Chapter 30
Mark
You know how good of friends we have? After loading up a few bags of important items, I arrive back at Ava’s to find pizza on the table thanks to Garrett and Jane and items stashed around the rooms for Ava and me to use in defense in case we need them.
Not only did they help calm my girl down, they fed her and helped make her feel safe.
If that wasn’t already enough, Colin and Sydney went home to grab Amy and walked back to stay the night so that there wasn’t another vehicle in the drive.
That way, we have our own little alarm system until we get things set up tomorrow.
After everyone else went home, the four of us plus a pooch curled up on couches to watch a movie until the girls went to crawl into Ava’s bed. Colin and I decided to crash in the living room with Amy.
At around one in the morning, I wake to the sound of a low growl. I lift my head, alert and trying to track where Amy’s at.
“Colin, you awake?” I whisper into the darkness toward where Colin is laying on the other couch.
“I’m up. Amy’s been restless for the past fifteen or so minutes.”
“She need to piss?”
“Did that growl sound like she needs to piss?”
“Good point,” I mutter. “I can’t see. Where’s she at?”
“Hallway. She keeps pacing from the front door to the back.”
“He’s here.”
“I was hoping it was an animal, but the growl kind of nixed that idea.”
“Shit.”
At that moment, a shadow crosses in front of the front window, and my breath catches.
Anger begins to build, and I wonder if he’s able to tell if anyone’s on the couch.
Amy prowls up next to Colin’s hand, a low rumble of warning reverberating in her throat.
It’s not loud enough for Eric to hear yet.
“I know, Amy. Good girl for telling me,” Colin whispers, not making any sudden moves.
The shadow disappears, and Amy approaches the window, looking for what she had seen.
“I bet he’s going around back,” I say, sitting up and preparing for the possibility. I check my gun and the safety before sliding it into the back of my waistband. Colin sits up.
“Does that key work on the garage door? Did we lock it?” Colin asks, walking briskly to go check the mudroom door, just in case.
“I didn’t even think about that one.”
“It’s locked. Trystan checks everything twice.”
Amy growls again, walking back toward the back door. The girls’ door is shut; hopefully they haven’t woken. I’d rather they not be scared. I hear the sound of metal inserting into metal.
“He made a copy,” Colin deadpans, snapping his head toward me.
I inch my way to the edge of the wall of the kitchen that leads to the back hallway that Amy is stalking down.
The click of the deadbolt turning sends shivers up my spine.
Colin turns on his phone in case he needs to make the call.
Amy snarls and barks loudly, alerting everyone that she’s not happy about this situation.
I hear a masculine, “Oh, fuck” and the door latches shut again as Amy launches herself at the door, barking in earnest. She may be the sweetest pup, but right now, she’s lethal.
Nobody’s coming in that door without her ripping their face off.
Colin flips on the kitchen light to ensure Eric knows that we know he’s here.
I run to the front door, throwing the bolt and swinging the door open just in time to see a shadowy figure disappear into Ava’s side yard treeline.
“DO NOT COME BACK HERE!” I bellow, knowing he can still hear me.
I re-enter the house to see Ava standing with Sydney in the hallway with an ashen face in my T-shirt.
My chest aches that she’s scared. I close and lock the door behind me, and Colin lets go of Amy’s collar.
I rub my hand across my chest and walk toward Ava as she rushes into my arms. I catch her, letting her bury her face into my neck for comfort.
Rubbing my open palms along her back in a soothing motion, I whisper that it’s all going to be okay.
I feel her tremble beneath my fingers, igniting the primal need to chase after that fucker and knock the shit out of him.
“Colin, I don’t think he’s coming back tonight. Help me get the guest room set for you and Sydney. I need to hold my girl.”
Colin nods, understanding all too well the need I feel to make her feel secure again. Sydney switches me places, hugging Ava while steering her back to bed.
“Thank you for staying tonight,” I mutter as we walk into the guest room and clear the few items off of the duvet cover.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we stayed too. We’ll leave our door cracked so Amy can roam. She’ll let us know if he shows back up.”
“Did you see if he accidentally left the key in the door?” I ask, hopeful that Amy frightened him and he either dropped it or perhaps left it in the lock.
“He didn’t leave it. I looked around when I grabbed Amy by the back door and relocked it.” Colin huffs in exasperation over the whole ordeal. “This will do for us tonight. Go hold Ava.”
???
Ava
He made a spare. What was he coming here to do in the middle of the night knowing Mark was here?
There’s no way he missed his truck. I am so thankful everyone was here.
I rub my hand over Amy’s soft chocolate brown fur as she rests between Sydney and I on the bed.
I am so emotionally drained from the day.
I’m ready for tomorrow to bring new locks, a few cameras, and a kick ass bonfire with my friends while we watch the town fireworks from Sydney’s spread of beach.
Colin says he’s always been able to see them every year.
“Hey, Syd, your guys’ room is ready. Thank you for everything.
” Mark runs his hand through his hair, looking as tired as I feel.
Sydney gives me a quick squeeze before rising and disappearing across the hall with Amy in tow.
Mark leaves the door cracked, explaining that Amy will be roaming freely, on protective duty, for the rest of the night.
She’s the one who alerted the guys to Eric’s presence to begin with.
“Maybe we should think about getting a dog,” I mumble as he crawls under the covers beside me, pulling me tight against his chest.
“We can think about it,” Mark mumbles back against my hair, and I feel the slight turn up of his lips.
I then realize I just insinuated that this stint of him moving in is more of a permanent idea instead of a temporary solution.
Between that and the baby talk earlier today, I feel like I’ve thrown him for a loop.
“I kind of like how you just inserted me into your future like it’s our future. ”
“We do things so unconventionally anyways, I guess.” I snuggle closer, trying to play it cool.
“Perhaps, Bella, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
That admission makes me smile.
“What are we going to do?” I ask into the quiet of the dim room.
“First, we’re going to beef up the security. Then, we’re going to have a fantastic evening with our friends. The rest, we’ll figure out later. You’re safe, and as soon as we have a solid picture of him trying to break and enter, I’m turning his ass in.”
“He knew you were here and still tried to break in. What was he planning to do, Mark?” I feel him tense beneath me.
“Sshh. It’s over. You’re safe. I won’t let him hurt you. Get some sleep.”
He pulls the covers up around us tighter, cocooning us in, and I do, in fact, feel safe in his arms. Sleep though?
That takes a while. I stare at the bedside clock, watching the minutes tick by agonizingly slowly.
Mark’s palm slides soothingly up and down my back, both of us wide awake, just lying there in the silence.
After tossing and turning who knows how many times, my eyes finally feel heavy and flutter closed with the burning red three imprinted behind my lids.