Let Me Love You (Welcome to Granite Falls #2)

Chapter 1

Serenity

Ihold the newest threatening letter in trembling hands.

My blurry eyes roam over the crinkled page, but no matter how many times I read it, the words never change.

A stack of unopened envelopes from the bank and state, with Serenity Nolan plastered on each one, rest on the kitchen table in a haphazard pile, waiting to be read.

I bite on the string of my nursing school sweatshirt as I take in the words again. I almost pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming, but no, this nightmare is real.

Closing my eyes, I drop my head into my hands, the letter falling from my grasp. I pull my hair. The pain from the strands pulling my scalp is a welcome distraction from the other ten letters that say the same thing.

Pay us or your house goes up for auction.

My heart gallops as if it wants to escape my chest and run away from my problems.

If only, heart, if only.

The doorbell rings, and my entire body tenses. The bank wouldn’t show up in the middle of the night. That only leaves one other option.

The loan sharks.

I’ve been trying—and failing—to pay them off since Paul passed away. Why should they threaten my daughter when we didn’t even know he took out a loan?

I tremble at the thought of what happened last time they came by. Busted my Jeep’s windows and one pulled a knife on me. I reach up to touch the back of my shoulder blade where there’s still a scar.

More pounding startles me, but I spring into action and push to my feet.

Fuck, they’re definitely going to wake up my daughter, Summer, now, and she’s harder to put down than a good book.

I pass by the family photo with my late husband, Paul, and flip it off, heading straight to my gun safe in the coat closet by the front door. My fingers shake as I enter the combination. After the second try, I open it, and grab my rifle, double-checking to make sure it’s loaded.

The wood floor creaks beneath my feet as I walk at a turtle’s pace to welcome my unwelcomed guests.

My breath stutters as I pause with my hand over the doorknob.

I inhale deeply and whip open my front door, but no one is there, not even an idling car on the street.

Poking my head farther out, I glance down both sides of my road, but only my neighbors’ cars are in view.

The street light’s dull glow barely illuminates about two hundred feet.

I close the door behind me, double check it’s locked, and lean against it. As all my adrenaline leaves my body, my legs give out, and I slide down until I plop on my ass. My fingers continue to grip the gun, my knuckles white.

Maybe it is just kids playing ding-dong ditch. I’m probably being overly paranoid.

I take a few more deep breaths and push to my feet. If I’m going to protect Summer, I need to keep my head on my shoulders and not give in to these loan sharks.

I flip on the living room light and take in my surroundings, unease unfurling in my stomach. Nothing seems out of place—our shoes are still neatly by the front door, and the blanket my late mother knitted for us is on the back of my worn-out sofa.

We’re safe here. Elias put up security cameras. If something were wrong, he’d call me.

My bed is calling my name, but maybe I’ll take a look around the first floor to ease some of my anxiety. The moment I reach the entryway to my kitchen, I halt. My heart plummets to the floor. The papers are now stacked in a neat pile in the center of my table.

My knees almost buckle, but I push forward.

I glance around, but no one is within sight. Hurrying to the back door, I find it left ajar, swaying in the wind. I quickly close and lock it before bolting for the stairs.

Summer. I need to get to Summer.

My heart jackhammers against my rib cage as I rush to her.

I take the stairs two at a time with my gun still in my hands.

I check in my room, where I’m sure Summer has already snuck to, and I heave out a breath of relief.

She’s sleeping soundly, curled into my comforter.

Lowering the rifle, I yank my phone out of my pocket and turn on the flashlight.

I drop to my knees, and I check under the bed.

Clear. I move to the closet next and push all my clothes to the side.

Clear. I move to Summer’s room to check it out. Clear.

My phone rings, but I don’t answer it.

With my heart pounding in my ears, I head back downstairs. I stuff my phone back in my pocket as I near the kitchen. The papers are still in the same spot. As I get closer, I check the letter on top. But it’s one I don’t recognize.

Please, oh please, just let this be all in my head. Maybe this is a letter I only read once and don’t remember it.

My phone pierces the silence with a phone call. Elias, my sister’s boyfriend, again. I answer but say nothing. My focus is solely on the paper. I swallow, my tongue thick and my heart in my throat.

A stack of photos covers the words. I pick up the pictures and find Summer at daycare, Summer at Cutesy’s Coffee Shop, Summer and me walking from my Jeep and up to the front door.

“Serenity?” Elias’ voice is distant. “The security cameras picked up movement outside your home. Harmony and I are heading over now.”

I don’t reply. Instead I place the pictures down and read the words. You have one week to pay us $50,000. If you don’t, next time, I’ll take the girl.

***

I’m sitting on the couch with a rigid spine and my rifle still in my arms when the front door swings open.

My hands instinctively tighten around my gun even though I know my sister has a key to my house.

Harmony and Elias rush inside. Her wild eyes search my living room as if a bad guy will pop out at her.

Those bastards are threatening my sweet, innocent child. If only I could bring back my husband just so I could shoot him. I’d gladly go to prison.

Harmony rushes to my side and sinks down on my sofa. “Why do you have murder eyes?”

I motion to the coffee table with my head but keep my grip on the rifle tight. “Look at it.”

She picks the pictures up as if they’ll shatter if she’s too rough and flips through each of them. Her copper eyes widen as she studies the last picture of Summer and me walking up to my condo. “Those fuckers.”

The swear sounds foreign coming from her lips. I’ve always been the one with a sailor’s mouth.

Summer being in danger is all my fault. Maybe if I had paid more attention to our surroundings, I might’ve noticed the suspicious behavior. I don’t even look at my phone when we’re outside. So, how did this slip my notice?

“Can I have a look?” Elias asks, and Harmony hands the pictures over. He used to be a bodyguard, so he may pick up on something we missed. He studies each one for a few minutes. “And you need to pay them fifty grand within a week?”

I nod.

“I might be able to—”

“No,” I say sharply, cutting him off. “You won’t give me any money. I know you’re trying to revamp Cutesy’s.”

“But they’re coming after Summer,” Harmony says as if I don’t already know. “Let us help.”

I shake my head. “Then you two will be in danger again.” After what they both just went through when Harmony was being threatened by her ex-fiancé’s board member, and then her being kidnapped … I can’t do that to them.

“What if you go stay with Sully? I can call him right now.” Elias pulls his phone out of his pocket. “I know he has a good security system set up. And he may act like a grumpy old man, but he’s still more capable than most young bodyguards.”

I open my mouth to protest again but hesitate. It will at least hide Summer the next time they come around. And I’m out of options at this point.