Chapter 49
Something didn’t feel right.
Addie glanced up from where she was trying to update one of her author’s websites. CJ Bennett was one of her amazing authors and she loved her books. There was a strange feeling running up her spine. What the heck was that? It almost felt like a premonition.
She glanced at the time. It was close to seven at night and getting dark outside. Dotty wasn’t home yet, but that wasn’t unusual. Monroe had come home earlier. She could hear her singing in the shower.
Monroe loved singing. Unfortunately, she couldn’t carry a note to save herself. Neighborhood dogs had been known to start howling when Monroe was singing.
It was terrifying.
Not that she’d tell her sister that. There was no way she wanted to risk hurting her feelings.
Addie got up and walked to the window. She didn’t know why. She just had this feeling that someone was watching her.
There it was again, that strange creeping up her spine. There was movement outside among the trees, and she took a step back. Someone was there. Someone was watching.
Addie wanted to panic. She wanted to run and scream for Monroe, but instead, she forced herself to take another slow step back. Maybe this guy hadn’t seen her, or maybe he thought that she hadn’t seen him, so she could still have the element of surprise.
Grabbing her phone, she headed into the hallway.
What should she do? Who should she call? Should she call the police?
She quickly dialed 911 and spoke to the operator as she headed into Monroe’s room. After explaining the situation, the operator told her to grab her sister and hide.
Shit. She hoped that Monroe had locked the front door when she’d come home.
“Monroe, get dressed,” she said urgently, barging into the bathroom.
“Addie? What are you doing? I’m in the shower!”
Yeah, no kidding.
“Get out. Get dressed quick. There’s someone here.”
“What do you mean? Someone is here to see me?” Monroe asked as she reached for a towel. “Tell them I’m not in the mood for visitors right now. Although it would be a good distraction and I have a new knock-knock joke.”
“Monroe, no. That’s not what I mean. There’s somebody outside. They were staring through the window at me.”
“What? What do you mean they were staring through the window at you?” Monroe climbed out of the shower and grabbed a towel, quickly drying off.
“I don’t know, but it was super creepy, and I’ve called the police.”
Monroe pulled on her clothes.
“Maybe we should hide in here,” Addie said as Monroe walked toward the bathroom door.
“No, I want to see if there’s anyone out there. The house is locked up. They can’t get in.”
“Right, sure, unless they smash a window or something.” She quickly sent a message off to Dotty to let her know what was going on, not wanting her to arrive and get hurt.
“We need a weapon.” Monroe looked around and saw the toilet paper holder. She flicked off the toilet paper rolls and held it up high, like she actually intended to hit someone with it.
It was light and Addie really didn’t see how it would do anyone any damage. However, if they were doing this, then maybe she needed some sort of weapon too.
Opening the cupboard doors under the sink, she grabbed the hairspray and shaving foam.
Sure, she felt ridiculous, but she had to do something.
As Monroe stepped into the hallway, she let out an ear-piercing, shattering scream.
Oh my God! Heart racing and her breath stuttering, Addie followed her sister out, right as a man rushed at them.
Monroe drew back the toilet paper holder and smashed it down against him with a yell, but, as Addie had thought, it did very little except annoy him.
He grabbed Monroe and slammed her against the wall, putting his hand over her mouth.
“Shut up,” he roared in her face.
Addie stood there frozen for a moment, fear holding her immobile.
Snap out of it, Addie!
Screw it. She wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her sister. She didn’t care about her own safety, but no one touched Monroe.
Addie ran at them, slamming herself into his body. Somehow, she sent him flying off Monroe. Her sister stood there choking and gasping for air as the man turned on Addie.
There was something familiar about him, something she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. It wasn’t until she realized he was limping that she figured it out.
This was Limpy.
What the heck? Why was Limpy attacking them?
Then he was on her, grabbing her and throwing her to the floor. He loomed over her, and that was when she saw the knife.
“Addie, no!” Monroe screamed.
Addie knew this was it, the moment she was going to die. He was going to stab her to death right here in the hall.
Hairspray!
Oh hell! How had she forgotten?
Raising the can, she squirted it straight into his face. Thankfully, it was the hairspray, and not the shaving foam.
He let out a startled yell and released his hold on her. It was enough for her to scramble away and get to her feet.
“Addie, let’s go!” Monroe grabbed her arm.
But, no, he wasn’t incapacitated enough. He could come after them. Addie had to do something. Bringing her foot up, she slammed it down on his balls, crying out in horror as he screamed in pain.
Oh God. Oh God.
Addie didn’t know how she’d managed that, but she did know she was going to be ill.
“Let’s go!” Monroe tugged at her, and they raced toward the front door.
Monroe’s hands were shaking, and she was sobbing softly as she unlocked the door. Addie couldn’t help but look back. She saw him lying on the ground, moaning softly, his hands cupped around his balls.
She shouldn’t feel bad. He was going to stab her!
Then they were outside, racing down the footpath to the road. They turned to the right and ran smack into two large men.
Addie let out a scream, her arms windmilling as she tried to catch her balance. Two firm hands grabbed her around her hips, holding her steady.
“No!”
Fight! She had to fight. Were these men with Limpy? Were they going to hurt her and Monroe? She couldn’t let that happen!
Curling her hands into fists, she pounded them against his chest. “Let me go! Let me go!”
“Addie! Addie, it’s me!”
She didn’t think about how this guy knew her name, or the fact that he was touching her so gently, she was just too scared, too full of adrenaline.
The need to flee was riding her hard.
The guy pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her still. She couldn’t move!
“Addie, take a deep breath, baby. It’s me. It’s Cash.”
Wait, what?
How could it possibly be Cash? Cash wasn’t here. He was in Montana. Was she having hallucinations?
“Ralen?” Monroe asked. “Cash? What are you guys doing here?”
Addie breathed in his scent and let the feel of his arms around her chase away the fear. Well, some of it. Her heart was still pounding, and she was still trembling.
But now she was able to think, and she leaned back, glancing up into Cash’s face.
“Cash? You’re here?”
“I am. Are you all right? You’re shaking. What’s going on? Why were you running?”
“Why are you here?” she asked, repeating Monroe’s words. She ignored all of his questions. She needed to know what he was doing here.
“I came for you, baby. I’m here to get you.”