaning.”
    She nuzzled her head into Jake’s chest, then pulled up and kissed him softly on the lips. “We have meaning,” she whispered.
    After a moment, Jake’s demeanor changed slightly, taking on a more serious tone. “We need to talk about something.”
    “ Please don’t tell me you’re pregnant,” she said, pulling away in mock horror.
    Jake smiled a devilish grin briefly and then turned serious. “I got a call from The Citadel today. They’ve had a cancellation. I’m in if I want it.”
    “ What!” She pushed away from Jake, an unusual move. Her outstretched fingers reached up and pulled at her hair from either side of her head. Amanda heard the words but was unable to allow them any validity. They’d had this discussion before, and Jake had turned down the academy’s offer. He had never been entirely comfortable with the decision, primarily because he had felt enormous pressure from Amanda not to go, but now it was back on the table. “You can’t be serious!”
    “ I haven’t made up my—”
    “ That’s not an option!” She was screaming now. A couple standing on the porch stopped talking and looked in her direction. “We talked about this.”
    Jake shook his head and started to close the door to the truck. “Hey, I just wanted you to know.”
    “ Wait a minute. You can’t just drive off.”
    “ Then settle down, Amanda. You’re making an ass out of yourself.” Jake was characteristically firm. Eminem’s “ Eight Mile” was banging through the walls of the dining room. Someone had obviously turned up the bass, if not the volume. Jake looked over his shoulder. “Gettin’ out of control in there?”
    “ Quit trying to change the subject, Jake.” She was calmer now, more in control, honestly wanting to discuss the matter. Her resistance to Jake’s going to The Citadel was based on more than well-founded fears of a dreaded long-distance relationship or an ensuing assignment in the Army.
    Amanda could not fathom her boyfriend, and hopefully future fiancé, going to a school that would train him in the same profession as her father.
    “ Is this about your dad?” Again, direct and firm.
    Amanda tensed at the mention of the word “dad.”
    “ I don’t have a dad,” she muttered under her breath.
    “ That may be, Amanda, but you shouldn’t take it out on me.” Jake stood from the driver’s seat of his pickup and stretched. He was six foot three inches tall, weighed 230 pounds, and he had the best arm in the southern United States. If Jake Devereaux were to show up unannounced on The Citadel’s doorstep in a few days, not only would SEC football scratch its collective head, but the Bulldogs alumni would possibly be heard from the beyond sounding off with a thunderous Yesss!
    Amanda stepped toward him, placing her thin hands on his jacket. She slid her arms as far as she could around his chest and laid her head against him.
    “ I know, baby. I just want you near me.” She spoke quietly into the soft leatherette of his coat.
    Jake pulled her closer. “You know I love you, Amanda, and I want us to be together forever. You know that.”
    He paused before broaching what he knew was another tough subject.
    “ And if we are going to be together forever, you need to sort out this thing with your dad.”
    Again she flinched. “Let’s not talk about that, okay? There are just three weeks to graduation. My dad has only caused problems in my life. It’s like he never existed except when he was missing child support or threatening my mom, or whatever.”
    “ Come on. Don’t you think that if those things were really happening, he’d be in jail?”
    “ That’s where he belongs.” Amanda’s words were quick and decisive. There was no doubt about her sentiment.
    “ I hear what you’re saying, but I’m here for you. And you can count on me to stand by you. My only request is that